Monitoring Agricultural and Health Related Metrics At Sub-hourly Scales with the U.S. Climate Reference Network

NOAA's U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) was designed to monitor the Nation's climatic trends in temperature and precipitation. From station placement to the choice of instrumentation installed redundantly, the network was designed with climate science in mind. However, possible applications of USCRN high quality data extend far beyond climate sciences. For instance, the availability of both surface precipitation and subsurface moisture and temperature could be a vital resource to scientists investigating extreme hydrological events, including droughts and floods. With 127 stations available across the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii, numerical modeling and satellite groups have included the USCRN in their validation/evaluation activities. Furthermore, the high temporal resolution of observations can be applied diversely across many sectors, including agriculture, energy, health and others. In this investigation, the use of USCRN 5-minute data in agricultural and health industries will be explored. Metrics monitoring the frequency and duration of extreme heat events and cold spells at sub-hourly resolution will be evaluated against agricultural yield and health statistics including temperature related illnesses and mortality rates. Additionally, minutes of sunshine and humidity levels during heat waves will also be evaluated. The goal of this study is to explore the utility of USCRN high-resolution data in innovative ways to monitoring weather and climate related risks in agricultural and heath related fields.