August 20, 2024
Introducing the Kansas State Climatologist Website
The Office of the Kansas State Climatologist, hosted by Kansas State University’s Agronomy Department, has launched an enhanced version of their website. This platform is an integrated, comprehensive resource for Kansas citizens, particularly oriented towards state agencies, farmers, and stakeholders, providing 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 that visitors are able 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, and crop thermal heat units and water supply (precipitation) percentiles related to a 30-year normal, which are essential for optimizing agricultural practices. This section’s purpose is to 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: ‘Old Climate Site’ links to our previous site. This website will continue to be maintained by the Kansas Mesonet and all tools will remain available through this link. The ‘Kansas Mesonet’ section links to a network of 85 automated weather stations across the state, providing real-time weather data. This network is a valuable tool for farmers and researchers, offering detailed information on local weather conditions. We also include useful links that may facilitate users to effectively navigate information.
5. Data Requests: End-users can request specific climate data and access historical climate information, ensuring that they have data needed for users’ planning and management decisions.
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.