ee eeategegegremen ae ev aaniguLTURAL. METEOROLO mean value of the various atmospherig s or short period mmperaltife, humidity, cloudiness ang ch as presstvad rainfall. Weather determines the periog sunshine, am ra dd ease of transportation, reservoir storage, of farming opera e lution and comfort. housing, clot 7 instantancou: 1.2.2 Climate 7 ime of the atmospheric variables, or th Climate is the Jone teri Terres of the weather elements over a long composite of the dyn or area. The period of averaging weather may be period of a given Pian ths, years or even centuries. The climate normals several day Wetrked out for a period of 30 years, which is considered are emstandard to express climatic conditions for a given place. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has prepared climate n« als, for every 30-year period since 1901. (SEEM SCALES OF CLIMATE 1.3.1 Microclimate Microclimate deals with the climatic features peculiar to small areas and with the physical processes that take place in the layer of air very near the ground. Soil-ground conditions, nature of vegetation cover, aspect of slopes, state of the soil surface, relief forms—all these may create special local conditions of temperature, humidity, wind and radiation in the layer of air near the ground which differ sharply from general climatic conditions. One of the most important tasks of agricultural meteorology is to study the properties of air near the ground and surface layer of soil, which falls under the microclimate. 1.3.2 Mesoclimate Mesoclimate falls between micro and macroclimates. It is concerned with bid study of climate over relatively smaller areas between 10 and 100 km cross, 1.3.3 Macroclimate Macroclimate deals with the sti earth and with the large-scale It helps in forecasting weath : er. Ths i jon in different climates are gives semameatber. The scales of air motion in difer ‘udy of atmosphere over large areas of the atmospheric motions that cause weather:INTRODUCTION If any weather system develops under different types of climate, it persists for longer periods under macroclimates and for smaller periods Ander microclimates. The duration of weather system is given under the time scale in the table below. Table 1.2 Scales of meteorological motion systems in different climates Type of climate Horizontal scale Vertical scale Time scale (km) (km) (hr) Seer eee eee eee Meee ee Macroclimate Planetary scale 2000-5000 10 200-400 and more (8.3-16.6 days) Synoptic scale 500-2000 10 100 (4.16 days) Mesoclimate 1-100 * 1-10 1-10 Microclimate 01 02 0.1-0.2 (6-12 min.) GEREMB BRANCHES OF METEOROLOGY The science of meteorology can be broadly grouped into many branches based on method of approach, function, scale and region. Based on the method of approach, it can be divided into four branches. They are discussed here in brief (also see Fig. 1.1). 1.4.1. Synoptic Meteorology Tt deals with the cor ere at a given moment and attempts to predict changes from initial condition to a period of between a few hours and a few days ahead, by means of preparati analysis preparation and analysi of weather maps including upper air charts, aerological diagrams and satellite imagery an cloud movement\By definition, the field of synoptic meteorology studies the relationship between the atmospheric circulations and the surface environment of a region. The basic principle is to understand the large-scale wind systems over a region and give weather forecast region- or station-wise. It concerns the relationship between atmospheric circulation and local climate. 1.4.2. Dynamic Meteorology It is the backbone of 5) optic meteorology, It explains the motions and nergy transformations; whith Gcourin THe atmosphere, using the tools of mathematics and physics. Dynamic meteorology can be subdivided into the thermodynamics and the dynamics of the atmosphere. The former concerns the effect of thermal influences caused By solar amd terrestrial radiations, while the latter describes the resulting motions. The scienceMETEOROLOGY a [CAO™] AGRICULTURAL a levelop models based on 4p, y nt to di corology is mea quations, Once the i lations, nitial state of ynamic met ; n of dynam Soand thermodynamic equations, Onee hydrodynamics enown, the future state can be predicted ya, oat an objective method of weather foreeqay enstings the atmos Tei ifferential equation an objective me aiferentia et mrumerical Washer Prediction, 1.4.3. Physical Meteorology ere is that of Practical or even experimental physies,j ee mathematical or theoretical physics with which drnamic meteorologist feels more comfortable. It is a fringe study, investigating those meteorological phenomena not directly Linked with the circulation of atmosphere] Admittedly wide in scope, it connects jneteorology with other branches of science. In this respect, it occupies a position analogous to that of physical chemistry, which is a part of both chemistry and physics. If the general principles that govern the ransmission, absorption, emission and dispersion of electromagnetic energy through the atmosphere are considered, what happens to the radiation during this time is a concern of physical meteorology. 