Abstract

RUIZ-CORRAL, José Ariel; MEDINA-GARCIA, Guillermo  and  GARCIA ROMERO, Giovanni Emmanuel. Agroclimatic information system for Mexico-Central America. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.1, pp.1-10. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v9i1.843.

An information system was obtained consisting of monthly, seasonal and annual raster images, corresponding to climatic and agroclimatic parameters for the Mexico-Central America region. This achievement involved the creation of daily and monthly climatic data bases for the period 1961-2010, review of information to eliminate aberrant data and estimate lost data; geographic interpolation using the Anusplin method to generate monthly raster images of basic climatic variables (maximum temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation), map algebra and spatial analysis to generate agroclimatic parameters derived from the basic climatic variables; use of climate information from a network of automated agrometeorological stations to estimate parameters adjusted to the reference method; estimation of agroclimatic parameters through indirect methods and use of information derived from data assimilation models for the generation of complementary agroclimatic parameters. The results showed the obtaining of an information system composed of raster images that represent the average value for the 1961-2010 period of 144 monthly variables (maximum temperature Tx, minimum temperature Ti, average temperature Tm, thermal range RT, thermal sum ST, cumulative development day degrees GDD, photoperiod F, precipitation P, potential evapotranspiration ETP, humidity index IH, solar radiation Rs and relative humidity RH); 41 seasonal variables corresponding to the growing season (previous variables plus duration of growing season DEC, and number of wet months MH= P≥ ETP); 13 annual variables (same monthly variables plus number of wet months) and the variable altitude. The raster images are referenced in the WGS system, can be used in any geographic information system (SIG) and have a resolution of 30” arc. The system is potentially useful to characterize the variation of agroclimatic conditions in Mexico and Central America.

Keywords : Central America; seasonal and annual; growing season; raster images; Mexico; monthly agroclimatic parameters.