WERA102: Climate Data and Analyses for Applications in Agriculture and Natural Resources

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[12/21/2021]

Date of Annual Report: 12/21/2021

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 09/09/2021 - 09/09/2021
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2020 - 09/30/2021

Participants

Emile Elias
Chris Daly
Russ Qualls
Jeremy Weiss
Zach Schwalbe
Mike Crimmins
Russ Schumacher
Lauren Parker
Michael Anderson
David Yates
Dannele Peck
Megan O’Rouke
Ed Martin

Brief Summary of Minutes

The committee met via Zoom on September 9. Various members gave their report and discussed ways to collaborate in the future.

Accomplishments

October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021 Objective 1.  Collaborate with federal agency climate hubs and centers to highlight their unique roles and leverage limited resources for research activities related to agriculture and resource management in the western U.S. Arizona:  Crimmins: Working with USDA SW Climate Hub on developing rangeland precipitation monitoring best practices and decision support tools including <a href="https://myraingelog.arizona.edu/">https://myraingelog.arizona.edu/</a>. Several workshops have been held to deliver these tools to ranchers and land managers. Workshops scheduled for 2020 were postponed due to COVID, but are expected to resume in 2021. A new report generator was developed in 2020 for myRAINge Log that allows for users to compare their observations with past years back to 1981. California:  This year the California State Climatologist continued participation in the advisory committee for the California climate hub sharing insights and potential collaboration points between hub activities and state program work.  Work continues exploring airborne lidar for snowpack monitoring and working with the USDA-ARS watershed program on the use of the data in the I-SNOBAL model.  California is continuing its efforts to stand up an operational monitoring program that includes airborne lidar.  A post-fire lidar flight was made for the Creek Fire in the San Joaquin watershed to update the snow-free conditions Oregon:  The PRISM Climate Group has entered into an agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water and Climate Center in Portland, OR to design, build, and host a web portal to serve as the central hub where all data QC and editing activities will be performed for the SNOTEL  (Snow Telemetry) program.  SNOTEL stations provide essential weather and climate data in high mountain areas of the West, and are used in water supply forecasting, as well as many other applications in hydrology, agriculture, and natural resource modeling and analyses. Oregon: The PRISM Climate Group has entered into an agreement with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to update the 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map to reflect the most recent climate conditions.  This map is used extensively by farmers, gardeners, horticulturalists and others to assess the ability of perennial plants to tolerate extreme winter temperatures   Objective 2.  Evaluate monitoring network capabilities to facilitate regional comparison of data to address critical issues in agriculture and natural resources management. Arizona:  Crimmins:  Working with B. McMahan (UofA CLIMAS) to develop a precipitation monitoring network intercomparison project for areas in and around Tucson. This includes using the UofA Rainlog.org network which has recently developed an application programming interface to more readily access network data. This project will establish a high resolution combined network database to improve drought and flood risk monitoring and to help with water conservation efforts tied to water harvesting and irrigation control. A prototype multi-network, drought monitoring tool for Arizona was developed in 2020 to support the Arizona Governor’s Drought Monitoring Task Force. It provides daily updates of station-level drought indices from over 3000 stations https://cals.arizona.edu/climate/AZdrought/). California:   Work continues to develop a plan for integrating surface, airborne and satellite observations into forecast and decision support tools to facilitate resource management in a changing climate.  Collaboration with federal agencies as new technology is developed and adopted continues.  Work began in July on a new spatial data and conditions dashboard to facilitate understanding of current drought conditions.  It is expected that this dashboard will be available at the end of the calendar year.  Oregon:  The PRISM Climate Group continues to assimilate and quality control weather and climate data on a daily basis from a large number of western monitoring networks.  These include federal networks such as COOP, RAWS, SNOTEL, and USCRN, and state and regional networks in Washington, California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico.  We recently ingested climate data from the holdings of the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) for use in developing updated climate normal maps.  We are in contact with many data providers, give feedback on data quality issues as they arise, and discuss strategies to expand coverage to under-reported areas of the West.      Objective 3.  Promote access to, use of, and further development of monitoring networks and associated value added products to meet the needs of agriculture and resource management in the West. Arizona:  Crimmins: Developed an online tool that accesses and generates drought index comparisons from the NOAA NCEI nClimGrid database to support drought monitoring… <a href="https://uaclimateextension.shinyapps.io/SDIViz/">https://uaclimateextension.shinyapps.io/SDIViz/</a> Further improvements to this tool were completed in 2020 and are used by the AZ GDTF for state-level drought monitoring. A new, multi-season station climate tracker was also developed in 2020. This tool provide climate summaries for four different seasons for over 100 stations in Arizona and New Mexico (<a href="https://cals.arizona.edu/climate/misc/stations/index.html">https://cals.arizona.edu/climate/misc/stations/index.html</a>). Interactive plots for the historical records at each station are also available. This tool is used for seasonal climate summaries for land managers, emergency managers and climate researchers. California:   Collaborations with Western Region Climate Center continues to further develop capabilities in the Climate Tracker tool and to explore ways to leverage the development of value-added products for a spatially complete, climate informed hydrologic conditions as new extremes in flood and drought are realized.  California: The State Climatologist participated in multiple multi-agency monitoring work groups to coordinate local-state-federal monitoring activities related to water management.  Developing collaborative project with the United States Geological Survey to explore new monitoring capabilities that may be developed into the next generation water observing system and help inform the State’s ongoing efforts to fill in streamflow monitoring gaps that impact water management. Oregon:  Climate monitoring data serve as the driver behind the PRISM weather and climate mapping system, which produces state-of-the-art weather and climate maps for the US on a daily basis. PRISM climate maps are made available free of charge via our public website (<a href="http://prism.oregonstate.edu">http://prism.oregonstate.edu</a>).  We recently released updated monthly climate normals maps for the 1991-2020 period.  Over 90% of the precipitation stations used in the normals came from volunteer networks, underscoring the importance of citizen science in climatology.  To highlight network contributions, each PRISM grid is accompanied by a list of stations and networks that went into that grid.    Objective 4.  Facilitate interagency coordination for data collection and maintenance of monitoring sites in the western U.S. Arizona: Arizona has worked with tribal governments in helping to develop three new Drought Mitigation Plans for the Navajo, Hopi, and White Mountain Apache tribes. Arizona has worked with state winegrape growers to integrate and tailor climate information to a wide range of decisions, such as those regarding irrigation/well modifications, vineyard siting, near-term vineyard management, and harvest.   California: The State Climatologist participated in multiple multi-agency monitoring work groups to coordinate local-state-federal monitoring activities related to water management.  Developing collaborative project with the United States Geological Survey to explore new monitoring capabilities that may be developed into the next generation water observing system and help inform the State’s ongoing efforts to fill in streamflow monitoring gaps that impact water management. Oregon: We continue to provide funding to the CoCoRaHS network, administered by Colorado State University. CoCoRaHS is the largest precipitation monitoring network in the country, and is based solely on volunteer reports.

