The Köppen climate classification as a diagnostic tool for general circulation models

Koppen climate classification was applied to the output of atmospheric general circulation models and coupled atmosphere-ocean circulation models. The classification was used to validate model control runs of the present climate and to analyse greenhouse gas warming simulations The most prominent results of the global warming con~putationsw ere a retreat of regions of permafrost and the increase of areas with tropical rainy climates and dry climates.

Steel Sheet Applications and Integrated Heat Management

Increasing energy use has caused many environmental problems including global warming. Energy use is growing rapidly in developing countries and surprisingly a remarkable portion of it is associated with consumed energy to keep the temperature comfortable inside the buildings. Therefore, identifying renewable technologies for cooling and heating is essential. This study introduced applications of steel sheets integrated into the buildings to save energy based on existing technologies. In addition, the proposed application was found to have a considerable chance of market success. Also, satisfying energy needs for space heating and cooling in a single room by using one of the selected applications in different Köppen climate classes was investigated to estimate which climates have a proper potential for benefiting from the application. This study included three independent parts and the results related to each part have been used in the next part. The first part recognizes six different technologies through literature review including Cool Roof, Solar Chimney, Steel Cladding of Building, Night Radiative Cooling, Elastomer Metal Absorber, and Solar Distillation. The second part evaluated the application of different technologies by gathering the experts’ ideas via performing a Delphi method. The results showed that the Solar Chimney has a proper chance for the market. The third part simulated both a solar chimney and a solar chimney with evaporation which were connected to a single well insulated room with a considerable thermal mass. The combination was simulated as a system to estimate the possibility of satisfying cooling needs and heating needs in different climate classes. A Trombe-wall was selected as a sample design for the Solar Chimney and was simulated in different climates. The results implied that the solar chimney had the capability of reducing the cooling needs more than 25% in all of the studied locations and 100% in some locations with dry or temperate climate such as Mashhad, Madrid, and Istanbul. It was also observed that the heating needs were satisfied more than 50% in all of the studied locations, even for the continental climate such as Stockholm and 100% in most locations with a dry climate. Therefore, the Solar Chimney reduces energy use, saves environment resources, and it is a cost effective application. Furthermore, it saves the equipment costs in many locations. All the results mentioned above make the solar chimney a very practical and attractive tool for a wide range of climates.

Classificação climática para os municípios de Botucatu e São Manuel, SP

Climatic classification defines the geographical limits of different climate types all over the world, and it is considered essential to study similar areas. This work updates the climatic classification of the municipal districts of Botucatu and of São Manuel, State of Sao Paulo, where the experimental farms of the Schools of Agronomical Sciences - UNESP, Campus of Botucatu, State of São Paulo, are located. Koppen's and Thornthwaite's methods were used for the air temperature and precipitation data, in a 36-year period (from 1971 to 2006). For both municipal districts of Botucatu and São Manuel, the climate was characterized as being Cfa, hot climate with rains in the summer and drought in the winter, and the average temperature in the hottest month is above 22 °C. According to Thornthwaite's classification, there was a small difference due to the humidity index, characterized as B2rB′3a′ (humid climate with small hydro deficiency - April, July and August, with annual potential evapotranspiration of 945.15 mm and concentration of the potential evapotranspiration in the summer of 33%) in the district of Botucatu, and as B1rB′3a′ (humid climate with small hidric deficiency - April, July and August, with annual potential evapotranspiration of 994.21 mm and concentration of the potential evapotranspiration in the summer of 33%)in the district of São Manuel.

Classificações climáticas: variações temporo-espaciais e suas aplicações nos livros didáticos e como subsídio ao zoneamento agroclimático

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo de parâmetros climáticos como subsídio à gestão ambiental da vertente paranaense da bacia hidrográfica do rio Itararé

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

¿Fue la crisis política del Occidente musulmán del siglo XIII debida a un cambio climático? Una aproximación histórica al fin del Periodo Cálido Medieval

Durante el siglo XIII se produjo una sucesión de revueltas que supuso la desaparición del Imperio almohade y su sustitución por poderes regionales en al-Andalus, el Magreb y el Magreb al-Aqsà. La historiografía ha presentado el surgimiento y pugna entre estos poderes como un fenómeno social, político e, incluso, cultural y religioso, con el que se ha podido explicar su aniquilación o marginalización. Este trabajo pretende contextualizar los hechos desde una perspectiva medioambiental, de forma que la desintegración del califato almohade, el surgimiento de aquellos poderes y la progresión de los reinos cristianos en la península ibérica puedan entenderse desde una visión global de cambio climático y una posible crisis agrícola.

