Climate, Carbon and Soil

This module provides an overview of the challenges that climate change presents to agricultural production systems. An initial introduction to agro-meteorology will provide an illustrated overview of the influence of weather on agricultural systems and productivity. Topics such as the measurement of major climatic variables, the influence of these variables on crop growth and animal production, and the role of Met Eireann in weather forecasting, the provision of agricultural risk warnings and agri-meteorological research, will be covered. The current evidence for climate change and its likely consequences at global, EU and Irish scales will be explored. The major anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by agriculture and other forms of land use will be covered. The importance of soils as both potential sources and sinks of GHGs will be explained. Options to mitigate GHG emissions from agriculture, and for climate change adaption, will be explored. Note that this module runs over the first 7 weeks of Semester 2 (mid-January to early March) and has a formal written exam during the two-week Field Work Break (mid-March).