Simulated Grain Aeration and Pest Population Data for Middle East Desert Biomes

Historical weather data from 2004–2023 for 77 sites across 13 Middle Eastern countries was used to simulate grain aeration effectiveness and model rice weevil (S. oryzae) populations. The dataset includes spatially interpolated calculations of accumulated daily hours below specific temperature thresholds (15, 18, and 21°C) for key months. It was generated by the Department of Agriculture using inverse distance weighted interpolation in QGIS.

Use Cases

• Spatially interpolate the predicted S. oryzae population across the Middle East using latitude and longitude coordinates.
• Analyze the relationship between accumulated daily hours below 15, 18, and 21°C thresholds and simulated aeration effectiveness for pest control.
• Model S. oryzae population dynamics in grain storage using temperature data from 77 historical weather sites.
• Evaluate the spatial interpolation of hours below temperature thresholds for months like July, August, and September across desert biomes.

Strengths

• Data is based on 20 years of historical weather records from 2004 to 2023.
• Analysis covers 77 distinct geographic sites across 13 countries, providing broad spatial coverage.
• Includes simulated outputs for three specific temperature thresholds (15, 18, and 21°C) relevant to pest development.

Limitations

• Weather data contains interpolated values for missing dates, which may introduce estimation errors.
• The dataset is simulated and modeled, not directly observed, limiting validation against real-world conditions.
• Geographic focus is exclusively on desert biomes in the Middle East, reducing generalizability to other climates.

Provenance

Source

US National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) past weather database

Collection Method

Historical weather data compilation, interpolation for missing values, spatial interpolation using QGIS, and population modeling via the Post-Harvest Grain Management program.

Time Range

2004 to 2023

Freshness

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Geography

77 sites in 13 Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia