Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
15.1 INTRODUCTION
Global warming and resultant climate change is a slow phenomenon af-
fecting mankind over the past one and half centuries and its pace has in-
creased with the pace of industrialization and population growth on the
Earth. This definitely slow and steady change in weather conditions at
regional levels affecting seasonal operations, crop phenology, yield and
quality of the produce.
Climate refers to average atmospheric conditions including gases,
barometric pressure and radiation. It is a weather condition viz. tempera-
ture, RH, precipitation, wind, and sunshine that occur for longer period
(many years) over the larger areas/region. Example-Tropical climate (be-
tween tropics of Cancer and Capricorn), Arctic climate (Near Arctic pole).
Weather refers to localized atmospheric conditions over smaller area and
exists for shorter period (day-to-day) and it changes within several hours
or days and forecasts are made daily or for few days.
Atmosphere is agaseous surrounding of the Earth surface with its com-
position (water vapor, particles and other gases), barometric pressure and
light (radiation energy) that is changing with altitude. Most important gas
with respect to climate change is carbon dioxide. However gases such as
nitrous oxide (N 2 O), other nitrogen oxides, methane, ozone and chloro-
fluorocarbons also contribute to greenhouse effect and global warming.
All these gases are known as green house gases (GHG).
Natural Environment includes everything living and nonliving things
surrounding mankind on Earth viz. weather (Temperature, RH, sunshine
(light), precipitation, wind/air), atmospheric gases (Oxygen, nitrogen,
GHG), soil (land and mountains), water (rivers, oceans, lakes and other
water bodies), flora and fauna.
Climate change (it is also referred as Global warming) is occurring due
to: (1) industrial emission of GHG; (2) use of fossil fuels; (3) extensive
construction activities destroying ecosystem, natural hydrological cycle
and affecting ground water recharge; and (4) deforestation. Natural factors
like volcanoes, forest fires and dust storms contribute very little to global
warming.
 
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