Temperature - Agroecology: The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems - page 70

modify the microclimate to extend the growing
season for a crop? How it is possible to allow
planting earlier in the season? How it is possible
to allow planting at a higher elevation? How it
is possible to protect a crop from excessively
high temperatures?

INTERNET RESOURCES

Global Climate Change Research Reporter
www.exploratorium.edu/climate

Pew Center on Global Climate Change
www.pewclimate.org

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
www.ipcc.ch

NASA GISS Surface Temperature Analysis
(GISTEMP)
data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp

Western Regional Climate Center
www.wrcc.dri.edu

RECOMMENDED READING

Bonan, G.G. 2002. Ecological Climatology: Concepts and
Applications . Cambridge University Press. This topic
integrates the perspectives of atmospheric science
and ecology to describe and analyze climatic impacts
on natural and managed ecosystems. In turn, it dis-
cusses the feedback mechanisms on climate from
the use and management of land by people. The
topic includes detailed information on the science
of climatology, as well as specific chapters on
the interactions between climate and terrestrial
ecosystems, including agroecosystems and urban
ecosystems.
Geiger, R. 1965. The Climate near the Ground . Harvard Univer-
sity Press. Cambridge, Mass. The most thorough treat-
ment of the field of micrometeorology, or the study of
the microclimate within 2 m of the surface, where most
crop organisms live.
Hellmers, H. and I. Warrington. 1982. Temperature and Plant
Productivity. In: Recheigl Jr., M. (ed.) Handbook of
Agricultural Productivity . Vol. 1. CRC Press: Boca
Raton, Florida. pp. 11-21. A review of the complex
relationships between temperature and plant growth and
development, with a particular focus on crop plants.
Oliver, J.E. and J.D. Hidore. 2002. Climatology: An Atmospheric
Science . Prentice Hall. A textbook on climate patterns,
processes, and dynamics.

FIGURE 5.9 Precise microclimate control in a greenhouse.
Hot water circulating in tubing below germination trays main-
tains warm soil temperatures for vegetable seedlings destined
for early season transplanting.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

1. Describe several examples of farmers being able

to grow crops in an area subject to temperature
extremes greater than the normal tolerance levels
for the particular crop species. What is the eco-
logical basis for success in such situations?

2. What are some examples of food crops you now

consume during a time of the year when tem-
perature regimes in your local region would
normally not allow them to be grown?

3. How might global climate change alter our pat-

terns of food production and consumption?

4. Although we probably will never be able to

intentionally control temperature conditions at
the climatic level, we can manage temperature
at the microclimate level. How it is possible to