agronomy agricultural physics agricultural meteorology soil science

Rashevsky, N. 1960. Mathematical Biophysics, Physico-Mathematical Foundations
of Biology, Vol.2, Dover Publications, New York.
4. Fundamentals of agrometeorology and climatology
Sun and earth; seasons; solar radiation and laws of radiation; heat balance of the
earth and atmosphere; meteorology and climatology; instruments for measurement
of meteorological elements; optical phenomena in the atmosphere, agromet observatory;
variation of pressure and temperature with height; vapour pressure; psychrometric
equation; saturation deficit; potential temperature; pressure gradient; cyclonic and
anticyclonic motions; clouds and their classification; origin and accumulation of electrostatic
charges on clouds, thunder lightening precipitation processess; artificial rain
making; thunderstorm and dust storm, hail, mist, fog and dew; local wind system;
land and sea breeze circulation; mountain and valley winds; weather charts; forecasting
methods-short, medium and long range forecasting techniques, numerical weather
prediction; El Nino and southern oscillations. Atmospheric pollution and its effect
on climate.
Weather and climate; seasonal distribution of climatological elements over latitudes;
climatic classification: Koppen and Thornthwaite systems; types of climate: humid
and dry climates; climatic change and global warming; agroclimatic indices;
agroclimatic zones; different agroecological zones for India; physical climate, climatology
of India: monsoons, rainfall variability; atmospheric and soil drought; arid
and semi-arid regions; frequencies of disastrous weather events in different regions;
climatological factors and their effects on crop pests and diseases, crop growth and
yield.
Practical
Agromet observatory-different classes of observatories(A,B,C). Site selection and
installation procedures for meteorological instruments; measurements of weather
parameters, their reading and recordings; calculation of daily, weekly, monthly means/
totals of weather data climatic normals; weather chart preparation and identification
of low pressure systems and ridges.
Suggested Readings
Byers, H.R. 1959. General Meteorology, McGraw Hill Inc, New York
Chang Jen Hu, 1968. Climate and Agriculture, Aldine Publishing Co, Chicago.
Gates, D.M. 1968. Energy Exchange in Biosphere, UNESCO, Paris.
Ghadekar, S.R, 1991. Meteorology, Agromet Publishers, Nagpur.
Haurwitz, B. and Austin, J.M., 1944, Climatology, McGraw Hill Inc.,New York, pp
410.