Difference between revisions of "Grow Degree Calculator"
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=== GDC Plot === | === GDC Plot === | ||
| − | The Grow Degree Calculator (GDC) project is based on the WRF Hindcast project and calculates the Grow Degree values for either crops or insects. Users can enter the temperature parameters, location, and start and end dates for the organism of interest. Output includes an image of the total accumulated values over the target sector, a plot of accumulated values over time, and a text report. | + | The Grow Degree Calculator (GDC) project is based on the [[WRF Hindcast]] project and calculates the Grow Degree values for either crops or insects. Users can enter the temperature parameters, location, and start and end dates for the organism of interest. Output includes an image of the total accumulated values over the target sector, a plot of accumulated values over time, and a text report. |
Accumulated grow degree values are important for agriculture because it can accurately predict organism behavior. For example, knowing the accumulated grow degree values throughout a season, farmers can say when orchard trees will blossom, or when insects will hatch, and more. Click [http://agrineer.org/gdc/gdc.php here] to use the GDC application. | Accumulated grow degree values are important for agriculture because it can accurately predict organism behavior. For example, knowing the accumulated grow degree values throughout a season, farmers can say when orchard trees will blossom, or when insects will hatch, and more. Click [http://agrineer.org/gdc/gdc.php here] to use the GDC application. | ||
The GDC application calculates a location's accumulated grow degree value from historical [[WRF Hindcast]] data stored on our server. The user customizes the calculation request by entering temperature parameters, location, and run dates. The application determines which sector and data pixel to use, gets historical daily minimum and maximum temperatures, calculates and accumulates the grow degree units over the run dates given for the pixel location. | The GDC application calculates a location's accumulated grow degree value from historical [[WRF Hindcast]] data stored on our server. The user customizes the calculation request by entering temperature parameters, location, and run dates. The application determines which sector and data pixel to use, gets historical daily minimum and maximum temperatures, calculates and accumulates the grow degree units over the run dates given for the pixel location. | ||
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[[File:Gdchowto2.png|center|Guide to GDC application.]] | [[File:Gdchowto2.png|center|Guide to GDC application.]] | ||
Revision as of 14:02, 12 June 2017
The Grow Degree Calculator (GDC) project is based on the WRF Hindcast project and calculates the Grow Degree values for either crops or insects. Users can enter the temperature parameters, location, and start and end dates for the organism of interest. Output includes an image of the total accumulated values over the target sector, a plot of accumulated values over time, and a text report.
Accumulated grow degree values are important for agriculture because it can accurately predict organism behavior. For example, knowing the accumulated grow degree values throughout a season, farmers can say when orchard trees will blossom, or when insects will hatch, and more. Click here to use the GDC application.
Contents
Procedure
The GDC application calculates a location's accumulated grow degree value from historical WRF Hindcast data stored on our server. The user customizes the calculation request by entering temperature parameters, location, and run dates. The application determines which sector and data pixel to use, gets historical daily minimum and maximum temperatures, calculates and accumulates the grow degree units over the run dates given for the pixel location.
Calculation of Grow Degree
Links of Interest
Input Form
The input form of the application is divided into three components: temperature, location, and run dates.
Temperature
Organisms (plants and insects) have a range of temperatures in which they can grow. The base input value is the lowest temperature for the organism to grow. Likewise, the upper input value is the highest temperature for the organism to grow. Temperatures values are in Celsius.
Location
Location input requires decimal degree latitude and longitude values. If values are not within the active sectors, error messages will appear in the text report panel of the application. See WRF Hindcast for current operational sectors.
Run Dates
The start and end date specify when to accumulate the grow degree values. Dates are given in the YYYYMMDD format, eg. March 5, 2017 would be 20170305.
Output
GDC Image
GDC Plot
The Grow Degree Calculator (GDC) project is based on the WRF Hindcast project and calculates the Grow Degree values for either crops or insects. Users can enter the temperature parameters, location, and start and end dates for the organism of interest. Output includes an image of the total accumulated values over the target sector, a plot of accumulated values over time, and a text report.
Accumulated grow degree values are important for agriculture because it can accurately predict organism behavior. For example, knowing the accumulated grow degree values throughout a season, farmers can say when orchard trees will blossom, or when insects will hatch, and more. Click here to use the GDC application.
The GDC application calculates a location's accumulated grow degree value from historical WRF Hindcast data stored on our server. The user customizes the calculation request by entering temperature parameters, location, and run dates. The application determines which sector and data pixel to use, gets historical daily minimum and maximum temperatures, calculates and accumulates the grow degree units over the run dates given for the pixel location.
1. Temps (celsius)
Organisms (plants and insects) have a range of temperatures in which they can grow. Example: 5, 30
base 5
The base input value (celsius) is the lowest temperature at which the organism can grow.
upper 30
The upper input value (celsius) is the highest temp at which the organism can grow.
2. Location (decimal degrees)
Note: currently about 1/3 of the geographical area of the 'lower 48' states is available for processing. See WRF Hindcast for current operational sectors. If the values are not within the active sectors, error messages will appear in the text report panel of the application.
The latitude and longitude values of the area of interest, in decimal form. Example: 32.25049, -106.74516
latitude 32.25049
longitude -106.74516
3. Rundates (yyyymmdd)
The start and end date specify when to accumulate the grow degree values. Dates are given in the YYYYMMDD format, eg. March 5, 2017 would be 20170305. Example: January 1, 2017; April 6, 2017
start 20170101
end 20170406
4. Apply
Run the application with the provided values of Temps, Location, and Rundates
5. 3 tabs: 3.3km, 10km, 30km
Based on the latitude and longitude values provided by the user, clicking on a tab will display the processed accumulated Grow Degree image of the area of interest. All 3 images are 171 x 171 pixels in size but the resolution of each pixel varies in each of the 3.
3.3km each pixel in this image represents an area approx. 3.3 km high by 3.3 km wide.
10km each pixel in this image represents an area approx. 10 km high by 10 km wide.
30km each pixel in this image represents an area approx. 30 km high by 30 km wide.
Clicking on the '+' in the image will 'zoom-in' the image.
Clicking on the '-' in the image will 'zoom-out' the image.
Clicking on the 'house' in the image will restore the image to its initial display size and position.
Clicking and holding down the left button on the mouse enables moving the image.
In the 3.3km image you should see a small blinking black square in the image. Your latitude and longitude of interest will be inside this square. Use the '+' sign or the wheel on your mouse to zoom in. Move the mouse around inside the square until the latitude and longitude values shown in #6 approximate the values you entered in #2 for latitude and longitude. It is very unlikely they will match exactly.
If you don't see the small blinking black square it's because the underlying or surrounding area is also black or blackish. In this case move the mouse around in the image and look at the latitude and longitude values displayed in #6 until you have homed in on the desired area, then zoom in, etc.
6. Latitude, Longitude, GDC value
Each pixel of the displayed image (171 x 171 pixels = 29,241 pixels) has values representing the pixel's latitude, longitude, and the calculated Grow Degrees. Move your mouse over the image and watch #6 to see the results.
7. Plot of Grow Degrees during the provided Rundates for the provided area of interest (latitude and longitude).
8. Text report
Text description of the GDC run and its results.
