GST (growing season temperature) may be the climatic index of choice for viticulturists.
Pioneering cool climate viticulturist Dr Andrew Pirie, of Tamar Ridge, revitalised GST as a single measure offering a refined definition of cool climate at the opening session of the 8th International Cool Climate Symposium in Tasmania.
Pirie tested some of the current climate indices by trialling how successful they are in Tasmania, no easy task in a complex viticultural environment.
Such parameters as air temperature, soil temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind, solar radiation, UV, soil moisture and evapo-transpiration “changed more than I expected, and will all have a bearing on the climate of a vine.”
While “no one index will tell you everything” Pirie said, he arrived at GST, which has been around for some time,….
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