HR: 09:00h
AN: H51G-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Impacts of the Mid - Summer Drought on Agricultural Activities. Two study cases
AU: * Conde, C
EM: conde@servidor.unam.mx
AF: Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior, Mexico, DF 04510, Mexico
AU: Ferrer, R M
EM: rosamfer@yahoo.com
AF: Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior, Mexico, DF 04510, Mexico
AB: Mid - summer drought is a known climatic phenomenon for maize producers in the State of Tlaxcala, Mexico.The forecasts delivered by the Autonomous University of Tlaxcala and the National Autonomous University of Mexico during several years included an estimation of the severity of the "canícula", in order that the producers could plan their agricultural activities. The intensity of the mid - summer drought increases during strong EL Niño events (i. e. 1982 - 1983; 1997 - 1998) , that can be also associated to an increase of sudden frosts in autumn that might affect the maize production. In this paper the perception of farmers in Tlaxcala, their needs for specific forecasts and the possibilities of useful climatic information is presented. Also, using an agricultural simulation model, the possible effects on maize yields of a severe mid- summer drought is analyzed. A second study case was performed in Veracruz, were it has been documented that the intensity of the mid - summer drought decreases during strong El Niño events. Possible impacts of this condition on agricultural activities in the state are also presented.
DE: 1616 Climate variability (1635, 3305, 3309, 4215, 4513)
DE: 1817 Extreme events
DE: 6334 Regional planning (1880)
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly