The Viticulture Climate Potential Indicator (VCPI): A Potential National Climate Assessment Indicator for the Impact of a Changing Climate on US Viticulture
R. MacCracken, P. Houser, 2013: The Viticulture Climate Potential Indicator (VCPI): A Potential National Climate Assessment Indicator for the Impact of a Changing Climate on US Viticulture. NASA-ROSES-2012 A47: Development and Testing of Potential Indicators For The National Climate Assessment (NNH12ZDA001N-INCA), $108,464, 1 mo (GMU), 1/01/2013 – 12/31/2013, Sponsor POC: Dr. Jack A. Kaye (202/358-2559, Jack.A.Kaye@nasa.gov).
Summary: The goal of this proposed research is to develop a Viticulture Climate Potential Indicator (VCPI), which could be used as a Potential Indicator for the National Climate Assessment (NCA). The proposed research is highly relevant to the NASA-ROSES A47 solicitation, which requests proposals that will focus on “…best addressing the needs of the NCA indicator vision…”. Key NCA indicator goals which will be addressed throughout this proposed research focus on providing climate-relevant information, impacts, vulnerability, mitigation and adaptation. In particular, the VCPI will address the need for agriculture indicators “interface between climate change and U.S. agriculture”. According to the Janetos et. al (2012), a suite of agriculture indicators are needed focusing on “how farmers are being impacted by a changing climate and/or are responding to it”. Some of the ideas of potential indicators which came out of this report are Workable Field Days During the Growing Season and Crop Distribution Maps. Addressing this specific request, the VCPI focuses on the possible increases in length of growing season, thus allowing vineyard managers and winegrape growers to adapt and respond appropriately.