The Himalayan Environmental Rhythms Observation and Evaluation System (HEROES) completes one year of data collection

The Karuna Foundation Board and the HEROES team in 2013 at UWICE's campus in Bumthang, Bhutan.

In 2013, The Karuna Foundation began a partnership with UWICE to create a network of weather stations across the varying climates of Bhutan. August 2015 marks one year of climate data collection from the 17 weather stations. The next few months will see additional weather stations come online.

In addition to climate data points (precipitation, temperature, etc.), UWICER integrated phenological markers into the data collection program. Over the last two years, UWICER has created a very successful citizen scientist program that integrates the network of stations at 21 schools with the tracking of phenological markers by environmental club participants. The Bhutan Phenological Network has students track the seasonal changes undergone by plants and animals and then contribute that information to a collective data set.  The tracking of phenological changes by the BPN can provide to a more nuanced understanding of climate and climate change for the scientists at UWICER.

The BPN: Annual Report 2015 is available here. For more information, please visit the Bhutan Phenological Network and the HEROES program at UWICER.

The weather station in Bumthang, Bhutan with Changa Tsering, HEROES project coordinator, and the local environmental club.