Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T05:58:24.396Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dissemination and communication of agrometeorological information—global perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2007

M. V. K. Sivakumar
M. V. K. Sivakumar*
Affiliation:
World Meteorological Organization, 7 bis Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Email: msivakumar@wmo.int
Get access

Abstract

Agrometeorological information and services from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) are increasingly being demanded by the farming community to cope more efficiently with climate variability and the increasing incidence of extreme meteorological events such as droughts, floods, frosts and wind erosion. While considerable advances have been made in the collection, archiving and analysis of weather and climate data, their transformation into information that can be readily used by the farm sector has lagged behind, especially in developing countries where such information needs are the greatest. One of the important reasons is the lack of adequate interaction with the user community in assessing the appropriate dissemination and communication procedures that can enhance the value of the agrometeorological information and services. A brief review of the present status of dissemination and communication of agrometeorological information by the NMHSs and associated agencies in different regions around the world is presented. A description of the user communities for agrometeorological information and their varying needs is also presented. Opportunities and challenges in the dissemination and communication of agrometeorological information by the NMHSs are described with suitable examples which emphasize that continued improvements are necessary to make agrometeorological information more accessible and useful to the user community.

Keywords

agrometeorological information and servicesstatus in different regions
Type
Research Article
Information
Meteorological Applications , Volume 13 , Issue S1 , December 2006 , pp. 21 - 30
Copyright
Royal Meteorological Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Akeh, L. E. & Muchinda, M. 2002 Improving agrometeorological bulletins: perspectives from RA I (Africa). In: Sivakumar, M. V. K. (ed.) Proceedings of the Inter-Regional Workshop ‘Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins', 15–19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 27–39.Google Scholar
Berggren, R. 1978 Economic benefits of climatological services, Technical note 145. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, 45 pp.Google Scholar
Bootsma, A. 2004 Communication of agrometeorological information in Regional Association IV. In: Communication of Agrometeorological Information, CAgM Report No. 97. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 74–108.Google Scholar
Boulahya, M., Cerda, M. L., Pratt, M. & Sponberg, K. 2005 Climate, communications, and innovative technologies: potential impacts and sustainability of new radio and internet linkages in rural African communities. Clim. Change 70: 299–310.Google Scholar
Carvajal, M. & da Anunciação, Y. M. T. 2002 Improving agrometeorological bulletins: perspectives from RA III (South America). In: Sivakumar, M. V. K. (ed.) Proceedings of the Inter-Regional Workshop ‘Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins', 15–19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 65–77.Google Scholar
Chan, A. K. & Whitaker, R. N. 2002 Improving agrometeorological bulletins: perspectives from RA V (South-West Pacific). In: Sivakumar, M. V. K. (ed.) Proceedings of the Inter-Regional Workshop ‘Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins', 15–19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 97–100.Google Scholar
Diak, G. K., Anderson, M. C., Bland, W. L., Norman, J. M., Mecikalski, J. M. & Aune, R. M. 1998 Agricultural management decision aids driven by real-time satellite data. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 79 (7): 1345–1355.Google Scholar
Doraiswamy, P. C., Pasteris, P. A., Jones, K. C., Motha, R. P. & Nejedlik, P. 2000 Techniques for methods of collection, database management and distribution of agrometeorological data. Agric. Forest Meteorol. 103: 83–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dunkel, Z. 2002 Improving agrometeorological bulletins: perspectives from RA VI (Europe). In: Sivakumar, M. V. K. (ed.) Proceedings of the Inter-Regional Workshop Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins, 15–19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 101–146.Google Scholar