Interação genótipo-ambiente na densidade de gemas e comprimento de ramos de pessegueiro

The instability of environment between years in climates of subtropical regions difficult to obtain peach trees genotypes with wide adaptation and stable production, contributing to poor crop. The climate instability can affect development stages as flower bud and vegetative bud formation. The factors understanding that control the bud formation, presents elementary importance for effective solutions search to these problems. The objective this work is verify the temperature effect, relative humidity and rainfall on bud density and length shoot (Brindilas) and identify genotypes with more adaptability and stability for this character. Was used 12 peach trees genotypes growing in experimental orchard in the Technology Federal of Paraná State University, Campus Pato Branco with Cfa Köppen climate according to the classification. Data of rainfall, hourly temperature were collected by the weather station of Simepar. They were used three plants for genotype (rehearsal), identify five shoots per tree, in May of each year. Were carried analyzes of length shoot CR (cm), count number of flower bud (GF) and vegetative bud (GV). Also calculated the relationship between GF/GV and flower bud density and vegetative bud density. Evaluations were performer annual 2007-2014. With these data adaptability and stability analyzes were performed using Biplot methodology and correlations analyzes (Pearson) with climates variables. They used the weather data to calculate the sums of hours with temperatures below 20 °C, temperatures between 20-25 °C, temperature between 25-30 °C and temperature above 30 °C, considering the period of August 1fst of the previous period to February 28 of the following year. Pearson correlation coefficients were used for path analysis, GF and DGF as basic variables. For CR, GV and GF the highest average occurred in 2009/10 period. The genotypes ‘BRS Kampai’ and ‘BRS Libra’ highest CR. They are considered stable and adapted as the CR genotypes ‘Casc. 967’ and ‘BRS Kampai’. There was negative correlation between CR and GV for Σh <20 ° C, Σh> 30 °C and Σh with URA <50% and positive correlation between these variables and Σh 25-30 °C and Σh with URA> 70%. The evaluation of GV ‘Cons. 681’ and ‘Casc. 1055’ can be considered adapted and stable. The lowest average was presented by the genotype ‘Sta. Áurea’ though the genotype is also stable. In GF evaluation genotypes are considered adapted ‘BRS Bonão’, ‘Casc. 1055’, ‘Cons. 681’ with adaptability to all evaluated period. In path analysis was direct effect Σh 25-30 °C on flower bud density. In evaluating DGV and DGF and the variations are due to genetic effect. The most adapted and stable genotypes for DGV were ‘T. Beauty’, ‘T. Snow’, ‘Casc. 1055’ and ‘Cons. 681’. CR and GV variables are strongly affected by environment. GF is strongly affected by genetic conditions and moderately affected by environment. DGV and DGF are affected basically by genetic conditions.

Coordinated views to assist exploration of spatio-temporal data: a case study

In this paper we focus on providing coordinated visual strategies to assist users in performing tasks driven by the presence of temporal and spatial attributes. We introduce temporal visualization techniques targeted at such tasks, and illustrate their use with an application involving a climate classification process. The climate classification requires extensive Processing of a database containing daily rain precipitation values collected along over fifty years at several spatial locations in the São Paulo state, Brazil. We identify user exploration tasks typically conducted as part of the data preparation required in this process, and then describe how such tasks may be assisted by the multiple visual techniques provided. Issues related to the use of the multiple techniques by an end-user are also discussed.

Modelagem da variação horária da temperatura do ar em Petrolina, PE, e Botucatu, SP

The air temperature is a climatic element of interest for several agricultural related studies. Hence, daily air temperature from two locations in Brazil (Botucatu and Petrolina, with different climate classification), hourly recorded from January 2004 to December 2005, were analysed to verify if 24 h long air temperature variation can be predicted with 6 h interval records. Three data set were selected, with different first time record of air temperature, and analyses performed using geoestatistics to confirm the temporal dependency of records. Then, ordinary krigging was used to model air temperature variation within 1 h interval, and spherical model presented the best approach, with range of 11.6 h for Botucatu and 12.7 for Petrolina. For both locations, the time of air temperature recording was the most importnat factor on accuracy of estimation of air temperature variation. Records at 2, 8, 14 and 20 h and at 4, 10, 16 and 22 h presented the best approaches, but for records at 9, 15 and 21 h, the approach was worst.

