85856 - Agroclimatology And Microclimatology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows the main environmental factors and their interactions with agricultural, forestry and natural ecosystems, is able to measure and evaluate them; knows how to calculate energy balance. He knows climatology and the principles that govern the climate allows him to understand the ongoing climate change. Has knowledge of possible mitigation and adaptation techniques in the new evolving climate situation. He also knows the main applications of agro-meteorology in particular environments, such as greenhouse, urban green, urban gardens and other innovative mitigation techniques of climate change.

Course contents

Prerequisites
The student is required to be acquainted with the basic knowledge of agrometeorology, of the main agrometeorological quantities and their elaborations, the basics of climatology. These notions are usually given in agrometeorology courses, but they are not present in all three-year degree courses, or in agronomic courses.

The course of AGROCLIMATOLOGY AND MICROCLIMATOLOGY is basically composed of three teaching units, a first part of Agrometeorology, a second specifically on climate change and a third part of microclimatology.

At the end of the course, the student knows the main environmental factors and their interactions with agricultural, forestry and natural ecosystems, is able to measure and evaluate them; knows how to calculate energy balance. He knows climatology and the principles that govern the climate allows him to understand the ongoing climate change. Has knowledge of possible mitigation and adaptation techniques in the new evolving climate situation. He also knows the main applications of agro-meteorology in particular environments, such as greenhouse, urban green, urban gardens and other innovative mitigation techniques of climate change.

Teaching Unit 1. Agroclimatology (12 hours of frontal lesson and 8 of exercises)
1) Introduction to agrometeorology (major environmental factors). Field exercise during which an agrometerological station is mounted, some sensors are connected to a data logger, and put into operation. (EXERCISE)
2) Acquisition and management of information sources. Climatic, hydrological and biological data. Data quality, main methodologies. Mathematical-statistical analysis of meteorological and climatic data (percentiles, heat waves, mann kendall test, etc.).
3) Energy and Radiation Balance Applied to Different Ecosystems, Estimation and Measurement of Budget Components. Processing of radiation and budget data.
4) From the energy balance to the Penman-Monteith equation. Evaporation and evapotranspiration, direct measurement methods, estimation equations from environmental variables. Crop coefficients and stress coefficients applied to the calculation of the actual evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration evolution and climatic coefficients. The energy balance in connection with the water balance, also at the territorial level.
5) Didactic excursion to DOSOLO

Teaching Unit 2. Climate Change (8 hours of front lesson and 8 of exercises and seminars)
6) Climatology and agroclimatology, climate change, impact of climate change in agriculture, adaptation and mitigation.
7) climatic modeling for the study of climate change (SEMINAR)
8) Introduction to agricultural modeling. (SEMINAR)
9) Sensitivity analysis of models.
10) Statistical analysis of GIS methodologies.  (SEMINAR)

Teaching Unit 3. Microclimatology (12 hours of frontal lesson and 4 of exercises and seminars).
11) Physical principles of climate within the greenhouse: energy balance, vapour carbon balance. Control of climate in the greenhouse. Artificial light.
12) urban microclimate: the urban heat island, parks, gardens, parking areas, crop coefficients for irrigation of urban green spaces, the case of urban gardens
13) urban microclimate, case of green roofs  (SEMINAR)
14) climatological modeling for urban microclimate, case studies (SEMINAR)
In the last part of the course Study Cases presented by students regarding adaptation and mitigation

Readings/Bibliography

- Monteith, Unsworth: Principle of Environmental Physics, Arnold, 1990.

- Campbell, Gaylon S. / Norman, John M. (eds.): An Introduction to Environmental Biophysics. Springer, New York 1998.

- slide of classes and other material, in Italian and English

Teaching methods

The course consists of theoretical frontal lessons, field exercises, which show agrometeorological tools, educational excursions, expert seminars on specific topics.

Assessment methods

Verification of learning takes place through a final exam that ensures the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills and through an oral presentation on adaptation and mitigation topics.

The exam consists of a one-and-a-half-hour written test without the help of notes or books. The written exam consists of 6 questions, open answer, up to 27 points. If 18 point out of 30 are achieved it  is possible to hold the vote or make the oral exam, which starts from the critical discussion of the written test.

The oral presentation is an integral part of the course, the students will concur with the teacher about the themes on which to make the presentation in the class, lasting about 15 minutes, the result of a group work. The presentation is up to 4 points. It is not compulsory,  for those who will not do it during the course but still want to take it,  the opportunity to take it during the oral exam.

Students wishing to take the exam in English must

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Ventura