The Staff of the Florida Climate Center

Auburn University Extension and Climate Specialist Brenda Ortiz hosted the Alabama Corn and Wheat short course at Auburn University on December 15 - 16, 2014. The course had a variety of invited speakers addressing nutrient management, soil and water management, along with a variety of other important topics. Florida State Climatologist David Zierden gave a presentation about climate variability, the development of a weak El Niņo and the implications it may have to corn and wheat management. El Niņo conditions typically lead to cool temperatures for Alabama and above average precipitation in the Southern half of the state during the winter months. Farmers and producers can take advantage of predictability in certain climate variations, such as El Niņo, to reduce weather-related risks and maximize profit.

In early December, Assistant State Climatologist Melissa Griffin traveled to Canopy Oaks Elementary School gave 45-minute presentations about the basics of weather that is taught in the weather, climate and water cycle science curriculum to 5th grade students. Before the end of the month, Ms. Griffin, along side COAPS Outreach Coordinator Brittany Pace, went to West Gadsden High School to teach 7th and 8th grade students how energy provided by the sun influences global patterns of atmospheric movement and the temperature differences between air, water and land. The students learned about radiation, conduction and convection through a presentation and variety of hands-on experiments.