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The Practical applications of

computerized weather watching

"Everybody talks about the weather but no one does anything about it..." - Mark Twain

Peter Levy

Weather has always played a key role in the golf superintendent’s daily regime. Unlike most other problems at the golf course, there is no way to minimize the effects of the weather or reliably predict what "Mother Nature" will deliver. The tightening of budgets, environmental issues, and demand for higher quality playing conditions are increasing the effects of weather on day-to-day operations at most golf courses.
The National Weather Service has information, but "who lives at the airport", to quote George Carlin, and how do we access and analyze the information? If weather data is going to be a useful tool and used to save money, it needs to be site specific. This information then can be used to address the specific problems at the golf course and assist in predicting future problems from past history. High quality weather equipment is becoming more affordable, as is the software capable of analyzing the data for specific applications.

Site Specific Data
There are many sources of weather information available today. Weather information can be accessed from the National Weather Service, university cooperatives, local television stations, and even the Internet. The problem with this information is three-fold. First, the data is often difficult to access. Secondly, the information is often not representative of the conditions at the golf course. Third, the data is not timely.
Accurate and timely weather information from the golf course can be used on a daily basis to save money. A database of weather information can be utilized in four main areas to save money:

Water Conservation
Chemical Applications
Environmental Issues
Safety and Liability

By utilizing weather data, the golf course can lower their overall costs in all of these areas while improving their playing conditions. There are numerous other secondary benefits that are associated with saving money and assisting in better turf management.

A typical golf course weather station monitors temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, rainfall and barometric pressure. Optional sensors might monitor soil temperature, soil moisture, and water flow


Water Conservation One of the simplest ways to save money is to cut water and electrical usage. In most parts of the country this is easier said than done. It has always been easier to control overwatering, with all of the associated problems, than trying to catch up from underwatering. Monitoring the weather conditions can assist in knowing how much water is required to keep the turfgrass alive. Several monitoring systems today calculate evapotranspiration also known as E.T. E.T. is the amount of water that is required by a plant, which must be replaced, to sustain the plant over a given time. The water movement occurs not only from the ground to the air - evaporation, but from the plant to the air - transpiration. In most weather stations today E.T. is calculated using a modified Penman formula. The formula uses the wind speed, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and barometric pressure to calculate the amount of water that needs to be replaced. In most weather systems the E.T. is shown in inches e.g. .23" for the previous 24 hours. Based on current irrigation practices, over 50% of the golf courses in the United States could cost justify weather monitoring equipment if they could realize a 10% savings in water and electricity, by utilizing E.T. calculations.(Table 1)
Golf Course Water Consumption Table 1
The amount of water and electrical savings is dependent on the flexibility and accuracy of the E.T. calculation. If you are using weather sensors that are not very accurate, your E.T. calculation will not be as accurate. It has been shown that mowing height affects water consumption (Beard, et.al ). Different types of grasses also require different amounts of water. An E.T. system that allows the user to adjust mowing heights and grass types will greatly increase the amount of savings. Several weather stations allow the user to define different settings and one system calculates multiple E.T.’s. This allows the user to adjust watering amounts for different areas of the golf course and increase the water savings. Since the E.T. calculation is using the weather data, the more often you calculate the E.T. during the day and average the data, the more accurate it will be.

Chemical Applications
     The chemical budget is one of the largest items today at most golf courses. Chemicals are also the most regulated items in which the golf course superintendent deals. Weather monitoring is in its infancy at the golf course, but the effects of weather on chemical applications is the most dramatic area of potential savings. Not only are the savings seen in reduced usage of chemicals but in liability associated with the applications of certain chemicals.
     Time is money in chemical application. Not only can the golf course save money by optimizing the timing of chemical application, but also on the labor to apply the chemicals. In most cases the timing of the application is dependent on the weather and environmental conditions. Herbicides are not as effective if the ground is too cool. Certain chemicals become more toxic as the temperature rises and some chemicals will not even work if the sun is not out. By monitoring the weather, money on chemicals can be saved with more precise timing of applications.
     The timing of the chemical application is as important as the chemical itself. If pre-emergents are not applied at the correct soil temperature, their effectiveness is greatly reduced. The air temperature and time of year have been the determining factors for application in the past. Today a simple soil temperature probe integrated into the weather station can give precise data on when to apply the pre-emergents. A simple hand probe