1.4.4. Statistical Meteorology (_ This branch deals with the mean state of the physical properties of air. This branch is popularly known as climatology. From the operational point of view, climatology and meteorology can be considered as one and the same. (EW acricutturat METEOROLOGY Agricultural meteorology is the science which deals with the physical characteristics of the environment of growing plant or animal organisms. It is concerned with the physical processes of the above environment, which can be exploited in the interest of agriculture to increase crop production in terms of quantity as well as quality. It is also concerned with the interactions between meteorological and hydrological factors on the one hand and agriculture in the widest sense, including horticulture, animal husbandry and forestry, on the other. In other words, agricultural meteorology is defined as the science which deals with the influence 0! Weather on crop husbandry as well as animal husbandry. Crop husbandry includes tillage to crop harvest, 1.5.1 Meteorology and Agricultural Meteorology The differences between the two disciplines have been shown as follows*INTRODUCTION Ti Veteorology Agricultural meteorology Meteorolog a e et ved either a branch of mosphere physics. It can be consider ateiogpherie PM applied meteorology, or a branch of agriculture as it deals with agriculture. i It is a product of agriculture and the weather science. Fe eave eis a branch of Tt is j nysical science. It is a biophysical science. | Tie ar weather forecasting. Tt aims at improving quantity and Te aims at w quality of crop production through meteorological skills. ‘ : rvice to the farmers is ce is the concern. Agroadvisory service se a the concern based on weather forecast. It is a linking science to society. It is a linking science to the farming community. 1.5.2. Importance of Agricultural Meteorology ‘The success or failure of agricultural production depends upon the chain of five factors viz. seed or variety, soil, weather, technology and farmer. ‘Any weak link in the chain finally determines the crop output. The Indian foodgrains production during the kharif season largely depends on the onset of monsoon and its behaviour under the rainfed conditions. | The troughs and peaks in foodgrains production continue to exist from year to year in consonance with the weather behaviour despite the technological advances that took place in the field of agriculture. The recent all-India drought in kharif 1987 and 2002 due to failure in i southwest monsoon adversely affected foodgrains production to a considerable extent (see Fig. 1.4). Even the decline in foodgrains production during the last two years was due to the occurrence of. moderate droughts. The target during 2007-08 of attaining the projected | 225 | 20 | apes | 5 BE aso 2: BE 100. f e 7 Drought ---------Drought 50-45 (1972-75) (1987-88) Piligidstigiciinaas egiedeeceedsigageia Pt Avion, PPR ESES ese 8 Se S14 Alkingia droughts and annual foodgrains production (1950-51 to 2006-07),aan yal METEOROLOGY unis [FET]_acncu ion tonnes could also not be f jon lovet of 220 million font Fl foosgrans predation Te ee niry exporienced droughts nnd Moods, several Tosi ae in the rexions in the humid tropies like Ker Similar we gavin ctop production wns Hil very ally dey 100 ey drought during summer when rains filed trom nid. 1a to ey the first week of June 1983. Such trends was a November’ 1 eueaint 2003-04 in some districts across Kerala, ‘phe noticed aun Majority of the sunfaeo waler reservoirs were very pure wae fore earatogical drought in summer 2004 due to deficit raintet id lod to hydrological drow! revit is tealised that better understanding of weytfa since 1999, Hone® il the overall effect on different processes contributing and its “Ttaral production is necessary to adopt appropriate cropping Setems, soil and water management practices. Tt is also necessary tg Show the weather conditions likely to prevail in order to bring in greaisy stability and the overall growth in the trend line of agricultural production. It is in this context that the importance of the science of agricultural meteorology can be realised for the benefit of the farming community. It has been said and rightly so that the Indian budget is a gamble in monsoon and ‘Mr. Monsoon’ is the Agriculture Minister of India, as stated by Mr. Chaturanan Mishra, one of the former Ministers for Agriculture in the Government of India, in a light vein, 1.5.3. Scope of Agricultural Meteorology Agricultural meteorology is a multidisciplinary science. Though it is a branch of applied meteorology dealing with interactions between atmospheric variables and crop husbandry as well as animal husbandry, it interacts with the agricultural disciplines viz. Agronomy and Horticulture, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Physics, Agricultural