3. Climatic Site Selection Factors

Overall climate suitability map

Overall the most suitable areas in the county are along the southern shore of Cayuga Lake. The East shore of Seneca lake is less suitable, presumably because it has a higher mean elevation. This map does not take into consideration local topographic influences which may alter air drainage or radiation balances. The west shores of the lakes may be more favourable and the East shoresless favorable than indicated due to the nfluence of prevailing winds moving accross the relatively warmer lake surface.

Figure Realative climatic suitability for grape production in Seneca County. Yellow indicates least favorable and red most favorable. Map is based on extreme cold temperatures and length of frost free days. The data presented at a 1 km2 resolution and does not account for local topographic influences.

3.1 Extreme cold temperature

3.2 Length of growing season

Methodology for construction of climatic maps

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