Harper Adams University Future Farm historical weather and Temperature Humidity Index data 2000-date

Future Farm, weather, Research, Teaching, Global Farm Platform, Regression, ANOVA, multivariate, THI, heat stress

Harper Adams University's Future Farm has compiled historical weather and Temperature Humidity Index (THI) data from 2000 to the present, using the NASA Power daily weather database centred on the farm’s location. This dataset provides comprehensive records of key meteorological variables, including temperature, humidity, and solar radiation, enabling analysis of long-term climatic trends and THI variations. The data supports research into environmental impacts on livestock and crop production, facilitating studies on heat stress in dairy cattle and the development of adaptive management strategies within the university’s agritech initiatives.

1. T2M: This represents the 2-meter air temperature, which is the daily average temperature measured at a height of 2 meters above ground level (°C).

2. PRECTOTCORR: This is the corrected total precipitation, representing the daily total amount of precipitation (rainfall) recorded in millimeters (mm), corrected for various biases.

3. ALLSKY_SFC_PAR_TOT: This is the total surface photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) under all-sky conditions. It measures the amount of light available for photosynthesis (400-700 nm wavelength) reaching the surface in megajoules per square meter (MJ/m²).

4. GWETTOP: This stands for the top layer soil moisture. It measures the moisture content in the top few centimeters of the soil surface, which is crucial for understanding soil and crop conditions.

5. GWETROOT: This indicates the root zone soil moisture, which measures the moisture level within the rooting zone of the soil profile. It is essential for assessing water availability for crops and vegetation.

6. CLOUD_AMT: This represents the total cloud amount or cloud cover, indicating the fraction of the sky covered by clouds, expressed as a percentage (%).

7. RH2M: This is the relative humidity at 2 meters above ground level, measuring the daily average humidity at this height. It is expressed as a percentage (%), indicating the amount of moisture in the air relative to the maximum moisture the air can hold at that temperature.

8. THI (Temperature-Humidity Index): THI is a calculated index that combines air temperature (T2M) and relative humidity (RH2M) to estimate heat stress in animals, particularly livestock like dairy cows. It is expressed as a dimensionless value and is used to assess the impact of environmental conditions on animal well-being, productivity, and comfort levels. High THI values indicate higher heat stress potential.