meteorological services’ role in agrometeorology
DESCRIPTION
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES’ ROLE IN AGROMETEOROLOGY. By Keithley Meade Director, Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services Phone: 1-268- 462-4606 Cell: 1-268-764-2139 Email: [email protected]. What is weather?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES’ ROLE METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES’ ROLE IN IN AGROMETEOROLOGY AGROMETEOROLOGY
ByBy
Keithley Meade Keithley Meade Director, Antigua and Barbuda Director, Antigua and Barbuda
Meteorological ServicesMeteorological Services
Phone: 1-268- 462-4606Phone: 1-268- 462-4606Cell: 1-268-764-2139Cell: 1-268-764-2139
Email: Email: [email protected]
What is weather?What is weather?
Weather is the state of the Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and atmosphere at a specific time and place with respect to heat or cold, place with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness.clearness or cloudiness.
Climate is the weather at some Climate is the weather at some location averaged over some long location averaged over some long period of timeperiod of time..
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What is weather?What is weather? Weather is defined by elements which are
measured either by special instruments or are observed. These measurements are then recorded and used in the making of weather reports, forecasts and climate graphs. Some elements are:
Temperature Rainfall Wind speed & Direction Air Pressure Visibility Cloud Cover Sunshine 3
Weather SystemsWeather Systems
Weather systems that affect Antigua Weather systems that affect Antigua and Barbuda annually are typically:and Barbuda annually are typically:
High pressure ridgesHigh pressure ridges Tropical wavesTropical waves TroughsTroughs FrontsFronts Storms/hurricanesStorms/hurricanes
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Climate - Definition
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Climate is defined more rigorously as the statistical description of weather in
terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over a period of
time ranging from months to thousands or millions of years
Climate Change – Definition
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Climate Change - Variability
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Expected climate change impacts for Expected climate change impacts for region includeregion include: Increased temperatures
Reduced agricultural yieldsIncreased danger of wild fireHeat stress injury and deathCoral bleachingBiodiversity lossIncreased emergence of vector
borne diseasesIncreased water demand
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Climate Change: Challenges for the Caribbean
Changes in rainfall patternsIncreased frequency of droughtsIncreased frequency of heavy precip
eventsDecreased fresh water availabilityLower agricultural yields/crop
damage and increase livestock death
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Climate Change: Challenges for the Caribbean
Climate Change: A priority for the Caribbean
Increased intensity of storm activity2 – 11% increase in intensity by 2100Increased number of major hurricanes20% increase in precip rate within
100 km6 – 34% decrease in frequency
globally Decrease in number of named storms
Note: These are global numbers10
Meteorological Services’ Role
Provide information services based on the weather elements that we collect . ►Drought and Precipitation Statement ►Temperature Statement ►Wind Statement ►Monthly Weather Summaries ►Yearly Weather Summaries ►Hurricane Season Summary ►Antiguan Hurricanes and Storms - 1851 to 2010
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Meteorological Services’ Role
►Climate Data Forecasts/Outlooks ►7-Day Forecast for Antigua ►7-Day Forecast for Barbuda ►3 to 10 Day Hazardous Weather Outlook ►Monthly Weather ►Seasonal Weather ►Wet Season Weather ►El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) ►Tropical Cyclones
All of this information can be found on our website at www.antiguamet.com 12
CONCLUSIONS
Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services will work with CAMI to Services will work with CAMI to strengthen our delivery of Agro-strengthen our delivery of Agro-meteorological services to farmers in meteorological services to farmers in Antigua and Barbuda.Antigua and Barbuda.We will work with CAMI to strengthen our We will work with CAMI to strengthen our data collection and improve our staff’s data collection and improve our staff’s ability to interpret data collected to ability to interpret data collected to produce relevant information.produce relevant information.We will use our reputation as a forecasting We will use our reputation as a forecasting entity to encourage farmers to use Agro-entity to encourage farmers to use Agro-meteorological information.meteorological information.Will seek to reestablish a data culture and Will seek to reestablish a data culture and pledge any expertise that we can provide pledge any expertise that we can provide in this regard.in this regard.
Any Any Questions?Questions?