METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES’ ROLE METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES’ ROLE IN IN AGROMETEOROLOGY AGROMETEOROLOGY

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Keithley Meade Keithley Meade Director, Antigua and Barbuda Director, Antigua and Barbuda

Meteorological ServicesMeteorological Services

Phone: 1-268- 462-4606Phone: 1-268- 462-4606Cell: 1-268-764-2139Cell: 1-268-764-2139

Email: Email: keithleym@yahoo.com

What is weather?What is weather?

Weather is the state of the Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and atmosphere at a specific time and place with respect to heat or cold, place with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness.clearness or cloudiness.

Climate is the weather at some Climate is the weather at some location averaged over some long location averaged over some long period of timeperiod of time..

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What is weather?What is weather? Weather is defined by elements which are

measured either by special instruments or are observed. These measurements are then recorded and used in the making of weather reports, forecasts and climate graphs. Some elements are:

Temperature Rainfall Wind speed & Direction Air Pressure Visibility Cloud Cover Sunshine 3

Weather SystemsWeather Systems

Weather systems that affect Antigua Weather systems that affect Antigua and Barbuda annually are typically:and Barbuda annually are typically:

High pressure ridgesHigh pressure ridges Tropical wavesTropical waves TroughsTroughs FrontsFronts Storms/hurricanesStorms/hurricanes

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Climate - Definition

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Climate is defined more rigorously as the statistical description of weather in

terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over a period of

time ranging from months to thousands or millions of years

Climate Change – Definition

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Climate Change - Variability

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Expected climate change impacts for Expected climate change impacts for region includeregion include: Increased temperatures

Reduced agricultural yieldsIncreased danger of wild fireHeat stress injury and deathCoral bleachingBiodiversity lossIncreased emergence of vector

borne diseasesIncreased water demand

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Climate Change: Challenges for the Caribbean

Changes in rainfall patternsIncreased frequency of droughtsIncreased frequency of heavy precip

eventsDecreased fresh water availabilityLower agricultural yields/crop

damage and increase livestock death

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Climate Change: Challenges for the Caribbean

Climate Change: A priority for the Caribbean

Increased intensity of storm activity2 – 11% increase in intensity by 2100Increased number of major hurricanes20% increase in precip rate within

100 km6 – 34% decrease in frequency

globally Decrease in number of named storms

Note: These are global numbers10

Meteorological Services’ Role

Provide information services based on the weather elements that we collect .  ►Drought and Precipitation Statement  ►Temperature Statement   ►Wind Statement   ►Monthly Weather Summaries     ►Yearly Weather Summaries ►Hurricane Season Summary   ►Antiguan Hurricanes and Storms - 1851 to 2010 

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Meteorological Services’ Role

  ►Climate Data     Forecasts/Outlooks   ►7-Day Forecast for Antigua   ►7-Day Forecast for Barbuda   ►3 to 10 Day Hazardous Weather Outlook   ►Monthly Weather   ►Seasonal Weather   ►Wet Season Weather  ►El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)  ►Tropical Cyclones

All of this information can be found on our website at www.antiguamet.com 12

CONCLUSIONS

Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services will work with CAMI to Services will work with CAMI to strengthen our delivery of Agro-strengthen our delivery of Agro-meteorological services to farmers in meteorological services to farmers in Antigua and Barbuda.Antigua and Barbuda.We will work with CAMI to strengthen our We will work with CAMI to strengthen our data collection and improve our staff’s data collection and improve our staff’s ability to interpret data collected to ability to interpret data collected to produce relevant information.produce relevant information.We will use our reputation as a forecasting We will use our reputation as a forecasting entity to encourage farmers to use Agro-entity to encourage farmers to use Agro-meteorological information.meteorological information.Will seek to reestablish a data culture and Will seek to reestablish a data culture and pledge any expertise that we can provide pledge any expertise that we can provide in this regard.in this regard.

Any Any Questions?Questions?