The collective body of a natural phenomenon on which scientific explanations are based is called data.

Here's why:

* Data is the raw information gathered through observation, experimentation, or other means. It provides the foundation for scientific inquiry.

* Scientific explanations are built upon analyzing and interpreting data to identify patterns, relationships, and underlying principles.

* Natural phenomena refer to events or occurrences in the natural world that scientists study and seek to explain.

So, data serves as the essential building block for scientific explanations about natural phenomena.