An Alberta expert on the impact on farming of climate trends is hosting a webinar in November.
Ralph Wright has managed Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development’s meteorological network since 2003. Over the past 19 years, his group has installed more than 190 new weather stations in agricultural areas of the province.
The information gathered is available on a website that provides historic and recent weather data. The project has involved gathering all of the available meteorological data going back as far as 1885.
Wright’s free webinar takes place Nov. 1 and runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register for Climate Trends and Impacts on Farming at eventbrite.ca.
The webinar will include a look at normal monthly precipitation patterns from 1990 to 2021, including an overview of this year’s growing season. Wright will also put the 2021 growing season into its historical perspective going back as far as 1902.
Edmonton and Calgary yearly precipitation patterns from 1885 to 2021 will be discussed along with maximum 60-day precipitation accumulations from 1961 to 2018.
Wright will also show how to explore weather station data from the more than 450 stations across Alberta, as well as tips on where to find climate and weather maps, how to find real-time radar and storm tracking information as well as how to access 30-year climate averages, trends and patterns.