Publications

AZ McMahan, B., R. Granillo, B. Delgado, M. Herrera, & M. Crimmins. 2021.Curating and Visualizing Dense Networks of Monsoon Precipitation Data: Integrating Computer Science into Forward Looking Climate Services Development.  Frontiers in Climate-Climate Services. doi: 10.3389/fclim.2021.602573. Crimmins, M.A., McMahan, B., Holmgren, W.F., Woodard, G., 2021. Tracking precipitation patterns across a western U.S. metropolitan area using volunteer observers: RainLog.Org. International Journal of Climatology. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.7067">https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.7067</a>. Weiss J (2020) Timing of Leaf Removal and Cluster Thinning in the Context of Seasonal Heat – An Analysis for Merkin Vineyards, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, 4pp Robinson J, Ortiz E, Lowen C, Winch R, Rodriguez C, Fowell S, Ojeda R, Gonzalez R, Foulke S, Lakdawala A, Perelli G, Della Croce A, Maina S, Chavez K, Canfield E, Buldoc S, Kaplan S, Schepp E, Light M, Stephenson R, Tylutki D, Hernandez J, Blankenship J, Crosson C, Weiss J, Brown S, Morales E, Ogata I (2020) Las Milpitas Autocase Project: A Triple-Bottom-Line Analysis Report of Las Milpitas de Cottonwood Community Farm. Pima County Office of Sustainability & Conservation: A Collaborative Project between the Community Foodbank of Southern Arizona, Pima County, Regional Flood Control District, and Autocase™ with Additional Support Provided by the University of Arizona, 101pp, webcms.pima.gov/UserFiles/Servers/Server_6/File/Government/Sustainability %20and%20Conservation/Sustainability%20and%20Conservation%20newsroom/Sustainable%20 Action%20Plan/AutocaseReport_FullColor_Final.pdf Weiss J, Crimmins M, Garfin G (2020) La Niña 2020-2021: An Overview of What It Might Mean for Arizona, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Climate Fact Sheet, 3pp, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/sites/cals.arizona.edu.research.climategem/files/la-nina-2020-2021-overview.pdf Weiss J, Noble J (2021) “Relationships of Brix, Titratable Acidity, and pH with Time during Ripening above and below Temperature Thresholds”. 2021 American Society of Enology and Viticulture National Conference. Online poster presentation Weiss J, Roudaut MB, Meadow A, Noble J (2021) “How Growers Help Identify When and Why Heat Matters in Vineyards”. CNRS-iGLOBES and University of Arizona tipping points working group. Online oral presentation Weiss J, Roudaut MB, Meadow A (2021) “How Growers Help Identify When and Why Excessive Heat Matters in Vineyards”. Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop, “Drought, Vegetation, and Heat” session. Online oral presentation Weiss J (2021) invited “Providing More and Better Information about Climate and Its Impacts”. North Carolina State Climate Office, North Carolina State University. Online oral presentation invited participant, “Talking Wine, Weather, and Science: Part II”, Come Rain or Shine podcast by USDA Southwest Climate Hub and the DOI Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, <a href="http://www.buzzsprout.com/1136681/7641847">www.buzzsprout.com/1136681/7641847</a> invited participant, “Talking Wine, Weather, and Science: Part I”, Come Rain or Shine podcast by USDA Southwest Climate Hub and the DOI Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, <a href="http://www.buzzsprout.com/1136681/7641388">www.buzzsprout.com/1136681/7641388</a> Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – September 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-September invited presenter, “State of the Climate for Arizona Pecan”, Arizona Pecan Growers Association 2021 Annual Conference. Oral presentation Weiss J, Crimmins M Comparison of Wind Speed Between Meteorological Stations in Coolidge and Casa Grande, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, 2pp Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – August 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-August Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – July 2021 Special Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-July-special-issue Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – July 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-July Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – June 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-June Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – May 