Description
forwardGap wraps secondDay-firstDay modulo yearDays; shortestSignedGap subtracts yearDays only when forwardGap > yearDays/2.
Phenological intervals and litter-loss summaries depend on a time origin, mass basis and decay convention. A two-point interval or exponential fit does not establish a universal seasonal or decomposition process.
forwardGap wraps secondDay-firstDay modulo yearDays; shortestSignedGap subtracts yearDays only when forwardGap > yearDays/2.
When to use this tool
Use Phenology Event Circular Day Gap when checking a supplied ecological time or mass-loss relationship.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter firstDay, secondDay, yearDays. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read forwardGap, shortestSignedGap. Use the output convention below.
Require positive whole yearDays and whole firstDay and secondDay in [0,yearDays-1]. forwardGap wraps secondDay-firstDay modulo yearDays; shortestSignedGap subtracts yearDays only when forwardGap > yearDays/2.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| firstDay | First Day | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| secondDay | Second Day | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| yearDays | Year Days | Required. Safe integer; minimum 1. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| forwardGap | Forward Gap | Required. Safe integer. |
| shortestSignedGap | Shortest Signed Gap | Required. Safe integer. |
{
"input": {
"firstDay": 350,
"secondDay": 10,
"yearDays": 365
},
"output": {
"forwardGap": 25,
"shortestSignedGap": 25
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Days are zero-based within a supplied year cycle. A half-cycle tie stays positive; leap calendars and event matching are not inferred.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use appropriate observations and uncertainty analysis for seasonal inference and decomposition-rate estimation.
References
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