Production and Service of Agro-Meteorological Information for the Adaptation to Climate Change in Korea.

Agro-meteorological information is part of a continuum that begins with scientific knowledge and understanding, collection of data, changing data into useful information, dissemination of information, and ends with products that are used by end-users. National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS) in Korea has established the agricultural meteorological information service (AMIS) network since 2001, and provided access to current and historical agro-meteorological data from NAAS's automated weather stations (AWS) with useful information for agricultural activities. The agricultural meteorological data and products provided by NASS can help improve production and product quality, optimize resource use, and reduce environmental impact. AMIS network includes 147 automated weather stations located mostly in farm region, such as paddy field, upland field, and orchard, which are planned to increase by 200 stations until 2017. Standard weather variables include air temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, leaf wetness, and soil moisture. These variables are recorded every 5 seconds and summarized every 10 minutes by a data logger, and transmitted to NAAS's DB server using CDMA wireless communication. The data loggers are powered by a battery that is recharged through a solar panel during the daytime. Communications are handled through cell phone data telemetry and the internet. Following data processing, the agricultural meteorological information is disseminated via the web site (http://weather.rda.go.kr) to farmers, researcher, and extension service official. Our services will give detail information, not only agro-meteorological data, but agro-meteorological information, such as suggestions for future weather, crop growth and development condition, analysis of weather impact on crops, and agro-meteorological crop and disaster forecasting. State-of-the-art monitoring and information technologies will help farmers make more informed decisions. Better decisions can result in higher yield; reduced productions cost; more efficient use of resources, such as water; and reduced agro-meteorological disaster.