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-may invited presenter, “Updates on an Upcoming Viticulture Web Application and a Possible Research Vineyard”, Yavapai College Grand Crew Grapevines, a Bi-monthly Meeting of Arizona Grape Growers, virtual. Oral presentation Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – April 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-April Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – March 2021 Special Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-March-special-issue Meadow AM, Weiss J, LeRoy S, “Climate Change in the Upper Santa Cruz Watershed”, Arizona Land and Water Trust, Virtual Happy Hour – Climate Adaptation, online. Oral presentation Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – March 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-march Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – February 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-February Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – January 2021 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2021-January Robinson J, Rodriguez C, Bolduc S, Weiss J, Fowell S, “Las Milpitas Autocase Project: A Triple-bottom-line Analysis Report of Las Milpitas de Cottonwood Community Farm”, Pima Association of Governments Low Impact Development Group Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – December 2020 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2020-December Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – November 2020 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2020-November Weiss J, Roudaut MB Climate Viticulture Newsletter – October 2020 Issue, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, cals.arizona.edu/research/climategem/ content/climate-viticulture-newsletter-2020-October Weiss J, Roudaut MB, Meadow A, “Stakeholders of a Climate Science and Viticulture Project Affect Research Project Vintage”, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Annual Conference, Tucson AZ. poster presentation, sites.google.com/email.arizona.edu/climate-viticulture-project/home Garfin G, Falk DA, O’Connor CD, Jacobs K, Sagarin R, Haverland A, Haworth A, Baglee A, Weiss JL, Overpeck J, Zuñiga-Teran A (2021) A new mission: mainstreaming climate adaptation in the US Department of Defense, Climate Services, 22, 100230, doi: 10.1016/j.cliser.2021.100230 Meadow AM, Weiss J, LeRoy S (2021) Climate Profile for the Upper Santa Cruz River Watershed, Santa Cruz County Arizona, A Report by the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) – University of Arizona on Behalf of Arizona Land and Water Trust, 35pp   CA Peters-Lidard, C., K. Rose, J. Kiang, M. Strobel, M. Anderson, A. Byrd, M. Kolian, L. Brekke, D. Arndt “Indicators of climate change impacts on the water cycle and water management”, Climatic Change (2021) 165: 36, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-021-03057-5">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-021-03057-5</a>.   OR: Daly, C., Doggett, M.K., Smith, J.I., Olson, K.V., Halbleib, M.D., Dimcovic, Z., Keon, D., Loiselle, R.A., Steinberg, B., Ryan, A.D., Pancake, C.M., and Kaspar, E.M.  2021 Challenges in Observation-Based Mapping of Daily Precipitation across the Conterminous United States.  Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 38, 1979-1992, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-21-0054.1">https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-21-0054.1</a> Rupp, D.E., Shafer, S.L., Daly, C., Jones, J.A., and Higgins, C.W.  2020.  Influence of anthropogenic greenhouse gases on the propensity for nocturnal cold air drainage.  Theor. Appl. Climatol. 146, 231–241. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-021-03712-y">https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-021-03712-y</a>.   Rupp, D. E., Shafer, S. L., Daly, C., Jones, J. A., & Frey, S. J. K. 2020. Temperature gradients and inversions in a forested Cascade Range basin: Synoptic‐ to local‐scale controls. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 125, e2020JD032686. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD032686">https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD032686</a>

Impact Statements

OR: PRISM provides high-quality geospatial weather and climate products to scientists and the general public through its public website (http://prism.oregonstate.edu). These GIS-compatible data products are downloaded 700,000 - 1.2 million times each month.