COURSE OUTLINE / SCHEDULE - Semester II (2024-25)

Course No. Agromet 102

Title: Introductory Agrometeorology and Climate Change Cr Hrs = 1+1

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Course Objectives:
1. To introduce the students with agrometeorology and its application in agriculture.

2. To acquaint the students with modification of weather parameters, weather forecast and
climate change.

Why this course??

This course is meant to introduce the students with climatology, Agrometeorology,
earth’s atmosphere and the impact of weather parameters/ climate change on crop production.
The students will also understand how the climate change will impact crop and animal
production and distribution. Apart from this, it will be helpful for the students to understand
different techniques of the weather forecast and monsoon mechanism. This course will enhance
understanding of the students about the weather hazards and agro climatic regions of Punjab.
Impact of climate change on agriculture is one of the major deciding factors influencing
the future food security of mankind on the earth. Agriculture is not only sensitive to climate
change, but it is also one of the major drivers for climate change. This course will enable the
students to understand crop-weather relation, temporal changes in weather/climate and
management practices towards achieving better harvest as weather variability is posing a great
challenges to the growth of agriculture sector.
A 1. Syllabus Theory (RIB): Agrometeorology – definition, scope. Earth atmosphere - its
composition, extent and structure. Atmospheric weather variables. Elements and factors of
weather and climate. Atmospheric pressure. Wind, types, daily and seasonal variation. Cyclone,
anticyclone. Land and sea breeze. Solar radiation - solar constant, depletion, short and long
wave, thermal radiation, net radiation, albedo. Atmospheric temperature, inversion, lapse rate,
daily and seasonal variations, vertical profile. Energy balance of earth. Atmospheric humidity,
saturation vapor pressure, condensation. Dew, fog, mist, frost. Precipitation, process, types.
Cloud formation and classification. Artificial rainmaking. Monsoon - mechanism and importance
in Indian agriculture. Weather hazards. Agriculture and weather relations. Modifications of
microclimate. Climatic normals for crop and livestock production. Weather forecasting – types
and applications. Climate change and impacts on agriculture.

2. Course Outline / Lecture schedule:

Sr. no. Topic No. of Pages of

lectures book
Introduction to General Climatology:
1. 1 B 5 - 11
Weather & Climate and its importance

1
 Agrometeorology – Definition, branches, practical utility A 1 – 12
2. 2
and future scope
Structure and Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere: A 16 – 23
3. Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere 2 A 27 – 34
Vertical Distribution of Temperature and Pressure
Atmospheric weather variables A 36 – 58
4. 2
Elements and Factors of Weather and Climate
Atmospheric pressure. Wind, types, daily and seasonal A 47-51
variation. Cyclone, anticyclone. Land and sea breeze. B 81-90
5. 1
B 162-170

6. Solar radiation - solar constant, depletion, short and long

A -70-84
wave, thermal radiation, net radiation, albedo. Energy 1
C 7-8
balance of earth
Atmospheric temperature, inversion, lapse rate, daily and A 36-47
7. 1
seasonal variations, vertical profile. B 65-69
Atmospheric humidity, saturation, vapor pressure,
8. condensation. Dew, fog, mist, frost. Precipitation, process, 2 A 86-111
types. Cloud formation and classification
Artificial rainmaking. Monsoon - mechanism and A 313-317
9. 1
importance in Indian agriculture A 200-212
Weather hazards. Agriculture and weather relations. C 152 - 164
10. 1 A 135-140
A 161-175
Modifications of microclimate. A 301-312
11. 1
C 158-172
Climatic normals for crop and livestock production. A 154-159
12. 1
C 126-147
13. Weather forecasting – types and applications. 2 A 324-338
14. Climate change and impacts on agriculture 2 A 247-265
Total 20

Recommended Text Books for Agromet 102:

A. Mahi G S and P K Kingra. 2018. Fundamentals of Agrometeorology and Climate

Change. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
B. Lal D S. 1998. Climatology. Sharda Pustak Bhawan, Allahabad.
C. Mavi H S. 1994. Introduction to Agrometeorology (Second Edition) Oxford, IBH, New
Delhi.

2
Name of the teacher: -
B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.)
Section A- Dr.L.K. Dhaliwal (T) and Dr. Sukhjeet Kaur (P)
Section B- Dr P K Sidhu (T) and Dr Sarabjot Kaur Sandhu (P)
Section C- Dr. Sompal Singh (T) and Dr. R.K. Pal (P)
Objective of the practicals:

1. Introduction with the instruments installed at agrometeorological observatory and their

practical utility.

2. To conduct practical at farm as well as in the class room regarding the practical utility of
micrometeorological instruments and weather data analysis.

B 1. Syllabus for Practical (RIB): Visit to agrometeorological observatory. Site selection of

observatory and exposure of instruments and weather data recording. Measurement of total, short
and long wave radiations and their estimation using Planck’s intensity law. Measurement of
albedo and sunshine duration, computation of radiation intensity using BSS. Measurement of
maximum and minimum air temperatures, tabulation, trend and variation analysis. Measurement
of soil temperature and computation of soil heat flux. Determination of vapor pressure and
relative humidity. Determination of dew point temperature. Measurement of atmospheric
pressure and analysis of atmospheric conditions. Measurement of wind speed and wind direction,
preparation of wind rose. Measurement, tabulation and critical analysis of rainfall. Computation
of drought indices. Measurement of open pan evaporation and evapotranspiration. Computation
of PET and AET.

2. Practical schedule:

Sr Practical Title No of Venue

No Lectures
1 Visit to an agrometeorological observatory and to prepare the 1 Agromet.
lay out plan of the agrometeorological observatory. Observatory
2 Site selection of observatory and exposure of instruments. 2 Class Room
/Agromet.
Observatory
3 To record, tabulate and calculate the meteorological 1 Agromet.
parameters Observatory
4 Measurement of total, short and long wave radiations and 1 Agromet Reseacrh
their estimation using Planck’s intensity law Farm
5 Measurement of albedo and sunshine duration, computation 1 Agromet Reseacrh
of radiation intensity using BSS. Farm
6 Measurement of maximum and minimum air temperatures, 1 Agromet Reseacrh
tabulation, trend and variation analysis Farm

3
7 Measurement of soil temperature and computation of soil 1 Agromet Reseacrh
heat flux. Farm
8 Determination of vapor pressure and relative humidity 1 Class Room
9 Determination of dew point temperature. 1 Class Room
10 Measurement of atmospheric pressure and analysis of 1 Agromet.
atmospheric conditions. Research Farm
11 Measurement of wind speed and wind direction, 1 Agromet Research
preparation of wind rose. Farm
12 Measurement, tabulation and critical analysis of rainfall 1 Class Room
13 Computation of drought indices. 1 Class Room
14 Measurement of open pan evaporation and 1 Class Room
evapotranspiration
15 Computation of PET and AET. 1 Class Room
.
TOTAL 16

Schedule of Examination

Examination Weight age

First Hourly 10%

Mid Term 15%

Practical (One week before End term) 40%

Final 35%

Please note:

 It is mandatory to attend at least 75% lectures to be eligible for appearing in End-of-Term

Examination but it is advisable that the students should attend 100% classes so as to
understand the subject thoroughly.
 Students should not expect any type of dictation in the class. Rather they should consult
relevant books for thorough knowledge of the subject.
 The students should involve themselves in interactive discussions in the class.
 Any suggestions to improve upon teaching style are always welcome as the main aim is
to make the course more informative and interesting for the students.