Gommes, R. 1998 FAO's experience in the provision of agrometeorological information to the user community. In: Sivakumar, M. V. K., De, U. S., Ray, K. C. Sinha & Rajeevan, M. (eds.), Proceedings of an International Workshop ‘User Requirements for Agrometeorological Services', Pune, India, 10–14 November 1997. Pune: India Meteorological Department, pp. 53–77.Google Scholar
IPCC 2000 In: Watson, R. T., Noble, I. R., Bolin, B., Ravindranath, N. H., Verardo, D. J. & Dokken, D. J. (eds.), Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Isabirye, P. 2004 Communication of agrometeorological information in Regional Association I. In: Communication of Agrometeorological Information, CAgM Report No. 97. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 3–42.Google Scholar
Hassal and Associates 2002 Review of the climate variability in agriculture R & D Program, Prepared for Land and Water Australia. Sydney, Austrailia: Hassall & Associates Pty Ltd.Google Scholar
Hopper, W. D. 1995 An assessment of realities: an assessment of the expectations that follow. In: Proceedings of the Annual Agricultural Institute of Canada Conference, Ottawa, 13 pp.Google Scholar
Johnson, G. 2003 Assessing the impact of extreme weather and climate events on agriculture, with particular reference to flooding and rainfall. In: Agrometeorology Related to Extreme Events, WMO No. 943. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 73–106.Google Scholar
Kamali, G. A. & Lee, B.-L. 2002 Improving agrometeorological bulletins: perspectives from RA II (Asia). In: Sivakumar, M. V. K. (ed.) Proceedings of the Inter-Regional Workshop ‘Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins', 15–19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 41–64.Google Scholar
Kruger, J. & Dommermuth, H. 1999 Operational aspects of agrometeorology. In: Contributions from Members on Operational Applications in Agrometeorology for the International Workshop on Agrometeorology for the 21st Century: Needs and Opportunities, CAgM Report 77. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 45–47.Google Scholar
Mullen, C. 2003 Use of seasonal forecasts and climate prediction in operational agriculture in WMO Region V. Report to the Commission for Agricultural Meteorology Working Group on the use of seasonal forecasts and climate prediction in operational agriculture. Mimeo.Google Scholar
Nicholls, N. 1985 Impact of the southern oscillation on Australian crops. J. Climatol. 5: 553–560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pérarnaud, V. 2004 Communication of agrometeorological information in Regional Association VI. In: Communication of Agrometeorological Information, CAgM Report No. 97. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 109–131.Google Scholar
Phillips, J., Unganai, L. & Makauzde, E. 2000 Changes in crop management response to the seasonal climate forecast in Zimbabwe during a La Niña year. In: Proceedings of the International Forum ‘Climate Prediction, Agriculture and Development', 26–28 April 2000, Palisades, New York. New York: International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI), pp. 213–216.Google Scholar
Raddatz, R. L. 2006 Evidence for the influence of agriculture on weather and climate through the transformation and management of vegetation: Illustrated by examples from the Canadian Prairies'. Agric. Forest Meteorol., in press.Google Scholar
Sivakumar, M. V. K. (ed.) 2002 Proceedings of the Inter-Regional Workshop ‘Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins’, Bridgetown, Barbados, 15–19 October 2001. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization.Google Scholar
Sivakumar, M. V. K. 2007 Interactions between climate and desertification. Agric. Forest Meteorol., in press.Google Scholar
Solano, O. & Frutos, R. 2002. Improving agrometeorological bulletins: perspectives from RA IV (North and Central America). In: Sivakumar, M. V. K. (ed.) Proceedings of the Inter-Regional Workshop ‘Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins', 15–19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, pp. 79– 96.Google Scholar
Stigter, C. J., Sivakumar, M. V. K. & Rijks, D. A. 2000 Agrometeorology in the 21st century: workshop summary and recommendations on needs and perspectives. Agric. Forest Meteorol. 103: 209–227.Google Scholar
UNEP 2004 Global Environmental Outlook Year Book 2003. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme.Google Scholar
Weiss, A., Van Crowder, L. & Bernardi, M. 2000 Communicating agrometeorological information to farming communities. Agric. Forest Meteorol. 103: 185–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WMO 2004 Communication of agrometeorological information, CAgM Report No. 97. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, 133 pp.Google Scholar