Violent Winds Research Articles

Limited Width of Tropical Cyclone–Induced Baroclinic Geostrophic Response

Abstract Despite the large radius (R17) of gale-force wind of a tropical cyclone (TC), the observed TC-induced effects on mesoscale and large-scale ocean via the baroclinic geostrophic response are found to have a limited cross-track width; this strange but important phenomenon is interpreted here. Driven by the wind stress curl (WSC), the TC-induced geostrophic response is in fact regulated by along-track integration of the WSC (AIWSC). Constrained by atmospheric TC dynamics, the violent winds outside the radius (Rmax) of maximum wind of any TC must have nearly zero WSC. Consequently, the AIWSC function can be fit as a boxcar function with an extraordinarily large positive value between ±Rmax about the track. Based on this boxcar function, the theoretical estimate of the cross-track length scale of the baroclinic geostrophic response, Ld + Rmax, is presented, where Ld is the first-mode baroclinic Rossby deformation radius. Further, this scale is validated by numerical experiments to well explain the width of the altimetry-observed geostrophic response induced by any TC. Evidently, Ld + Rmax is far smaller than R17 and thus the baroclinic geostrophic response generally has a limited width. This study implies that, although for a TC the violent winds outside Rmax are generally ∼90% of all winds, in an open ocean these winds may be useless to perturb the ocean interior due to the nearly zero WSC. Significance Statement Despite the large radius of gale-force wind of a tropical cyclone, the effects of a tropical cyclone on mesoscale and large-scale ocean are confined in a limited cross-track width; this strange but important phenomenon is interpreted here. In essence, the effects are exerted by the wind stress curl rather than by the wind stress. However, constrained by atmospheric dynamics, a tropical cyclone has most of the positive wind stress curl in the inner core and nearly zero wind stress curl far away from the inner core. Consequently, albeit violent, the winds outside the inner core cannot make an appreciable contribution to the physical processes below the mixed layer.

Recurrent symmetrical bendings cause dwarfing in Hydrangea through spatial molecular regulation of xylem cell walls.

Environmental prejudices progressively lead to the ban of dwarfing molecules in agriculture, and alternatives are urgently required. Mechanical stimulation (MS) is a promising, eco-friendly, and economical technique, but some responses to mechanical stimulation vary from one plant species to another. Additionally, as more frequent and violent wind episodes are forecasted under global climate change, knowledge of plant responses to stimuli mimicking wind sways is decisive for agriculture. However, little is known about plant mechanosensitive responses after long-term, recurrent MS. Here, the effects of 3-week, recurrent, symmetrical bendings (1 or 12 per day) in Hydrangea macrophylla stems are examined. Bendings repressed internode elongation and leaf area development, whereas the diametrical growth of the basal internode is increased. Responses were dose-dependent, and no desensitization was observed during the 3 weeks of treatment. MS was almost as efficient as daminozide for plant dwarfing, and it improved stem robustness. Histological and molecular responses to MS were spatially monitored and were concordant with ongoing primary or secondary growth in the internodes. Our molecular data provide the first knowledge on the molecular paths controlled by mechanical loads in Hydrangea and revealed for the first time the involvement of XYP1 in thigmomorphogenetic responses. MS still had a transcriptional impact 48 h after the last bending session, promoting the expression of XYP1, FLA11, and CAD1 while repressing the expression of EXP3 and XTH33 homologs in accordance with xylogenesis, cell wall thickening, and lignin deposition in the xylem of basal internodes. In upper elongating internodes, repression of XYP1, CAD1, SAMS1, and CDC23 homologs is correlated with ongoing primary, even though stunted, growth. For producers, our findings highlight the potential of MS as a sustainable and economical option for controlling plant compactness in Hydrangea and show valuable reinforcement of stem strength.

