Clare schools in Greenwave experiment

FOUR Clare primary schools took part in the Greenwave 2010 project – a mass science experiment, which involves tracking the movement of spring across Ireland.

The schools involved were Scoil Náisiúnta Realt Na Mara, Kilkee; Querrin National School; Scoil Náisiúnta, Cill Rois and St Senan’s National School, Shannon.
Every year a green wave, which is caused by the opening of buds on trees and hedges, can be seen moving across Europe from outer space in springtime. Students from participating schools were asked to record the emerging signs of spring by examining ash, horse chestnut and hawthorn trees, the primrose flower, the swallow and frog spawn.
Participants were also asked to record rainfall, temperature and wind speed throughout the months of February to May. In total, 981 records and sightings were submitted by participating schools across the country.
Commenting on the results, Eanna Ni Lamhna, said, “This year’s recordings were very interesting given the cold weather we experienced over the winter and on into spring. The first sightings of frogs and primroses came much later then in previous years, with the first frog spawning recorded at the end of March.”
The green wave begins in the south of Europe in February and moves up across Europe as temperatures rise. The phenomenon travels at approximately the same speed as humans walk – four miles per hour – hence the description of a green wave. According to this, spring would take three weeks to walk across Ireland from Mizen Head to Malin Head.