spring bulbs for schools investigation results 2006-2011

Spring Bulbs for Schools

Investigation results 2006-2011

http://intranet/en/home/

Since October 2005, school scientists across Wales have been keeping weather records and noting when their flowers open, as part of a long-term study looking at the effects of temperature on spring bulbs.

The investigation...

71 schools took part!

They posted their results on the web.

Average flowering dates 2008-2009 Weather records 2008-2009

The long term study…

Our climate is changing and so are our seasons. Over the next 10-20 years (and hopefully more) we want school scientists to show how climate change is affecting flowering times in spring bulbs.

In the short term there is plenty for schools to study.

Huge thanks!

Professor Plant would like to thank all of the school scientists that have sent in records this year!

You are all Super Scientists!

Schools with special recognition:

• Maesycwmmer Primary School• Bishop Childs CIW Primary School• Coleg Meirion Dwyfor• Laugharne VCP School• Glyn Hafod Junior School• Howell's School Llandaff• Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn• Pembroke Dock Community School• Ysgol Gynradd Brynconin• Ysgol Brynffordd• Stepaside Prizes: Certificates, Flowers to attract

flowers butterflies and multi coloured salad seeds.

Highly commended schools: • Murch Junior School• Ysgol Nant Y Coed• Ysgol Deganwy • Ysgol Pencae• Ysgol Y Ffridd• Lansdowne Primary School• St. Mary's Catholic Primary

School• Ysgol Gynradd

Glantwymyn• Ysgol Penycae

(Ystradgynlais)• Ysgol Rhys Pritchard• Eyton Primary School

• Ysgol Bodfari• Ysgol Cynfran• Cwm Glas Primary• Milford Haven Junior School• Oakfield Primary school• Tynewydd Primary School• St Joseph's Primary School• St. Joseph's R C Primary • Windsor Clive Primary• Ysgol Porth Y Felin• Glyncollen Primary School• Coleg Powys.

Prizes: certificates, Sunflower seeds, Flowers to attract butterflies and multi coloured salad seeds.

Runner's up:

• Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd

• Ysgol Bro Ciwmeirch

• Ysgol Clocaenog.

Prizes: £40 Amazon voucher to spend on gardening equipment.

Winners 2011 Saint Roberts Roman Catholic Primary School

Prize: A day trip to St Fagans: National History Museum for a fun-packed day of nature activities.

Funded by the Oakdale and Bodfach Trusts.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/

Summary 2005-2011

• Here is a very brief summary of the results that we have observed since 2005.

• You can download the results to study them for yourself at www.museumwales.ac.uk/scan/bulbs

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/scan/bulbs

Things to study…

Visit www.museumwales.ac.uk/scan/bulbs

•Make graphs & frequency charts or calculate the mean.

•See if the flowers opened late in schools that recorded cold weather

•See how temperature, sunshine and rainfall affect the average flowering dates.

•Look for trends between different locations in Wales.

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/scan/bulbs

Our records show that spring 2011 was colder than in previous years.

December was exceptionally cold but February and March were quite warm.

Average temperature °C 2005-6 2006-7 2007-8 2008-9 2009-10 2010-11

Nov 6 7.5 7.4 6.9 8 4.7

Dec 4.2 6 4.9 3.5 3 -0.4

Jan 4 6.5 6.1 2.9 1.2 3.2

Feb 3.6 5 5 3.9 2.4 6.0

March 4.6 6.4 5.6 6.2 5.1 6.0

All months 4.48 6.28 5.8 4.68 3.94 3.90

Spring temperatures 2006-2011

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Nov Dec Jan Feb March

Month

Deg

rees

Cel

ciu

s 2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

UK December 2010

Since we began recording spring temperatures in Wales have become colder. With 2011 being the coldest yet.

Average temperatures 2006 - 2011

2006

20072008

2009

2010 2011

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Year

Ave

rag

e te

mp

erat

ure

(C

)

Recent winters may have been cold but our world is still heating up!

With all these cold winters you may be thinking that the world is getting colder –not warmer – but this isn’t the case.

