Meaning and scope of agricultural meteorology. Earth, atmosphere- its composition, extent and structure. Atmospheric weather variables. Nature and properties of solar radiation, solar constant, depletion of solar radiation, short wave, longwave and thermal radiation, net radiation, albedo. Atmospheric temperature, temperature inversion, lapse rate, daily and seasonal variations of temperature, vertical profile of temperature. Monsoon- mechanism and importance in Indian agriculture, weather hazards – drought, floods, frost, tropical cyclones and extreme weather conditions such as heat-wave and cold-wave. Weather forecasting- types of weather forecast and their uses. Climate change, climatic variability, global warming, causes of climate change and its impact on regional and national Agriculture.
