Meteorology - Climatology

1. Introduction to Meteorology and Climatology, weather and climate, the scope of Agricultural Meteorology

2. The earth’s atmosphere (evolution, composition, vertical structure)

3. Radiation (radiation laws, solar radiation, long-wave radiation), greenhouse effect, the energy budget of the planet. Energy budget at the surface, heat transfer in the ground

4. Air temperature, temporal and spatial variations of air temperature, temperature inversions, ground temperature, sea surface temperature

5. Atmospheric pressure, temporal and spatial variations of air pressure, pressure gradient, weather maps

6. Wind, local winds

7. Atmospheric humidity, evaporation, evaporotranspiration, clouds, precipitation, fog, snow

8. Atmospheric stability

9. Micrometeorology, turbulent fluxes, energy and mass exchanges between biosphere and atmosphere

10. Air masses and fronts, depressions, anticyclones, thunderstorms

11. The earth’s climate system, climate classification, climate indices, the Koppen climate classification, the climate of Greece

12. Climate and phenology, microclimates, climate interactions with plants and animals

13. Weather forecast for agricultural purposes. Hail and weather modification (hail suppression). Microclimate modification for crop protection (frost protection, wind protection- windbreaks)