Tools
The tools presented below represent a portion of the tools available for the climate, agriculture and forestry sectors. The tools range from specialized calculators to maps, models and datasets estimating a variety of outputs (e.g., crop production, greenhouse gas flux, and species distribution). Certain tools may be more relevant to land managers to aid in year-to-year decision-making, while others are more useful for researchers studying agriculture and climate change. Keep in mind that all tools have limitations and make assumptions that may not be appropriate for an entity’s climate/region/crop/soil type. USDA does not endorse the tools presented below. The tool list is provided for informational purposes only, and is not exhaustive.
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Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) Educational Resources
The CLEAN Collection is a high-quality and rigorously reviewed collection of climate and energy educational resources aligned with the Climate Literacy and the Energy Literacy frameworks, and the Next Generation Science…
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LandPKS
LandPKS is a free modular mobile phone app connected to cloud-based storage, global databases, and models. It is comprised of three different modules: LandInfo, LandCover and LandManagement, with more modules planned…
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Coastal Observer
As tides rise and storms intensify, humans adapt to the changing environment. Understanding local impacts to the coast increases resiliency. The Coastal Observer App encourages citizens to monitor weather and water. The…
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Climate-wise Reforestation Toolkit
The tools and resources in the Climate-wise reforestation toolkit, 1. Reforestation Prioritization Tool, 2. Post-drought Stand Condition Tool, and 3. Best Management Practices (BMPs): can be used along with site visits…
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ShoreZone
The ShoreZone map tool can assist coastal managers in locating high-resolution images and video of the entire Pacific coast, which can be used for adaptation planning, restoration, conservation, recreation, and more.
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U.S. Drought Monitor
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are in drought. The map uses five classifications: abnormally dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming…
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Future Crop Suitability Tool
The Specialty Crop Suitability Tool provides mapped and graphical summaries of the climatic suitability for cultivating selected tree/shrub specialty crops across the west. The mapping and graphical interface, along…
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Rangeland Analysis Platform
The Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP) is an interactive web application designed to assist in managing and monitoring America's rangelands.
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Climate Change Pressures in the 21st Century: Shifts in Growing Degree Days, Plant Hardiness Zones and Heat Zones
Describes potential climate change pressures across the conterminous United States: mapping plant hardiness zones, heat zones, growing degree days, and cumulative drought severity throughout this century.