Conceptual model for adaptable and extensible visual data exploration

Interactive visual representations complement traditional statistical and machine learning techniques for data analysis, allowing users to play a more active role in a knowledge discovery process and making the whole process more understandable. Though visual representations are applicable to several stages of the knowledge discovery process, a common use of visualization is in the initial stages to explore and organize a sometimes unknown and complex data set. In this context, the integrated and coordinated - that is, user actions should be capable of affecting multiple visualizations when desired - use of multiple graphical representations allows data to be observed from several perspectives and offers richer information than isolated representations. In this paper we propose an underlying model for an extensible and adaptable environment that allows independently developed visualization components to be gradually integrated into a user configured knowledge discovery application. Because a major requirement when using multiple visual techniques is the ability to link amongst them, so that user actions executed on a representation propagate to others if desired, the model also allows runtime configuration of coordinated user actions over different visual representations. We illustrate how this environment is being used to assist data exploration and organization in a climate classification problem.

Proteína e qualidade de sementes de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) em função da adubação nitrogenada em plantio direto

Nitrogen limitation in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) produces reduced productivity and seeds with low protein content and physiological quality. We assessed the effects of nitrogen fertilizer side dressing on the protein content and physiological quality of the seeds of P. vulgaris L. cultivars (cv.) IPR Juriti and Pérola grown in plots (soil type = Dystrophic Red Latosol) using a no-tillage system under a thick mulch of millet residues at the Experimental Station of UNESP-Ilha Solteira campus, located in Selvíria, MS (Köppen climate type = Aw) during autumn (March/June) and winter (June/September) 2005. For each cultivar, a randomized block experimental design was used with four replicates and factorially arranged treatments equivalent to 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg.ha-1 added nitrogen (as urea, containing 45% of N) applied as a side dressing during the V4-3 and V4-6 phenological stage corresponding to the 3rd and 6th completely opened trifoliolate leaf on the main stem. Supplementation with up to 120 kg.ha-1 nitrogen promoted a greater increase in crude protein at V4-3 (unsupplemented = 17.6% and 16.3%; 120 kg.ha-1 N = 24.1% and 22.3% for cv. IPR Juriti and Pérola, respectively) than at V4-6 (unsupplemented = 19.2% and 18.3%; 120 kg.ha-1 N = 21.3% and 20.3% for cv. IPR Juriti and Pérola, respectively). About 90% of the crude protein from cv. IPR Juriti was composed of soluble protein compared to 72% for the cv. Pérola. Albumins and globulins represented about 80% of the soluble protein and prolamins were lower at 0.6%. In conclusion, nitrogen fertilization up to 120 kg.ha-1 applied as a side dressing at the V4-3 phenological stage in no-tillage under a thick mulch of millet promoted a greater increase of crude protein in common bean seeds than at the V4-6 stage. The highest accumulation of soluble protein occurred at 90 kg.ha-1 applied nitrogen without having a significant influence on the physiological quality of the seeds.

Global modeling of pollutant transport and deposition from anthropogenic emission hot spots on global scale

Urban centers significantly contribute to anthropogenic air pollution, although they cover only a minor fraction of the Earth's land surface. Since the worldwide degree of urbanization is steadily increasing, the anthropogenic contribution to air pollution from urban centers is expected to become more substantial in future air quality assessments. The main objective of this thesis was to obtain a more profound insight in the dispersion and the deposition of aerosol particles from 46 individual major population centers (MPCs) as well as the regional and global influence on the atmospheric distribution of several aerosol types. For the first time, this was assessed in one model framework, for which the global model EMAC was applied with different representations of aerosol particles. First, in an approach with passive tracers and a setup in which the results depend only on the source location and the size and the solubility of the tracers, several metrics and a regional climate classification were used to quantify the major outflow pathways, both vertically and horizontally, and to compare the balance between pollution export away from and pollution build-up around the source points. Then in a more comprehensive approach, the anthropogenic emissions of key trace species were changed at the MPC locations to determine the cumulative impact of the MPC emissions on the atmospheric aerosol burdens of black carbon, particulate organic matter, sulfate, and nitrate. Ten different mono-modal passive aerosol tracers were continuously released at the same constant rate at each emission point. The results clearly showed that on average about five times more mass is advected quasi-horizontally at low levels than exported into the upper troposphere. The strength of the low-level export is mainly determined by the location of the source, while the vertical transport is mainly governed by the lifting potential and the solubility of the tracers. Similar to insoluble gas phase tracers, the low-level export of aerosol tracers is strongest at middle and high latitudes, while the regions of strongest vertical export differ between aerosol (temperate winter dry) and gas phase (tropics) tracers. The emitted mass fraction that is kept around MPCs is largest in regions where aerosol tracers have short lifetimes; this mass is also critical for assessing the impact on humans. However, the number of people who live in a strongly polluted region around urban centers depends more on the population density than on the size of the area which is affected by strong air pollution. Another major result was that fine aerosol particles (diameters smaller than 2.5 micrometer) from MPCs undergo substantial long-range transport, with about half of the emitted mass being deposited beyond 1000 km away from the source. In contrast to this diluted remote deposition, there are areas around the MPCs which experience high deposition rates, especially in regions which are frequently affected by heavy precipitation or are situated in poorly ventilated locations. Moreover, most MPC aerosol emissions are removed over land surfaces. In particular, forests experience more deposition from MPC pollutants than other land ecosystems. In addition, it was found that the generic treatment of aerosols has no substantial influence on the major conclusions drawn in this thesis. Moreover, in the more comprehensive approach, it was found that emissions of black carbon, particulate organic matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides from MPCs influence the atmospheric burden of various aerosol types very differently, with impacts generally being larger for secondary species, sulfate and nitrate, than for primary species, black carbon and particulate organic matter. While the changes in the burdens of sulfate, black carbon, and particulate organic matter show an almost linear response for changes in the emission strength, the formation of nitrate was found to be contingent upon many more factors, e.g., the abundance of sulfuric acid, than only upon the strength of the nitrogen oxide emissions. The generic tracer experiments were further extended to conduct the first risk assessment to obtain the cumulative risk of contamination from multiple nuclear reactor accidents on the global scale. For this, many factors had to be taken into account: the probability of major accidents, the cumulative deposition field of the radionuclide cesium-137, and a threshold value that defines contamination. By collecting the necessary data and after accounting for uncertainties, it was found that the risk is highest in western Europe, the eastern US, and in Japan, where on average contamination by major accidents is expected about every 50 years.

