Climate changes in recent decades, the evolution of the drought phenomenon and their influence on vineyards in north-eastern Romania

Unfavourable trends have been identified in the evolution of climate factors (temperatures, precipitation, etc.) over the past years, with a direct impact on the vegetative and productive potential of the vine. This calls for a reassessment of climate resources and the adaptation of cultivation technologies to the new conditions. Our paper analyses the climate data recorded between 1991 and 2020 for the Iaşi vineyard ecosystem, which allowed for the calculation of a series of bioclimatic indices and coefficients, deviations from the multiannual average values, soil moisture dynamics, and their influence on development of vegetation phenophases and grape production. The increasing tendency of the average annual temperature and the decreasing amounts of precipitation registered point to a marked warming of the vineyard climate, especially after 2000. The high values of temperatures, corroborated with the soil water deficit, determined an intensification of the atmospheric and pedological drought, a shift in vegetation phenophases, shortened development periods and a forced ripening of grapes, with a negative impact on yields, which fluctuated from one year to another. The analysis of the ecoclimate conditions over the past 30 years has highlighted an alternation of periods, a colder and wetter one between 1991 and 2006, and a warmer and dried one between 2007 and 2020.

A Study of The Relationship Between Bioclimatic Comfort Zones And Land Use: The Case of Sivas Province (Turkey)

The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between bioclimatic comfort zones and land use in Sivas province. In this context, the relationship between the climatic data of 1990 and 2018 and the land use data of Sivas province belonging to the same years was evaluated as seasonal and annual periods. The bioclimatic comfort zones in the study area were determined depending on environmental climatic parameters (ECP) [temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and wind speed (WS)] and bioclimatic indices [Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), Thermo Hygrometric Index (THI), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)]. The values of the environmental climate parameters of Sivas province for the relevant years were obtained from 9 meteorological stations, the height of which varies between 1121 m and 1528 m. With the help of the Geographical Information System (GIS), the spatial distribution of the bioclimatic comfort zones determined depending on the environmental climate parameters and bioclimatic indices were created. Land use maps of the study area for reference years were obtained by using CORINE land cover data. The relationship between bioclimatic comfort zones and land use was also determined with the help of GIS. According to the results of this study; It was determined that the land use type in which the bioclimatically comfortable areas overlap in Sivas province differs according to the used parameter/indexes, years and annual periods.

Effects of climate change on bioclimatic indices in vineyards along Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland

In this study, we investigated the consequences of climate change on bioclimatic indices in vineyards along the edge of Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland. Like in other vineyards all around the world, the typicity of wines and the phenology of vines have changed, particularly since the 1970s. Trends in the growing season average temperature and in Huglin’s heliothermal index show that the climate in the Neuchatel vineyards changed from very cool or cool to temperate during the last decades. Trends in the cool night index and in the prior to harvest cool night index both indicate that in the near future this wine region will frequently experience temperate instead of cool nights during the weeks leading up to harvest. Our results highlight the need for adaptation strategies, such as an upward elevational shift for Pinot Noir, as climatic conditions will become too warm at its current location in the next decades. They also show that conditions in this region are already favorable for more thermophilic varieties such as Merlot. In the context of global warming, this kind of analysis should be conducted throughout winegrowing regions in order to develop efficient adaptation strategies at the microclimatic scale.

Characteristics of the weather and climatic conditions of the Arctic zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory by bioclimatic indices

Aim. Assess the health risk of a cold environment by bioclimatic indices characterizing weather and climatic conditions in the Arctic zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.Materials and methods. The mean monthly daily ambient temperature, wind speed and relative air humidity were determined. The body cooling conditions integral index (BCCII) and the wind-cold index (WCI) were calculated.Results and their discussion. Using the BCCII from 4 to 6 months a year at Cape Chelyuskin, the critical risk of frostbite in exposed areas of the body determined at Dixon Island from 4 to 5 months a year; in July and August, the indicator values reached the lower border of the “moderate risk”. Using the WCI, an uncomfortable cold environment was determined, respectively, 2 months and 4 months, a very cold — 3 months and 2 months, and an extremely cold — 3 months and 2 months.Conclusion. The advantage of using BCCII rather than WCI is shown, since on its basis the criteria for safe working conditions in an open area are determined. To interpret the value of “no risk” while using WCI, it is necessary to know the period of the year, in which the weather and climatic conditions are assessed as a cold environment.

