From citizen science to pollen phenology I

Observations from the USA National Phenology Network can be leveraged to model airborne pollen

Allergen phenology
Aerobiologia 2022
Authors

Daniel S.W. Katz

Elizabeth Vogt

Arie Manangan

Claudia L. Brown

Dan Dalan

Kai Zhu

Yiluan Song

Theresa M. Crimmins

Published

December 23, 2022

Keywords

global change biology, environmental data science, allergy, public health, citizen science

Paper

Highlights

  • The USA-NPN hosts the largest volunteer-contributed plant phenology dataset in the US.
  • Winter-spring temperatures predicted the flowering time of oak trees.
  • Predicted peak flowering was strongly correlated with peak airborne pollen concentrations.
  • The USA-NPN dataset has significant potential for improving source-based models of airborne pollen.

Observation interface used by Nature’s Notebook observers and flower and pollen status records available from the USA-NPN dataset.

Association between the day of year when open flowers of oaks were reported by Nature’s Notebook observers and winter–spring (Jan–Apr) temperature.

Association between predicted day of peak flowering and the observed peak day of airborne pollen concentrations.