Zonage climatique viticole et cartographie numérique du Rio Grande do Sul - Brésil, par les indices du Système CCM Géoviticole.

Abstract: The State Rio Grande do Sul is the main producer of Brazilian fine wines, with four viticultural regions. The objective is the characterization of the viticultural climatic potential of the State (total surface of 281.749 km2). The methodology use the Géoviticulture Multicriteria Climatic Classification System (Géoviticulture MCC System), based on three climatic indices ? Dryness Index (DI), Heliotermal Index (HI) and Cool Night Index (CI). Based on latitude, longitude, altitude and distance from Atlantic Ocean, the 3 viticultural climatic indices were modeled and the algorithms applied to a DTM using GIS. The results show that Rio Grande do Sul has the following classes of viticultural climate: according to DI ? Moderately Dry, Sub-humid, Humid; according to HI ? Cool, Temperate, Temperate warm, Warm and Very Warm; according to CI ? Cool nights, Temperate nights, Warm nights. Based on the total surface, the most representatives viticultural climates are: « Humid x Temperate » (3,1%), « Humid x Temperate warm » (14,4%), « Humid x Warm » (52,6%), « Sub-humid x Warm » (20,0%) and « Sub-humid x Very warm » (5,8%). According to CI, the viticultural climates have a range of variation as a function of the interaction between « earlyness of the varieties x heliothermal availability ». Key words: climate classification, climate models, climatic Groups, zoning

Spatially-explicit modelling of grassland classes - an improved method of integrating a climate-based classification model with interpolated climate surfaces

Spatially-explicit modelling of grassland classes is important to site-specific planning for improving grassland and environmental management over large areas. In this study, a climate-based grassland classification model, the Comprehensive and Sequential Classification System (CSCS) was integrated with spatially interpolated climate data to classify grassland in Gansu province, China. The study area is characterized by complex topographic features imposed by plateaus, high mountains, basins and deserts. To improve the quality of the interpolated climate data and the quality of the spatial classification over this complex topography, three linear regression methods, namely an analytic method based on multiple regression and residues (AMMRR), a modification of the AMMRR method through adding the effect of slope and aspect to the interpolation analysis (M-AMMRR) and a method which replaces the IDW approach for residue interpolation in M-AMMRR with an ordinary kriging approach (I-AMMRR), for interpolating climate variables were evaluated. The interpolation outcomes from the best interpolation method were then used in the CSCS model to classify the grassland in the study area. Climate variables interpolated included the annual cumulative temperature and annual total precipitation. The results indicated that the AMMRR and M-AMMRR methods generated acceptable climate surfaces but the best model fit and cross validation result were achieved by the I-AMMRR method. Twenty-six grassland classes were classified for the study area. The four grassland vegetation classes that covered more than half of the total study area were "cool temperate-arid temperate zonal semi-desert", "cool temperate-humid forest steppe and deciduous broad-leaved forest", "temperate-extra-arid temperate zonal desert", and "frigid per-humid rain tundra and alpine meadow". The vegetation classification map generated in this study provides spatial information on the locations and extents of the different grassland classes. This information can be used to facilitate government agencies' decision-making in land-use planning and environmental management, and for vegetation and biodiversity conservation. The information can also be used to assist land managers in the estimation of safe carrying capacities which will help to prevent overgrazing and land degradation.