Climate change in a typical Apulian region for table grape production: spatialisation of bioclimatic indices, classification and Future Scenarios

The present research focused on the characterisation of climate evolution in a typical Apulian region for table grape production under the protected geographical indication, “Uva di Puglia I.G.P.”Two thirty-year time window period (TW) were analysed: 1961-1990 and 1991-2020. Georeferenced maps for both TWs were produced to delimit homogeneous zones and to evaluate the climate variability within the investigated area by means of the two bioclimatic indices, Heliothermal Index (HI) and Winkler Index (WI). Spatial analysis of HI and WI was performed using the regression-kriging (RK) interpolation method and the Digital Elevation Model/DEM (10 x 10 m) as a prediction attribute.An increase in both the minimum and maximum temperatures was observed, and locations above 300 m a.s.l. shifted from HI+1 “temperate warm” to HI+2 “warm” according to the Geoviticulture Multicriteria Climatic Classification System. WI values similarly increased between the periods 1961–1990 and 1991–2020, shifting all the sites grouped in the Elevation Classes defined as being below 300 m a.s.l. from Region IV to Region V of the Winkler Classification.According to HI and WI, presumed maturity was calculated as being reached 9 to 15 (HI) and 12 to 28 days (WI) earlier in 1991–2020 than in 1961–1990, taking into account the heat requirements of cv. Italia table grape (representative of Apulian table grape production), were set at 2200 for both indices on the basis of literature data.Moreover, three table grape vineyards, located in the three main producing provinces of Apulia (Bari, Taranto and Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT)), were considered for future scenarios analysis on the basis of two different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), 4.5 and 8.5, and classified according to the Geoviticulture Multicriteria Climatic Classification System (MCC). Future scenarios scored WI values that exceeded the threshold of 2700 in the BAT and TA provinces in the 2061–2090 time window period for RCP 8.5. In contrast, RCP 4.5 led to a mitigating effect, which was not noticeable until 2040, with a consequent reclassification of the investigated areas on the basis of HI and Cool Night Index (CI).These findings suggest that in order to prevent or overcome heat stress, it will be necessary to implement strategies, such as vineyard relocation to unexplored elevations or latitudes and/or the exploitation of new table grape varieties able to fulfill the optimal maturity parameters, even when the duration of the phenological phases is shorter.

Ensembles for Viticulture Climate Classifications of the Willamette Valley Wine Region

Future climate projections provide an opportunity to evaluate cultivar climate classification and preferred styles of wine production for a wine grape growing region. However, ensemble selection must account for downscaled archive model skills and interdependence rather than be arbitrary and subjective. Relatedly, methods for generalizing climate model choice remain uncertain, particularly for identifying optimal ensemble subsets. In this study we consider the complete archive of the thirty-two Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) daily Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA) downscaled historic datasets and their observational data that were used for downscaling and bias corrections. We apply four model averaging methods to determine optimal ensembles for the computation of six common climate classification indices for the Willamette Valley (WV) American Viticultural Area (AVA). Among the four methods evaluated, elastic-net regularization consistently performed best with identifying optimal ensemble subsets. Variation exists among the optimal ensembles computed for each of the six bioclimatic indices. However, a subset of approximately seven to ten climate models were consistently excluded across all six indices’ ensembles. While specific to the archive and wine region, optimal ensemble sizes were noticeably larger than ensemble sizes commonly employed in published studies. Results are reported such that they can be used by researchers to independently perform analyses involving any one of the six bioclimatic indices throughout the WV AVA while using historic and future LOCA CMIP5 climate projections. The data and methods employed herein are applicable for other wine regions.

Projected changes in the frequency of thermal comfort conditions at cold and warm cities, based on advanced bioclimatic indices

<p>Climate change and global warming affect heat or cold related stress in humans and ecosystems. Human thermal comfort or discomfort conditions in particular, are assessed through the application of simple or rational thermal (or bioclimatic) indices. In contrast to simple, advanced indices like the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) are based on human energy balance between the human body and thermal environment and involve multiple meteorological parameters, like air temperature, air humidity, wind speed and mean radiant temperature. Accelerating warming is expected to affect both heat and cold related stress conditions in the future, resulting in increased frequency of heat related stress, especially at warmer cities like the cities of Mediterranean, and at the same time reduced frequency of cold related stress at colder cities, like the cities of northern Europe. Asymmetrical changes in the frequency of heat or cold related stress conditions will eventually determine the future changes (increases or decreases) in the frequency of conditions of no thermal stress at cities of different background climate. The study will investigate future changes in ‘thermal comfort’ or ‘favourable’ conditions at cities with different base climate. Simulations by a set of state-of-the-art Regional Climate Models (RCMs) in the frame of EURO-CORDEX (Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment) modeling experiment (http://www.euro-cordex.net) with a horizontal resolution of about 12 km (0.11°) downscaled over the areas of interest will be realized for a control period and for two periods in the near and distant future, under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 future emissions scenarios. Simulations of meteorological variables for the estimation of UTCI at 3-hourly step will be retrieved for the closest land model grid point to the observation sites, while the performance of the RCMs will be evaluated against results from observations for the control period.</p>

