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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #333180
Title: The West Texas Mesonet Agro-Climate Monitor

Author
item Mauget, Steven
item Leiker, Gary
item SCHROEDER, JOHN - Texas Tech University
item HIRTH, BRIAN - Texas Tech University
item BURGETT, WES - Texas Tech University
item HAYNIE, K.B. - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Submitted to: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Although dependent on rainfall and other climate factors to produce crops, West Texas producers have few tools that allow them to track the current growing season’s climate conditions, and to determine how current conditions compare with those of past years. The West Texas Mesonet Agro-Climate Monitor, a JavaScript web application based on daily data from Texas Tech University’s Mesonet weather station network, was designed to meet this need. By displaying continuously updated information on variables such as soil temperature, cumulative growing degree days, cumulative precipitation, and first freeze dates, the Agro-Climate Monitor allows producers to monitor planting conditions and track crop development, and provides estimates of a growing season’s typical duration. By displaying seasonal climate variability during the ten years prior to the current year, it also provides estimates of the range of an upcoming season’s climate outcomes based on persistence. Highlights (Required)

Technical Abstract: Although dependent on rainfall and other climate factors to produce crops, West Texas producers have few tools that allow them to track the current growing season’s climate conditions, and to determine how current conditions compare with those of past years. The West Texas Mesonet Agro-Climate Monitor, a JavaScript web application based on daily data from Texas Tech University’s Mesonet weather station network, was designed to meet this need. By displaying continuously updated information on variables such as soil temperature, cumulative growing degree days, cumulative precipitation, and first freeze dates, the Agro-Climate Monitor allows producers to monitor planting conditions and track crop development, and provides estimates of a growing season’s typical duration. By displaying seasonal climate variability during the ten years prior to the current year, it also provides estimates of the range of an upcoming season’s climate outcomes based on persistence.