Data and code: Summer solstice optimizes thermal growing season

Multiple studies have recently proposed the summer solstice as a universal cue for major plant physiological processes. While this would have strong implications for fundamental plant biology and climate change forecasting, the underlying mechanisms that could explain the emergence and importance of solstice as a cue still remain unclear. Here, we analyze temperature accumulation patterns in relation to the summer solstice across Europe and North America--- in past, historical, and projected future climates. We show that, on average, the summer solstice coincides with a thermal optimum during the growing season. However, we also find significant local variation in the timing of this optimum across different climates---suggesting the potential of alternative cues.近期多项研究提出，夏至可作为调控植物主要生理过程的通用环境信号。尽管这一结论将对植物基础生物学与气候变化预测产生深远影响，但目前仍未明确夏至作为环境信号的成因与重要性背后的核心机制。本研究针对欧洲与北美地区，分析了过去、历史及未来预估气候情境下与夏至相关的积温分布模式。 研究结果表明，平均而言，夏至与植物生长季的热最适时段重合。但同时也发现，不同气候背景下该热最适时段的出现时间存在显著区域差异，这提示存在其他潜在的环境信号。