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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417971
Research Project: Impacts of Variable Land Management and Climate on Water and Soil Resources

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Investigating Fort Reno, Oklahoma, growing season temperature and precipitation maxima temporal variability and corresponding impacts to hydrological and agricultural observations

Author
item Flanagan, Paul

Submitted to: American Meteorological Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2024
Publication Date: 1/16/2025
Citation: Flanagan, P.X. 2025. Investigating Fort Reno, Oklahoma, growing season temperature and precipitation maxima temporal variability and corresponding impacts to hydrological and agricultural observations. American Meteorological Society. American Meteorological Society 105th Annual Meeting, Jan 12 - Jan 16, 2025, New Orleans, LA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent research has shown that the temporal variability of Southern Great Plains growing season precipitation and temperature maxima has a distinct impact on the temporal evolution of water throughout the growing season. Using the asynchronous difference index (ADI), previous results have shown that two different aspects of ADI, positive and negative ADI, are associated with an amplified (positive ADI) and reduced (negative ADI) spring precipitation season with a reduced (positive ADI) and amplified (negative ADI) summer precipitation season. Given that the timing of precipitation is critical in successful agricultural production, these results reveal a connection between precipitation and temperature maxima timing and growing season available water. However, given the lack of widespread field-based weather, hydrological, and agricultural observations, it is difficult to definitively show a widespread linkage between ADI and agricultural production. However, Fort Reno, Oklahoma, with a more than 100-year record of meteorological observations in conjunction with available hydrologic and agricultural data, represents a starting point in analyzing the role of ADI in Southern Great Plains agricultural production. This study outlines an analysis of ADI using the long-term meteorological record at Fort Reno, and further enhances this study using soil moisture, flux tower, and agricultural data to show the linkages of positive and negative ADI on agricultural production. Results show that positive and negative ADI at Fort Reno, Oklahoma is linked to different temporal evolutions of precipitation and temperature throughout the growing season (i.e., displays the same connection as what was seen in previous, regional results). Analysis of available soil moisture and flux data show the different flavors of ADI lead to distinctly different evolutions of the hydrologic system throughout the growing season, even as total precipitation throughout each growing season similar. Overall, the results shown in this work detail a strong connection between the timing of growing season precipitation and temperature maxima and the temporal evolution of growing season available water. This shows that ADI is not only a useful tool for regional analysis of seasonal weather variability and water evolution but can be used in a similar fashion at the local scale. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.