thermometer can measure temperature of the soil but the inconsistency of depth, soil compaction, and calibration may wash away their effectiveness as a dependable tool.
     Pythium Blight is another disease that is directly related to the weather. Forecasting of the disease is greatly enhanced by watching certain weather parameters (Nutter, et al.). Some of the weather stations contain alarm packages which allow the users to set up the scenario for the disease occurrence. By pre-setting the conditions for pythium in the weather station, an alarm would notify the user when the conditions were met and chemical control could be applied.
     Chemicals such as Round Up are dependent on the solar radiation to optimize their effectiveness. If the weather station monitors the solar intensity on an hourly basis, we can watch for the optimum timing which may allow us to use less chemical and increase the results. Weather monitoring is most critical when these chemicals are being utilized to control unwanted grasses (bluegrass and rye), growing among dormant grasses (zoysia).
     Degree Days is a critical calculation for insecticide applications. Degree Days is the cumulative temperature between a high and low set point (Table 2). Insects cannot develop until the temperature has reached a certain degree day value (Table 3). Many weather stations calculate degree days and some even allow the user to set the high and low values and calculate more than one degree day.

HOW TO CALCULATE DEGREE DAYS

TEMPERATURE DATA		DAY 1		DAY 2		DAY 3
Maximum temperature	60		65		70
Minimum temperature	40		50		55
Average temperature	50		57.5		62.5
Threshold temperature	50		50		50
Degree-days	0		7.5		12.5
Cumulative degree-days	0		7.5		20

Table 2

APPLICATIONS OF DEGREE DAYS

INSECT NAMES	EVENT	REQUIRED DEGREE DAYS (BASE 50F)	RECOMMENDED ACTION
Southern Masked Chafer	90% adults	1526-1679	Treat 15-20 days after 90% adults emerged
Japanese Beetle	90% adults emerged	1750-1925	Females lay most of their eggs within 7-10 days of emergence
Bluegrass Sod Webworm	1st generation 2nd generation	1250-1920 2600-3010	Treat 2-3 weeks later Treat 2-3 weeks later
Billbugs	Larvae emerge from plant stem	925-1035	Treat between now and 1330 DD
Black Turfgrass Aetinius	Adult egg laying 2nd generation	100-150 1100-1160	Time treatment if needed Time treatment if needed
Poa Seedhead Formation		40-80 110-130	Apply growth regulator Too late for treatment

Table 3

     Degree Days vary from year to year. If a degree day model is used, application of chemicals can be delayed until the set point is reached. Bluegrass Sod Webworm, first generation, appear between 1250 - 1950 degree days. In the midwest this can be a 30 day swing in the date that the 1250 point in the degree day model is attained. If the superintendent typically sprays three times for Sod Webworm and the degree day set point is 30 days delayed, an application may be eliminated for the year, saving money.
     There is not a great deal of research on the effectiveness of chemical application timing. A weather station at the golf course will assist a great deal by being able to note exact times chemicals are applied and the conditions that exist. As the superintendent builds a database of timing and effectiveness of the chemicals, he will be able to better estimate the timing of the next application. As more research is done we will not only be able to minimize the amount of chemicals used but increase the quality of the turfgrass.
Environmental Issues
     Environmental issues are a concern at every golf course in the country today. Weather monitoring can assist in keeping records of the conditions that existed at the golf course when certain chemicals were applied. What are the long term effects of ground water infiltration of certain chemicals? Will the runoff from the golf course kill the fish in the pond down the stream? The weather station can keep records of this information for years and that information can be referred to in the future. By monitoring weather conditions and trends in the environmental conditions around the golf course, the golf superintendent will better protect the environment. The golf course will not save money directly by protecting the environment, but they will be a better citizen of the community. When environmental issues arise, the golf course is always one of the first to be blamed. A quality monitoring program and database of information will give you an added tool to show that you are involved and do care about the environment.

Safety and Liability
     A weather station at the golf course can save money by creating a safer work environment and documented compliance with governmental regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency not only has strict rules governing chemicals and their applications but policies concerning the environment and our employees. Superintendents not only are required to comply with the Federal Laws but each of the State agencies has local rules and regulations that are required to be followed. Most of us are aware of the laws governing spraying on windy days, but Penalties for Safety Violations VI(B)(7)C4 lists circumstances to consider and documents concerning the work environment such as temperature and other weather related conditions which "may cause stress."
     Since many of the regulations fall under state jurisdiction, it is difficult to address them in this short article. This type of regulation is becoming more stringent and our options for compliance are becoming difficult. Weather information can not only help in the prevention of accidents and injuries, but a record of weather conditions can aid in medical treatment and insurance documentation when accidents do occur.
     The concern for skin cancer is real. Some weather stations today measure Ultraviolet-B, UV-B, which is the sunshine that causes sunburn. By establishing a safety program and letting your employees know what type of hazardous weather conditions are present day to day, lowers the liability of the golf course.
     Several insurance companies are discussing offering discounts if environmental and weather conditions are monitored at the golf course. Remember, in many cases the only information available may come from the closest airport which may be 40-50 miles away. A quality weather station that meets certain standards could change the entire liability picture if a problem occurs.