Engineering, Plant Physiology, Entomology, Plant Pathology and other allied agricultural sciences (see Fig.1.5). Hence, agricultural meteorology puts the science of meteorology to the service of agriculture to help farmers use their environment for producing mote and more agricultural output in terms of quantity as well as quality. The Scope of agricultural meteorology could also be explained through different ways and means as indicated below: * To characterize climat crop planning. To evolve weather base: tie resources of a given area for effective d effective farm operations. Fe Study exop weather relationships in all important crops and r top yields based on agrocli indices using omy es igroclimatic and spectra 0 stud: en a patra betes between weather factors and incidence liseases of varions o rn the incidence and spread, 10Us crops and forewarn the incid to th Poin appl agro,wrroouction [TA37] retin | «To delineate climaticlagroecological/agroclimatic zones for defining agroclimatic analogues so as to make effective and fast transfor of technology for improving crop yields. To prepare crop weather diagrams and crop weather calendars. To develop and revalidate crop growth simulation models for assessing and obtaining potential yields in different agroclimatic zones. ¢ To monitor agricultural droughts on crop-wise basis for effective drought management. ¢ Tounderstand the impact of climatic variability or climate change on agricultural production including quality and project future crop trends. © To develop pro-active measures against agrometeorological risks. To develop weather-based agroadvisories to sustain crop production utilizing various types of weather forecast including seasonal climate forecasts, Agronomy horticulture Plant physiology Agricultural ‘entomology Agricultural meteorology Animal husbandry Soil science agricultural meteorology alimatology, Fig. 1.5 Agricultural meteorology—a multidisciplinary science. In the strict sense, the science of agricultural meteorology is different to that of agrometeorology, though both are the same from operational Point of view. The science of agricultural meteorology deals with the application of meteorological skills on crops and animals while ®grometeorology deals with crop husbandry only (see Fig.1.1).[HEL] vomeurrynan weteonotocy [RIGHT STATUS OF METEOROLOGY ap AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY at NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL ‘The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Government g the unique institution in the country which caters to It was established in 1875. The headquarters of the IMD New Delhi, The IMDvheadquarters are known as Mausam Bhan sole role in weather forecasting is dealt in detail in one of the chayys of this textbook entitled Weather Forecasting. The : “(NDC)_was created_at IMD, Pune in 1977] where large a climatological data are maintained in computerised form from 1374 onwards. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (TM), located Pune, is another premier institution in the field of meteorological researc, in the tropics. A division of Agricultural Meteorology was also created in{gd)as one of the divisions of IMD, Pune to deal with the studies of agricultural meteorology under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It became a permanent division of the India Meteorological Deparient in TRIB) The division of Agricultural Meteorology was initially led by (June 3, 1900- January 1, 1971), who is known.as the father of Agricultural Meteorology in India. ee ~ \¢ Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Government of India has a mission mode research project under the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and Agrometeoro- logical Advisory Services, All the 127 Agroclimatic Zones across the gountry, delineated by the ICAR under the National Agricultural Research Project (NARP), will be covered for dissemination of Agrometeorological Advisory Service based on the Medium Range Weather Forecast. Till 2006, 107 Agroclimatolo, ical Zones have been covered under the project. The Department of Scenes and Teckes oe in the field of agricultural meteorology. Very recently, steps have been initiated to restructure the agrometeorological advisory services based on weather forecasting through a sin under the “iy igle-window system Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, The National Commission on ‘iculture (1976) has recommended a separate Departient of Agrometesoigy wecetbe outs Aurel Universities and the ICAR Research Institutes to strengthen teachit® penrch and extension in agricultural meteorology and to train the mand el At Present, a few State Agricultural Universitiew namely Anand Agriculti vera i Punja Agricultural Univer ie ua) University, Anand (Gujarat); Pusit) g ‘sity, Ludhiana; CCS Haryana Agricultural Universi Hissar; Kerala Agricultural University, Velen ‘Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidhyapeeth, Pune; Indira