TECHNIQUES FOR ESTIMATING WETTING PERIODS.

 

An example is provided to show how SWD sensor data was processed into wetting periods. The calculations were made with a fortran program which can be downloaded. In this example program inputs are temperature, humidity, rain and three leaf wretness sensors but obviously the program can be easily adapted  .
 

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Example of processing of data
 
Raw data from 5 sensors in a grape canopy
Data are proportion of hour wet for each sensor
Sensors
EST
1
2
3
4
5
10
0.2
0
0.2
0
0
11
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
12
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
13
0.1
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.1
14
0
0.4
0.4
0.6
0
15
0
0
0
0
0
Step 1 - the data from each sensor should be converted into a hourly binary variable. Threshold = 0.2 of hour.
EST
1
2
3
4
5
10
0
0
0
0
0
11
1
1
1
1
1
12
1
1
1
1
1
13
0
1
1
1
0
14
0
1
1
1
0
15
0
0
0
0
0
 

 
 
 
 
Step 2 - The canopy surface area wet for each hour is alculated
EST
Proportion of canopy wet surface area each hour
10
0
11
1
12
1
13
0.6
14
0.6
15
0
Step 3 - The binary canopy surface wetness hourly variable is created from a threshold of 0.1 (10%). 

 

EST
Average canopy wet surface area per hour
Canopy surface wetness
hour
10
0
0
11
1
1
12
1
1
13
0.6
1
14
0.6
1
15
0
0
Step 4 From the canopy surface area wet calculate the wetting period
Start of wetting period 11 hrs EST
End of wetting period 14 hrs EST
Duration 4 hours
 

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