Course - detail

LEB5039 - Climate and Agriculture: Principles and Applications


Credit hours

In-class work
per week
Practice
per week
Credits
Duration
Total
4
3
10
15 weeks
150 hours

Instructor
Felipe Gustavo Pilau

Objective
Enable the student to: a) Analyze and understand the elements and factors that shape the climate, with emphasis on energy availability at the Earth's surface and its role in various natural and thermodynamic processes in the atmosphere; b) Understand the interactions between climate and agriculture, with a focus on decision-making and agricultural planning, particularly regarding the effects of climatic adversities.

Content
1. Concepts and terminology in agrometeorology/agroclimatology and bioclimatology;
2. Principles and mechanisms involved in the formation of weather and climate: 2.1. Composition, structure, and atmospheric movements; 2.2. Earth-Sun relationships; 2.3. Climatic factors and elements: 2.3.1. Solar radiation: definitions, radiation laws, solar spectrum; measurements and estimates; 2.3.2. Air temperature: definitions; measurement equipment and estimates, thermal indices, temperature as an adverse factor for agricultural practices; 2.3.3. Air humidity: definitions, saturation pressure; partial pressure; absolute and relative humidity, mixing ratio, dew point; measurement equipment; air humidity as an adverse factor in agriculture; 2.3.4. Rainfall: formation and types, measurement equipment, interaction with vegetation; 2.3.5. Winds: definitions, measurement equipment; interaction with crops and protective measures; 2.4. Energy balance of vegetation: definitions, radiation balance, partitioning of net radiation, measurement equipment, and estimates;
3. Evapotranspiration and water balance of vegetation: definitions, measurements, and estimation methods;
4. Climate classification: macro, meso, and microclimatic factors, classifications, climate change, variability, and anomalies;
5. Agroclimatic zoning: characterizations, methodologies, maps, and recommendations.

Bibliography
1. CAMPBELL GS, NORMAN JM. Introduction to environmental biophysics. Springer Verlag, 1998. 286p. 2. MONTEITH JL. Vegetation and Atmosphere, vol. I., Academic Press, 1975. 278 p. 3. MONTEITH JL, UNSWORTH MH. Principles of environmental physics, Edward Arnold, 1990. 291p. 4. MAVI, H. S. Agrometeorology principles and applications of climate studies in agriculture. New York : Food Products Press, 2004. 364 p 5. ALLEN RG, PEREIRA LS, RAES D, SMITH M. Crop evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56, 1998. 300p. 6. DOORENBOS, J.; KASSAM, A.H. Yield response to water. Rome: FAO, 1979. 193p. (Irrigation and drainage paper, 33). 7. SNYDER, R.L.; MELO-ABREU, J.P. Frost protection: fundamentals, practice and economics. Vol.1. Food and Agriculture Organization, Roma, 2005. 223p. 8. ROSENBERG, N.J.; BLAD, B.L.; VERMA, S.B. Microclimate: the biological environment. John Wiley & Sons, 1983. 495p. 9. VAREJÃO-SILVA, M. A. Meteorologia e Climatologia. Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Brasília. 2000. 515 p. 10. VIANELLO, R.L.; ALVES, A.R. Meteorologia básica e aplicações. UFV - Imprensa Univ., 1991. 449p. 11. MENDONÇA, F; DANNI-OLIVEIRA, I.M.ClimAtoloGia: noções básicas e climas do Brasil. São Paulo: Oficina de Textos, 2007. 206p. 12. PEREIRA AR, VILLA NOVA NA & SEDIYAMA GS. Evapo(transpi)ração. FEALQ, 1997. 183p. 13. PEREIRA AR, ANGELOCCI, LR, SENTELHAS PC. Agrometeorologia – Fundamentos e Aplicações Práticas. Ed. Agropecuária, 2002. 478p. 14. MONTEIRO, J.E.B.A. (Ed.) AGROMETEOROLOGIA DOS CUTIVOS: o fator meteorológico na produção agrícola. Brasília : INMET, 2009. 530 p. 15. PASCALE, A. J., DAMARIO, E. A. Bioclimatologia Agrícola e Agroclimatologia. Editorial Facultad Agronomia, Univ. de Buenos Aires, 2004. 550 p.