Development of weather-based products for agricultural and environmental applications

One of the primary objectives of automated weather station networks is to collect accurate weather information across space and time for a wide range of variables. However, for many people it is difficult to comprehend the importance of this weather information and how it can be applied to their personal situation. As part of the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network, we have developed a suite of products for various applications. The first set of product are time-based programs which allow the user to calculate degree days, chilling hours, cumulative precipitation, cumulative potential evapotranspiration, and a simple water balance. The second set of products are spatial-based products which provide users with an overview of critical weather variables across the entire state, using thematic maps, for the previous day. The final set of products provide an integration across space and time and show cumulative precipiation, normal precipitation and deviation from normal for the entire state. All products can be accessed via the world wide web at http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/bae. Users not only include scientists, but also many others associated with agriculture and natural resource management.