Climatology
FO 101
FOREST ECOLOGY
CLIMATOLOGY PART
A Compendium
By
Munishi, PKT and Madoffe, S.S.
August 2008
1. INTRODUCTION
Trees and animals survival and growth on given site and represent an integrated response to a complex of many fluctuating and interacting environmental factors. The environmental factors are conveniently grouped into biotic (genetic variation, stand density, competition, pests and diseases) and abiotic factors (climatic conditions, topographic effects and edaphic variables). In addition to the effects on tree survival and growth, some climatic parameters play a significant role in choice of tree species, timing and/or choice of silvicultural and harvesting operations
In this course, a description of meteorological parameters, processes, equipment, data collection, and analysis methods, and the relationship between some climatic variables and trees survival, growth, timing and/or choice of silvicultural and harvesting operations are presented and discussed.
2. DEFINITIONS
Climatology = science that seeks to describe and explain the nature of climate, Why it differs from place to place, and How it is related to other elements of the natural environment and to human activities.
Climatology is closely allied with, but often confused with meteorology
They study similar things, but separated by the length of time over which they operate.
Meteorology
The study of the atmosphere and its phenomena as well as the atmosphere’s interaction with the earth’s surface oceans and life in general.
Atmosphere
The envelope of gases that surround a planet and are held to it by the planet’s gravitational attraction. The earth’s atmosphere is mainly Nitrogen and oxygen.
Layers of the atmosphere:
Air pressure and density decrease with height above the earth, rapidly at first, then more slowly. Air temperature has however, more complicated vertical profile. Air temperature
FOREST ECOLOGY
CLIMATOLOGY PART
A Compendium
By
Munishi, PKT and Madoffe, S.S.
August 2008
1. INTRODUCTION
Trees and animals survival and growth on given site and represent an integrated response to a complex of many fluctuating and interacting environmental factors. The environmental factors are conveniently grouped into biotic (genetic variation, stand density, competition, pests and diseases) and abiotic factors (climatic conditions, topographic effects and edaphic variables). In addition to the effects on tree survival and growth, some climatic parameters play a significant role in choice of tree species, timing and/or choice of silvicultural and harvesting operations
In this course, a description of meteorological parameters, processes, equipment, data collection, and analysis methods, and the relationship between some climatic variables and trees survival, growth, timing and/or choice of silvicultural and harvesting operations are presented and discussed.
2. DEFINITIONS
Climatology = science that seeks to describe and explain the nature of climate, Why it differs from place to place, and How it is related to other elements of the natural environment and to human activities.
Climatology is closely allied with, but often confused with meteorology
They study similar things, but separated by the length of time over which they operate.
Meteorology
The study of the atmosphere and its phenomena as well as the atmosphere’s interaction with the earth’s surface oceans and life in general.
Atmosphere
The envelope of gases that surround a planet and are held to it by the planet’s gravitational attraction. The earth’s atmosphere is mainly Nitrogen and oxygen.
Layers of the atmosphere:
Air pressure and density decrease with height above the earth, rapidly at first, then more slowly. Air temperature has however, more complicated vertical profile. Air temperature
Bibliography: Ahrens, D. C. 1991. Meteorology Today. An Introduction to Weather, Climate and the Environment. Fourth Edition. West Publishing Company NY. Kimmins, J.P1987. Forest Ecology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Morgan, D. M. And Moran, M. J. 1986. Meteorology. The Atmosphere, and the Science of Weather. Macmillan Publishing Company NY. http://www.climatehotmap.org/ - Last visited August 2005 ----------------------- [pic]