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connec t ion Soils Benefit from Winter Precipitation Mesonet rain gauges are not heated, so snow and ice are measured as they melt. This provides us a measure of the moisture as it enters the soil and becomes part of the state’s water budget. Of course, if winter precipitation is good for the soil, it is also good for winter crops. Moisture from snow and ice lasts longer and does not evaporate as quickly since temperatures are low. “Frozen precipitation is beneficial to winter crops,” said Albert Sutherland, Mesonet Agricultural Program Coordinator. “When thick enough to cover the foliage like young wheat, it also protects the crop from colder temperatures and acts as an insulator.” Volume 4 — Issue 12 — December 2013 www.mesonet.org WINTER ARRIVED FULL BLAST here in Oklahoma on the weekend of November 22, 2013 with snow and ice across much of the state. While this weather is not a good thing for driving conditions, it is a very helpful thing for drought and soil moisture. “Winter precipitation helps soil moisture by melting slowly, which means it has more time to percolate into the soil and not run off,” said Cindy Luttrell, Lead Operator for the Mesonet. “Our manual (people) observation stations measure both snow depth and the amount of water in a melted sample so that we know how much water to expect from the winter precipitation once it melts.” The snow to water ratio varies from 8:1 to 20:1, but is roughly estimated to be 10:1. One other thing to remember is that the –by Stephanie Bowen Altus received approximately five inches of snow during the storm on the weekend of November 22, 2013. Winter precipitation is very beneficial for the soils. Photo courtesty of Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon and posted on Twitter by Altus Air Force Base.
Object Description
Okla State Agency |
Climatological Survey, Oklahoma |
Okla Agency Code | 'CLI' |
Title | Mesonet connection, 12/2013, v.4 no.12 |
Authors |
Oklahoma Climatological Survey. |
Publication Date | 2013-12 |
Publication type | Newsletter |
Purpose | Soils Benefit from Winter Precipitation by Stephanie Bowen; Mesonet in Pictures: Soil Moisture Graph; NWS Norman Graphicast; November Brings Early Taste of Winter by Gary McManus; |
For all issues click |
C2800.6 M582c |
Digital Format | PDF, Adobe Reader required |
ODL electronic copy | Downloaded from agency website: http://www.mesonet.org/mesonet_connection/v4i12.pdf |
Rights and Permissions | This Oklahoma state government publication is provided for educational purposes under U.S. copyright law. Other usage requires permission of copyright holders. |
Language | English |
Date created | 2014-01-07 |
Date modified | 2014-05-05 |
OCLC number | 890227004 |
Description
Title | v4i12 1 |
Full text | connec t ion Soils Benefit from Winter Precipitation Mesonet rain gauges are not heated, so snow and ice are measured as they melt. This provides us a measure of the moisture as it enters the soil and becomes part of the state’s water budget. Of course, if winter precipitation is good for the soil, it is also good for winter crops. Moisture from snow and ice lasts longer and does not evaporate as quickly since temperatures are low. “Frozen precipitation is beneficial to winter crops,” said Albert Sutherland, Mesonet Agricultural Program Coordinator. “When thick enough to cover the foliage like young wheat, it also protects the crop from colder temperatures and acts as an insulator.” Volume 4 — Issue 12 — December 2013 www.mesonet.org WINTER ARRIVED FULL BLAST here in Oklahoma on the weekend of November 22, 2013 with snow and ice across much of the state. While this weather is not a good thing for driving conditions, it is a very helpful thing for drought and soil moisture. “Winter precipitation helps soil moisture by melting slowly, which means it has more time to percolate into the soil and not run off,” said Cindy Luttrell, Lead Operator for the Mesonet. “Our manual (people) observation stations measure both snow depth and the amount of water in a melted sample so that we know how much water to expect from the winter precipitation once it melts.” The snow to water ratio varies from 8:1 to 20:1, but is roughly estimated to be 10:1. One other thing to remember is that the –by Stephanie Bowen Altus received approximately five inches of snow during the storm on the weekend of November 22, 2013. Winter precipitation is very beneficial for the soils. Photo courtesty of Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon and posted on Twitter by Altus Air Force Base. |
Date created | 2014-01-07 |
Date modified | 2014-01-07 |