Climatology and agrometeorology

Duration

48h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Michel Erpicum, Bernard Tychon

Coordinator

Bernard Tychon

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Climatology part:
Essential notions for the understanding of the different climate conditions in emerging countries and other ones are considered in a context of general and regional atmospheric circulations. The most appropriate climate classification for these regions is explained. A particular attention is paid to rainfall patterns and to spatio-temporal daily precipitation variability.
Combinations of the basic climate variables of the inter and subtropical countries are analysed. (atmospherical soundings will be interpreted)
Agrometerology part:

• Definition and analyse of the radiation, radiative balance; water and energy balance of a crop soil ; soil temperature conduction; water and energy exchange by convection
• Calculation of the evapotranspiration, agroclimatic zoning
• Application of a crop growth monitoring system
• Agrometeorological specific instruments

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, the student will know the bases of the climatology and of the agrometeorology of inter and subtropical regions and will be able to apply them to some major environmental problems.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

notions of physics (thermodynamic), of biology and geography

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

• calculation of potential and actual evapotranspiration
• use of yield forecasting models, water stress periods analysis
• meteorological observations in a weather station (daily observations)
• agrometeorological exercises based on observations of our weather station
• basic processing of meteo simultaneous data

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

2 to 3-hour lectures (one of two times par day) according to time availabilities.
Alternation of theory and practical works.

Recommended or required readings

• Powerpoint presentations and paper copies
• References of web sites
• Guyot, climatologie de l'environnement, 2nd edition

Assessment methods and criteria

• written exam
• report to defend during the oral exam

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

No particular remarks.
Partim climatology given in 5 5-hour days (lessons in interactions with the students and with the recourse to internet for the interactive or documentary aspects.
with a portable PC for at least three students.
Examination of the partim climatology to Arlon in January, date to fix. Written examination (with practical test and reasoning to be exposed)

Contacts

Michel ERPICUM

(michel.erpicum@ulg.ac.be)

Bernard TYCHON

(Bernard.Tychon@ulg.ac.be)