Despite UK temperatures plummeting to - 22 degrees in places, globally, 2010 was the 2nd warmest year ever recorded!

Global warming is still happening and we still need to reduce our CO2 emissions.

Hours of sunshine has varied greatly over the years. Although 2011 was very cold there were over 80 hours of sunshine.

Average hours of sunshine 2006 - 2011

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

Year

Ho

urs

As a result, the average flowering date was late, but not as late as last year - which was 17 days later!

Spring flowering dates 2006-2010

19/03/200606/03/2007 14/02/2008

07/03/2009

24/03/2010

7/3/2011

01/02

06/02

11/02

16/02

21/02

26/02

03/03

08/03

13/03

18/03

Year

Dat

e

Results table 2005-2011

Year Crocus

flowering date

Daffodil flowering date

Temp. (ºC)

Hours of sunshine

Rainfall(mm)

2011 03/03 12/03 3.90 81 100

2010 06/03 24/03 3.94 77 151

2009 13/03 07/03 4.68 78 97

2008 16/02 14/02 5.80 83 158

2007 16/02 06/03 6.28 79 165

2006 25/02 19/03 4.48 76 66

How does the weather effect flowering times in the daffodil?

The trend shows: As temperatures get lower daffodils flower later.

Comparing daffodil flowering dates with average spring temperatures

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

01/Feb 06/Feb 11/Feb 16/Feb 21/Feb 26/Feb 03/Mar 08/Mar 13/Mar 18/Mar 23/Mar 28/Mar

Flowering date

Avera

ge s

pri

ng

tem

pera

ture

(C

)

What years don’t fit the

trend?

Ans: 2007

Comparing daffodil flowering dates with average spring temperatures

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7


Flowering date

Ave

rag

e sp

rin

g t

emp

erat

ure

(C

)

Possible explanation: Although the temperature was at it’s highest in 2007 the flowers opened quite late. This is likely to be because the hours of sunshine remained low until March that year.

The trend shows: As the hours of sunshine decrease daffodils open later. Sunshine seems to have a strong effect on daffodil flowering.

Comparing daffodil flowering dates with hours of sunshine.

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

01-Feb

08-Feb

15-Feb

22-Feb

01-Mar

08-Mar

15-Mar

22-Mar

29-Mar

Flowering date

Ho

urs

of

su

ns

hin

e


trend?

Ans: 2011

Possible explanations: Although there was lots of sunshine in 2011 the flowers still opened quiet late. This is likely to be because the temperatures were the lowest recorded.

Comparing daffodil flowering dates with hours of sunshine.

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

01-Feb

08-Feb

15-Feb

22-Feb

01-Mar

08-Mar

15-Mar

22-Mar

29-Mar

Flowering date

Ho

urs

of

su

ns

hin

e

How does the weather effect flowering times in the crocus?

The trend shows: As temperatures get lower crocus flowers open later.

Comparing crocus flowering dates with average spring temperatures

2007 & 2008

20062011

20102009

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7


Flowering date

Av

era

ge

sp

rin

g t

em

pe

ratu

re

(C)


trend?

Ans: 2009

Possible explanation: Although temperatures in 2009 were quiet warm the flowers opened the latest. This is likely to be because the amount sunshine was quiet low that year.

Comparing crocus flowering dates with average spring temperatures

2007 & 2008

20062011

20102009

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7


Flowering date

Ave

rag

e sp

rin

g t

emp

erat

ure

(C

)

Comparing crocus flowering dates with hours of sunshine

2009

2011

2010

2006

2007 & 2008

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180


Flowering date

Ho

urs

of

su

ns

hin

e

The trend shows: When there is less sunshine the crocus flowers open later.


trend?

Ans: 2006 & 2011

Possible explanations:

Although there wasn’t much sunshine in 2006 the flowers opened quiet early. This is likely to be because the temperature was also quiet warm.

Although there was lots of sunshine in 2011 the flowers opened late. This is likely to be because the temperature was the coldest recorded.

Comparing crocus flowering dates with hours of sunshine

2009

2011

2010

2006

2007 & 2008

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180


Flowering date

Ho

urs

of

sun

sh

ine