WaterFootprint on AgroClimate: A dynamic, web-based tool for comparing agricultural systems

• We introduce a unique, dynamic water footprint calculator for agricultural systems.
• We evaluate the tool using measured yield and evapotranspiration data from the literature.
• Water footprint impacts of climate variability associated with ENSO phase are demonstrated using the tool.
• Impacts of production region and management strategies are demonstrated using the water footprint tool.
• The tool is available at http://agroclimate.org/tools/Water-Footprint/ and the source code is freely available upon request.

We introduce a dynamic web-resource for estimating seasonal water footprints of agricultural production in the U.S. This tool provides a system-specific water footprint accounting that responds to changes in location, time, soil, and management. Modifications to an existing crop growth model were made in order to separate consumptive use of green and blue water; that is water from rainfall and water from a groundwater or surface water resource, respectively. This separation is an important distinction of water footprinting that allows for more direct assessments of impacts on water resources. The tool also provides a local water stress index, based on regional water use and available supplies, and it displays time series and cumulative rainfall during the period of crop production.