Gandhi, Agricultural University, of Indi,is 2s, in ts rs te m de i pe inopuetion [AB Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat; N.D. University of Agri ° and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad; and ‘Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore have started P.G. programmes in Agricultural Meteorology. In addition to the above, the Division of Agricultural Physics, [ART Now Delhi, offers courses in Agricultural Meteorology at P.G. and Ph.D, levels, and it has a strong multidisciplinary team to carry out research in agricultural meteorology under the Division of Agricultural Physics, A few more State Agricultural Universities are likely to start P.C. programmes in the field of agricultural meteorology to meet the growing demand for technical personnel. Besides, almost all State Agricultural Universities have separate units in the field of agricultural meteorology. The ICAR started a separate “All-India Co-ordinated Research Project on Agrometeorology” (AICRP on Agrometeorology) in 1985 under Dryland Agriculture and attached to the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), located in Hyderabad. Many State Agricultural Universities across the country participate in its co-ordinating research programmes on different crops and carry out need based research in agrometeorology. The ICAR also supports research projects in agricultural meteorology. Research in agrometeorology was initiated on crop-wise basis for the first time in India in the 1970s at International Crops Research Institute ent “‘Tropics“(ICRISAT), located in Hyderabad. This is one of the premier international institutes whére-thrust is given on climate- based research as the name of the institute itself indicates, The Andhra University, Waltair, and the Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin are the two premier universities where teaching programmes are undertaken at the Masters degree level in the field of Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences. The Department of Meteorology and Oceanography, Andhra University also offers a two-year postgraduate course in the field of meteorology with agricultural meteorology as a special subject. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), located in Geneva (Switzerland), is the nodal organization to develop the science of meteorology all over the world. The World Meteorological Day falls on 28rd March, which is celebrated by ‘meteorologists all over the world every year, Tocussing annual themes related to the science and its impact on society. The WMO works together with the member countries in monitoring, understanding and predicting weather. It also looks at the development of science of agricultural meteorology as one of its major activities. The Commission for Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM) is one of the eight technical commissions of the WMO, which provides technical assistance to the member countries in improving agrometeorological Services, The WMO also organizes frequent international conferences on latest issues related to meteorology/climatology/agricultural meteorology to create awareness among the member countries. India is one of the— — rEOROLOGY agnicuLTURAl ME ra est focus all over the world is on of ectors by 2100. imate ‘The lat ries. reo on various 5 ts impact membe! change and i GESTED READINGS REFERENCES/SUG logy Today—An Introduction to Weather, Clim Meteor oey co ved., Brooks/Cole, California, 2000, p. 9, ogy, Agromet Publishers, Nagpur, 2001, p. 25) ural Meteorology, Rawat Publications, Jaipur, Ahrens, C.D. and the Environme Ghadekar, A-E., Meteoro! Gopalaswamy, N., Agricult 1994, p. 153. Kakde, J.R., Agricul New Delhi, p. 387. Lutgens, F.K. and Tarbuck, B.J., The Atmosphere, 7th ed., Prentice-Hall Inc., London, 1998, p. 434. Menon, P.K., Our Weather, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 1988, p. 349. National Commission on Agriculture, Climate and Agriculture, Abridged Report: 4, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Department of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi, 1976, pp.152~236. Petterson, S., Introduction to Meteorology, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1958, p. 827. Rao, G.S.L-ELV.P., Agricultural Meteorology, 2nd ed., Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, India, 2005, p. 326. Riehl, H., Introduction to the Atmosphere, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1965, p. 365. ‘Trewartha, G.T., An Introduction to Climate, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1954, p. 395. tural Climatology, Metropolitan Book Company, QUESTIONS 1. Define meteorology and agricultural meteorology. 2. Distinguish between (a) Weather and climate e ee and agricultural meteorology ural meteorol 3. Write short notes on: eerie (a) Greenhouse effect (b) Ozone (©) Branches of meteorology (@) Importance of agricultural meteorology (6) Scope of agricultural meteorology © Aerosol cooling (8) Scales of climate