A few weeks ago, I was doing a little research to plan a trip to Japan next year. One of the most enjoyable times to visit is in spring during hanami (flower viewing) season, when the sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom. I found a really interesting Japanese site run by Weathernews that utilizes prediction methods based on temperature trends as well as photos of budding sakura trees taken by everyday people to inform the public about the southwesterly progression of the “sakura wave.” It’s one of the most interesting uses of crowdsourcing that I’ve seen. They even have a simulator, where you can review the multiple-day, countrywide blooming event from a virtual satellite view. Judging from observations to date, it’s time for everyone in Kyushu to get out their picnic baskets.
Photo by gullevek via Flickr
