Cite this dataset as
Andrews, C., Dick, J. (2021). UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) Cairngorm environmental and phenological data derived from fixed-point repeat photography, 2002-2019. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/8e30cead-700c-425c-841f-74c70659666a
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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) Cairngorm environmental and phenological data derived from fixed-point repeat photography, 2002-2019
This dataset includes the dates and/or duration of all the environmental and phenological events that could be derived from a series of photographs taken by a fixed-point repeat camera system at the UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) site in the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland.
The data covers the timing of permanent winter snow fall and subsequent spring melt on northern and eastern facing hill slopes between 2002 and 2019, as well as invertebrate (spittlebug spittlemass) and plant (heather flowering, scots pine leaf flushing) phenological events between 2010 and 2019.
Three photographs were taken on a daily basis to maximise the chances of cloud free images, with the clearest image used for analysis. Event detection was generally achieved using manual assessment, but heather flowering showed a high degree of subjectivity, and so an automated pixel colour counting method was used to determine the peak flowering season.
This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability.
The data covers the timing of permanent winter snow fall and subsequent spring melt on northern and eastern facing hill slopes between 2002 and 2019, as well as invertebrate (spittlebug spittlemass) and plant (heather flowering, scots pine leaf flushing) phenological events between 2010 and 2019.
Three photographs were taken on a daily basis to maximise the chances of cloud free images, with the clearest image used for analysis. Event detection was generally achieved using manual assessment, but heather flowering showed a high degree of subjectivity, and so an automated pixel colour counting method was used to determine the peak flowering season.
This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability.
Publication date: 2021-10-08
View record as
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
- Study area
-
- Spatial representation type
- Tabular (text)
- Spatial reference system
- OSGB 1936 / British National Grid
Temporal information
- Temporal extent
-
2002-01-01 to 2019-12-31
Provenance & quality
Where data were missed on the automatic repeat photography system due to obscuring weather or a system failure, secondary manual photographs taken during weekly site visits were used to provide bridging data of snow conditions. Where melt day occurred between two weekly images, the day of melt was subjectively estimated based on size of remnant patches in the final image containing snow; and would carry an error of ±3-4 days.
The camera system was upgraded in 2010. Phenological data could not be established on the earlier camera system due to image quality issues in the foreground. However, the change in camera had no impact on the detection of snow events pre- and post- upgrade, so the full time-series is useable.
Data was checked for obvious errors where values might have fallen outside of an expected range. As most of this dataset involved manual assessment, the event detection date is as perceived by that surveyor. A different surveyor might find a slightly different date for some variables. Surveyor differences have not been assessed.
The camera system was upgraded in 2010. Phenological data could not be established on the earlier camera system due to image quality issues in the foreground. However, the change in camera had no impact on the detection of snow events pre- and post- upgrade, so the full time-series is useable.
Data was checked for obvious errors where values might have fallen outside of an expected range. As most of this dataset involved manual assessment, the event detection date is as perceived by that surveyor. A different surveyor might find a slightly different date for some variables. Surveyor differences have not been assessed.
Related
This dataset is included in the following collections
Correspondence/contact details
Christopher Andrews
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Bush Estate
Penicuik
Midlothian
EH26 0QB
UNITED KINGDOM
enquiries@ceh.ac.uk
Penicuik
Midlothian
EH26 0QB
UNITED KINGDOM
Authors
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2428-272X Other contacts
- Rights holder
-
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- Custodian
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NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
- Publisher
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NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk