MTO 339 - Biometeorology

Course Objectives

Biometeorology is concerned with the understanding of the interaction between living organisms and variations in atmospheric processes. The course covers phenology, environment, climatic change and related effects, urban meteorology and the interactions between the living organisms and meteorological/climatological factors. Main aim of this course is to define the possible spatio-temporal effects of meteorological variables on plants and animals. Ultimately, societal consequences of the atmosphere-related changes in biophysical and ecosystem processes may be assessed.

Course Description

Introduction; Scope; Identification of surface vegetation; Radiative transfer process on different surfaces; Biothermodynamics; General Characteristics of the transfer between the biosphere and atmosphere; fluxes between the biosphere and atmosphere; pressure, wind and turbulence in the biosphere; Design and features of biometeorological measurement systems; Plant Biometeorology; Animal biometeorology; Greenhouse gas exchanges between the atmosphere and biosphere; Net Carbon Accumulation in the biosphere; Gross Photosynthesis; Respiration; greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) emission between the atmopshere and biosphere; animal methane emissions; N2O and CH4 fluxes of living organisms; Thermal Comfort; Biyometeorological models.