Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Information Systems
Date of Award
5-2023
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Brian Bennett
Committee Members
Andrew Joyner, Ghaith Husari
Abstract
The Plant Hardiness Zone Map consists of thirteen geographical zones that describe whether a plant can survive based on average annual minimal temperatures. As climate change progresses, minimum temperatures in all regions are expected to change. This work programmatically evaluates predicted future climate projection data and converts it to United States Department of Agriculture-defined hardiness zones. Through the next 80 years, hardiness zones are projected to move poleward; in effect, colder zones will lose area and warmer zones will gain area globally. Some implications include changes in crop growing degree days, which could alter crop productivity, migration and settlement of invasive species over native species in shifted zones, and the interruption of plant vernalization, which is an important factor in establishing dormancy. The programmatic evaluation and analysis of hardiness zone change is a strategic lens for viewing the effects and rate of climate change using an easy-to-grasp metric.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Bowen, Andrew, "A Programmatic Geographic Information Systems Analysis of Plant Hardiness Zones" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4206. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4206
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Data Science Commons, Other Computer Sciences Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Other Plant Sciences Commons