Trend Analysis Based on Historical Data
     One of the most important features of an on site monitoring system is the ability to keep an accurate database of information. This historical information can be used in the above categories to assist with predicting what will happen based on historical trends. The information can also be graphed, transferred to spreadsheets for comparison of weather data to occurrences such as turfgrass diseases, and put into
presentation form for reports to the greens committee or pro shop. The more complete and flexible your database is today, the more valuable it will be in the future.
     The database of information needs to meet specific standards in order to be used most effectively. This can be addressed in the search process when talking to different vendors about their equipment. The key in the selection process is to remember that you can never go back and make your historical database more accurate. You need to think into the future about how you will use the information to make the correct selection of equipment.
The System
     Savings can be realized in all of the areas listed above with many of the weather monitoring devices on the market today. The trend in most of the weather station software is to operate in the Windows� environment. There are several units which allow the user to see the data "real-time" on the computer screen. The weather data is updating multiple times per second on the screen and in the database. Some of the systems have built in alarm packages, can calculate multiple E.T.’s simultaneously, and allow the user to define his own disease models for their specific golf course. One system can even be called from your computer at home or call you if it rains a certain amount and an alarm is triggered.
     The primary sensors required to optimize savings are temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, rainfall, and barometric pressure. Some systems allow the addition of optional sensors which may include soil temperature, soil moisture, and water flow.
     To optimize the value of weather monitoring, in all of the areas discussed, the weather needs to be recorded at the golf course. The information needs to be recorded at a minimum of one hour intervals (the National Weather Service records the information on 15 minute intervals). Several of the systems today record the data at less than one second intervals (the shorter the time interval the more accurate the stored data will be). The database needs to be user friendly and easy to access. The hourly information should be recorded and saved along with the highs and lows for each parameter on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis.

Future
     The size and power of the computer today will allow conditions to be monitored from many locations around the golf course. In the future, the golf superintendent will be able to monitor the temperature of a green at multiple places automatically. All of the data will be stored and analyzed in the computer and a screen will appear that says "Back Left, Green #5, Hot Spot." One manufacturer today is databasing weather information from all of the units sold. A national weather information database based at golf courses will be an invaluable tool for research and prediction.
     Weather information is a very helpful tool and will save money by using the information to operate more efficiently. Site specific monitoring of weather will allow the golf superintendent to make decisions more quickly when inclement weather occurs. The systems which are currently available will allow the superintendent to predict or anticipate problems that may occur based on previous patterns of weather at their golf course. By anticipating and reacting more quickly to weather related problems, the golf superintendent will not only be able to work more efficiently, but save money and improve playing conditions.

References: Beard, James B. 1995 Mowing practices for conserving water. Golf Course, Management, Oliver, John E., Fairbridge, Rhodes, W., 1987.The Encyclopedia of Climatology, Nutter, F.W., 1983. Disease Forecasting System for Warm Weather Pythium Blight of Turfgrass, American Phytopathological Society 67 (10): 1126-1128, Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P. 1992. The Impact of Environmental Regulation on Golf Course Development and Operations, The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. 1995. Membership Survey

Peter Levy is currently President of Weather Metrics which manufactures Turf Watch™ Weather Stations and products for the environmental, television, and golf course industry. He spent 20 years as President of Waterscape Irrigation, a company specializing in golf course irrigation in the midwest.

Weather monitoring and the purchase criterion for a weather station are relatively new concepts. Attached is a simple chart which may assist the readers on what types of questions to ask when purchasing a weather station.

Questions to Ask When Purchasing a Weather Station

1. Which weather parameters are monitored?

Temperature
Wind Speed
Wind Direction
Barometric Pressure
Rainfall
Humidity
Solar Radiation

2. Is the software user-friendly?
3. Does the weather station software operate in the Windows� environment?
4. Is the data presented on the screen "real-time" as it is occurring?
5 Does the information update multiple times per second?
6. Can the data be stored to be used for future analysis?
7. How often is the data recorded?
8. Can evapotranspiration be calculated for user defined mowing heights, different grass
types, and user defined time frames?
9. How many E.T.s are calculated?
10. Can alarms be set to allow the user to define own disease models?
11. Can the data be accessed from your home computer?
12. How much computer space will one year of data take on my computer?
13. Can I add additional sensors to the system?
14. Does the system require a dedicated computer?
15. Does the system calculate Degree Days?
16. Does the software calculate rain rate, wind chill, heat index, dew point, wet bulb, and
leaf wetness?

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