An improved model for determining degree-day values from daily temperature data (original) (raw)

Abstract

Although using hourly weather data offers the greatest accuracy for estimating growing degree-day values, daily maximum and minimum temperature data are often used to estimate these values by approximating the diurnal temperature trends. This paper presents a new empirical model for estimating the hourly mean temperature. The model describes the diurnal variation using a sine function from the minimum temperature at sunrise until the maximum temperature is reached, another sine function from the maximum temperature until sunset, and a square-root function from then until sunrise the next morning. The model was developed and calibrated using several years of hourly data obtained from five automated weather stations located in California and representing a wide range of climate conditions. The model was tested against an additional data-set at each location. The temperature model gave good results, the root-mean-square error being less than 2.0 °C for most years and locations. The comparison with published models from the literature showed that the model was superior to the other methods. Hourly temperatures from the model were used to calculate degree-day values. A comparison between degree-day estimates determined from the model and those obtained other selected methods is presented. The results showed that the model had the best accuracy in general regardless of the season.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto per il Monitoraggio degli Agroecosistemi, CNR, Via Funtana di Lu Colbu, 4A, 07100 Sassari, Italy e-mail: cesaraccio@imaes.ss.cnr.it Tel.: +39-079-268246, Fax: +39-079-268248, , , , , , IT
    C. Cesaraccio & P. Duce
  2. Dipartimento di Produzione Vegetale, Università della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy, , , , , , IT
    D. Spano
  3. Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, Calif., USA, , , , , , US
    R. L. Snyder

Authors

  1. C. Cesaraccio
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. D. Spano
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. P. Duce
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  4. R. L. Snyder
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Received: 25 October 2000 / Revised: 2 July 2001 / Accepted: 2 July 2001

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cesaraccio, C., Spano, D., Duce, P. et al. An improved model for determining degree-day values from daily temperature data.Int J Biometeorol 45, 161–169 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840100104

Download citation