Phenophases* Changes in Temperature* Moving Average*

 

Zoo Phenology*

This is a 2024 phenology data chart from Lincoln Park Zoo tracking the growing cycles of Herbaceous Perennial Hibiscus.

The data visualization illustrates seven distinct phenophases (life cycle stages) for individual hibiscus plants.

Color-coding indicates different phases: light green represents the bud stage, dark green shows peak bloom, and blue denotes secondary blooming

Key Plant Phenophases

Breaking Leaf Buds: The exact time when green leaf tips first become visible through the breaking scales of a dormant bud, but before the leaves have fully unfolded.
Leaves: The period when live, completely unfolded leaves are visible and their bases are exposed.
Flowers or Flower Buds: The phase when fresh, developing, or open flowers and buds are visible on the plant.
Fruits: The stage where fertilized ovaries swell and visible fruits or seed pods begin to develop.
Falling Leaves: The period when mature leaves drop from deciduous plants or change color significantly in response to seasonal shifts.

Changes in Temperature*

The GLISSA organziation researches changes in temperature around the country, from 1951 to 2025.  At Midway Airport, for instance, spring average temps have risen by 3.0 degrees.  Winter temps 4.0 degrees.  It also plots the number of days below 32* (falling) and days above 90* (rising).  

Moving Average*

Some of the charts in the previous item use "9-year moving average" to create data lines.  Here's what AI says:  

A 9-year moving average is a statistical calculation that adds the values of a data series over a rolling window of nine consecutive years and divides the total by nine. As each new year passes, the oldest year's data is dropped and the newest year's data is added to update the average. This tool is used in macroeconomics, long-term business planning, and climatology to smooth out short-term economic or environmental cycles and highlight multi-year trends