Modern assessment methods of comfort of bioclimatic conditions for resort areas

The modern approaches to assessing the comfort of bioclimatic conditions for rational recreational activities are analyzed. A review of modern domestic and foreign methods is carried out and their advantages and disadvantages in assessing the thermal comfort of a human are identified. Most of the bioclimatic indicators used are now considered outdated, since they do not take into account human physiological reactions. Many foreign authors are increasingly using in their practice more complex thermal bioclimatic indices based on the human energy balance. In Russia, such studies are still rare. From the indices based on the human heat balance, the paper considers the following: Physiological equivalent temperature (PET), Perceived temperature (PMV), Universal thermal climate index (UTCI). The main algorithms for calculating bioclimatic indices are proposed. The calculations use the complete human thermal balance equation and all parameters that affect human comfort. Calculation of bioclimatic indices of this type is considered to be a more effective method for assessing the comfort of bioclimatic conditions for territories intended for the organization of health-improving recreation and tourism. The noted indices have a greater variability of values ​​and, therefore, a higher informational significance in comparison with other bioclimatic indicators that are simpler in calculations, such as, for example, equivalent effective temperature (EET) and biologically active temperature (BAT). Thus, the conducted review of existing methods for assessing bioclimatic indicators identified their advantages and disadvantages, which is important for the subsequent selection of the most optimal method suitable for a particular recreational area with appropriate weather and climatic conditions.

Climate change impacts on viticulture in Italy

<p>In Italy the wine industry is an economic asset representing the 8% of the annual turnover of the Food & Beverage sector, according to Unicredit Industry Book 2019. Viticulture is strongly influenced by weather and climate, and winegrowers in Europe have already experienced the impact of climate change in terms of more frequent drought periods, warmer and longer growing seasons and an increased frequency of weather extremes. These changes impact on both yield production and wine quality.</p><p>Our study aims to understand the impact of climate change on wine production, to estimate the risks associated with climate factors and to suggest appropriate adaptation measurement. The weather variables that most influence grape growth are: temperature, precipitation and evapotranspiration. Starting for these variables we calculate a range of bioclimatic indices, selected following the International Organisation of Vine and Wine Guidelines (OIV), and correlate these with wine productivity data. According to the values of different indices it is possible to determine the more suitable areas for wine production, where we expect higher productivity, although the climate is not the only factor influencing yield.</p><p>Using the convection-permitting models (CPMs – 2.2 horizontal resolution) we investigate how the bioclimatic indices changed in the last 20 years, and the impact of this change on grapes productivity. We look at possible climate trends and at the variation in the frequency distribution of extreme weather events. The CPMs are likely the best available option for this kind of impact studies since they allow a better representation of surface and orography field, explicitly resolve deep convection and show an improved representation of extremes events. In our study, we compare CPMs with regional climate models (RCMs – 12 km horizontal resolution) to evaluate the possible added value of high resolution models for impact studies. To compare models' output to observation the same analysis it carried out using E-OBS dataset.</p><p>Through our impact study, we aim to provide a tool that winegrower and stakeholders involved in the wine business can use to make their activities more sustainable and more resilient to climate change.</p>

Impact of Climatic Conditions on the Resveratrol Concentration in Blend of Vitis vinifera L. cvs. Barbera and Croatina Grape Wines

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of meteorological conditions on resveratrol concentration of red wines produced in Piacenza viticultural region (Italy). In this regard, six representative estates producing Colli Piacentini Gutturnio DOC (a blend of V. vinifera L. cvs. Barbera and Croatina) vintage wines were analysed for trans- and cis-resveratrol over an 8-year period (1998–2005). Grapes were taken from the same vineyard in each estate by using the same enological practices over the entire investigated period. The meteorological conditions corresponding to the production areas were recorded, and bioclimatic indices were calculated as well. Overall, cis-resveratrol concentration was negatively correlated to Huglin index and August mean temperature, whilst positive correlation coefficients were found when considering the Selianinov index and the rainfall of September.