Colorado Parks & Wildlife Research Library

Methods of synthesizing the diurnal temperature curve were tested for their ability to replicate both hourly temperatures and growing degree-hours.

Work with solar radiation reaching the earth's surface frequently requires a knowledge of the extraterrestrial solar radiation. A method of calculating extraterrestrial solar radiation over various time scales (i.e. instantaneous, hourly, daily, etc.) with known errors is detailed.

This project was undertaken to adapt the Palmer Index model to Colorado. The state was divided into 25 climatic region rather than 5. Comparisons with the original indexes show noticeable differences and considerable small scale detail which previously could not be resolved. With the new small regions it is now reasonable to use contour analysis of Palmer Index values to visually describe local variations in drought severity across Colorado.