The Office of the Kansas State Climatologist, hosted by Kansas State University’s Agronomy Department, has launched an enhanced version of its website. This platform is an integrated, comprehensive resource for Kansas citizens, particularly oriented toward state agencies, farmers, and stakeholders. It provides reliable climate information to support agricultural and environmental decision-making.
Website Overview
The website, accessible at climate.ksu.edu, is structured to deliver accurate, up-to-date climate data, forecasts, and end-user products. Its user interface allows for easy navigation through various sections, ensuring visitors can quickly find the information they need.
Key Features
1. Climate data and climate forecasts: The site offers detailed weekly and monthly climate reports, including temperature, precipitation, and drought conditions. We also provide outlook information for temperature, precipitation, drought, quantitative precipitation forecasting, and radar maps. This information is crucial for understanding current climate conditions and near-future climate patterns and preparing for climate-smart decision-making.
2. Agricultural and water insights: Kansas farmers can access valuable data on crop progress, soil moisture status, crop thermal heat units, and water supply (precipitation) percentiles related to a 30-year normal, which are essential for optimizing agricultural practices. This section provides insights into the impact of climate on water resources, helping farmers manage their irrigation and water usage more effectively.
3. Products: The website hosts a variety of specialized climate products, including climatology reports, extreme weather information, and ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) status updates that influence climate in the Great Plains. We also provide historical observation data (1951-2023) and projection climate data (2015 to 2100). These accessible resources are designed to help end-users understand long-term climate patterns and their potential impacts on the environment and agriculture.
4. Useful Links:
5. Data Requests: End-users can request specific climate data and access historical climate information, ensuring they have data for users’ planning and management decisions.
Summary
The enhanced Kansas State Climatologist website is to provide a useful and informative tool for Kansas farmers and stakeholders, offering a wealth of climate data and resources to support informed climate decision-making. By providing accurate and timely information, the website helps users navigate the challenges posed by changing climate patterns and optimize their agricultural practices. Visit climate.ksu.edu to explore the full range of features and resources available.
Xiaomao Lin, Professor, Kansas State Climatologist
xlin@ksu.edu
Matthew Sittel, Assistant State Climatologist
msittel@ksu.edu
Daniel Regier, Programming Developer
regierdp@ksu.edu