Development of web applications in meteorologyfor the agricultural sector

Abstract

It is a fact that extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and others, have become increasingly frequent and intense. As a result, the agricultural sector is demanding more frequent and accurate meteorological services and products that can help mitigate the impact of these events on their production. One of the goals of the National Meteorological Service of Argentina is to respond to these demands, both from public and private sectors. The Sectoral Services Department works closely with agricultural users to understand their problems and needs, in order to reduce economic losses in the sector. From the interaction with different users, two specific needs arose: 1. The creation of a web portal with temperature forecast information for detecting late frosts in San Pedro region, Buenos Aires, and 2. The development of an application that allows downloading and visualization of products computed with the SMN’s operational Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, such as the Temperature and Humidity Index, used to assess heat stress in cattle.