TABLE OF CONTENTS MBIS: A MID-TERM PROGRESS REPORT EXPEDITION STUDYING ARCTIC OCEAN AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL CHANGE-ARCTIC RESEARCH CGCP NOW CMOS GLOBAL CHANGE FORUM IGBP UPDATE IPCC-SECOND ASSESSMENT REPORT IDNDR-THE YOKOHAMA STRATEGY OPINION-IGBP REPORT NO. 28: WORK PLAN 1994-1998 UVB IMPACTS CONFERENCE UNIQUE WEATHER PROJECT   CCP INFO MODELLING THE GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEM WEATHER AND CLIMATE: INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE JAMES BRUCE WINS 1994 IMO PRIZE

SEMINAR ON USE OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE Andrew Bootsma Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada   Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada participated in a seminar on the use of weather and climate information in farming and forestry held near Charlottetown, P.E.I. on April 7, 1994. The seminar was organized by the P.E.I. Climate Advisory Committee in conjunction with several government departments and farm organizations. The author presented a talk on "Is our climate changing?". The presentation included a brief consideration of the value of the information on long-term climatic changes that have occurred in the past and estimates of potential future changes expected, due to the greenhouse effect, for management decisions by farmers and foresters. Results of a study of trends in 100 years of agroclimatic data for Charlottetown were also presented. There was a slight but noticeable increase in growing season (May-September) precipitation over the 100 years. Increased variability in precipitation after the 1930s has likely caused greater fluctuations in crop yields in the area. No trend (warming or cooling) could be detected in heat units accumulated over the growing season. Results of a study on heat units available for corn production in the Maritimes based on data from 37 climate stations for the 1966-85 period was summarized as well. Information on the variability of available heat units over time and space can help growers decide on the feasibility of growing corn for grain or silage in their area, which hybrids are best suited for their climate and the level of risk involved. Finally, information was presented on the variability that occurs in spring and fall frost dates and night time minimum temperature at the farm field level in hilly areas of P.E.I. Numerous minimum temperature surveys have allowed detailed frost risk maps to be constructed for selected hilly areas in central and eastern regions. Average dates of last spring and first fall frost vary as much as four to five weeks over relatively short distances on the same farm. Minimum temperature differences between hollows and hill tops during clear, calm nights can be 6øC or more. Information on frost risk available in map form can help growers select fields best suited to frost-sensitive crops. A means of predicting on-farm minimum temperatures using historical data with forecast information was also presented. For more information contact Andrew Bootsma, Centre for Land and Biological Resources Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, tel. (613) 995-5011.