UTILIZATION PATTERN OF DIVERSE ICT TOOLS BY COASTAL FARMERS DURING THE WARNING STAGES OF CYCLONES

Despitenumerous advanced scientific technologies, we are still at the mercy of some uncontrollable natural calamities. A tropical cyclone is one of the most devastating hydrological disasters among them. Along with violent wind, torrential rain, high wave, destructive storm surges and coastal flooding, the cyclone is responsible for considerable losses to Indian agriculture. After all, farmers are informed, aware, and cope with these difficulties successfully with past experiences, warn through various ICT tools, social media and organizational sources (Pratik and Vinaya, 2022). The study was carried out with a specific objective to determine the utilization pattern of information sources in the cyclone’s early warning stages. Purposively the state of Odisha was selected because it is vulnerable to cyclonic events. 8 villages from 2 coastal districts of the state were considered for the study, and 20 respondents from each village made the sample size 160. The primary data was collected through a well-structured interview schedule and analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. Results divulged that Television was available to 96.25 percent of the respondents, followed by Mobile phones (71.25%), Smartphone (67.50%), Radio (35.63%), Laptop (22.50%), Personal computer (14.38%) and Tablets (5.53%). TV news was the major social media with mean score (3.55) ranked first, followed by SMS (3.50) and Whatsapp (3.26) which the majority of the farmers regularly retrieve information. In contrast, Blog, with a mean score (2.04) was the least used social media by a small proportion of farmers to gain information before cyclones. With comparision to information access through various social media sources, independent variables such as Education, social participation, annual family income, source of credit were found to be positively significant at 1% level of significance, p<0.01, while mass media exposure and extension contact were at 5% level of significance. In the community, there were 5 primary organizational sources, out of which 51.87% of respondents informed through all of the organization where 19.38% of respondents were from 4 sources, followed by 11.88% from 3 sources, 13.75% from 2 sources and 3.12% from a single source. Early warning and information create a great advantage in dealing with such climatic vagaries.

Improved tropical cyclone wind speed estimation for microwave altimeter using machine learning

Satellite altimeters can provide excellent global wind speed at 10 m above the sea surface (U10), however, the U10 becomes inaccurate and difficult to measure in tropical cyclone conditions. The violent wind, rough waves and torrential rain manifest an exceptionally complex ocean-atmospheric environment for wind estimation. Although the backscatter signal is measured equally well in normal condition, the interpretation is not straightforward in tropical cyclones that requires complex associations with ocean-atmospheric geophysical variables. Typical U10 regression model developed in normal atmospheric conditions would inevitably reduce the estimation quality and encounter high modelling uncertainties from high dimensional input data that provide ill-posed solutions in extreme U10 estimation. However, other secondary parameters simultaneously measured by the altimeter have properties that convey additional atmospheric information to enhance U10 estimation accuracy in storm condition. Therefore, the present study proposes machine learning (ML) approaches based on artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and Gaussian process regression (GPR) to integrate the multi-dimensional parameters and provide accurate U10 estimates for different parameter combination. Results suggest that the GPR method, considering atmospheric and sea surface related parameters, can provide the highest accuracy of U10 up to 35 ms−1 with quality perseverance against rain contamination. This study highlights the quality improvement of altimeter U10 estimation and the assessment method of ML in dealing with complex ocean-atmospheric interactions.

Inter-annual variation of the mean temperature and rainfall in Chad and the solar activity during the period from 1950 to 2020

Given the increased variability of rainfall, the resurgence of extreme meteorological phenomena such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and violent winds and considering the influence of solar activity on certain meteorological parameters, a study on the variation of temperature and rainfall in relation to solar activity is necessary. The present study aimed to analyze the inter-annual evolution of meteorological parameters (mean temperature and rainfall) in Chad over the period from 1950 to 2020 in two geographically distinct areas (Sudanian and Sahelian zone) and then to establish a link between these parameters and solar activity to predict the variations of these two parameters over time. The rainfall results showed that the wettest years were 1959 in N'Djamena and 1951 in Moundou. On the other hand, the driest years recorded were 1984 in N'Djamena and 1998 in Moundou. The study of the mean temperature in these two areas during the same period led to the conclusion that the hottest year was 2010 in N'Djamena; however, in Moundou the hottest year recorded was 1997. Globally, in the two zones concerned, analysis of the results on variations in rainfall showed a downward trend. However, the study of average temperature showed a steady rise over the same period. The superposition of rainfall and mean temperature with the sunspot numbers Rz led to the conclusion that high sunspot activity increases temperature and thus warming, while low sunspot activity brings high precipitation.

Resiliency of Fisherfolks on Safety Measures in the Municipality of Balatan, Camarines Sur Philippines

The promotion of sustainable shipping and sustainable maritime development is one of the major priorities of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the coming years.1 Safety measures for fisherfolk are essential prior to and during fishing to prevent any accident or emergency at sea. Fisherfolk and fishing boat owners should follow government rules and regulations such as BFAR Republic Act No. 8550, also known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998” under Section 1, which is an act providing for the development, management, and conservation of the fisheries and aquatic resources, integrating all laws pertinent thereto, and other purposes.2 One way to improve safety measures for small fisherfolk is to develop regulations to be followed by all fishing boats before and after fishing. Safety of life at sea (SOLAS) is equally important among fisherfolk. The lives of fishermen are at stake every time a typhoon occurs. Their primary source of living is halted due to inclement weather. Especially when typhoons Rolly and Ulysses hit the Philippines in 2020, leaving at least 20 people dead and its wake displacing 89,000 citizens in Albay and affecting almost two million people across 26 provinces in the island of Luzon, including Camarines Sur. The Bicol Region bore the brunt of the typhoon’s violent winds and torrential rains, blowing away roofs, toppling structures, and causing severe flooding and landslides, which impacted the fishermen of Balatan, Camarines Sur (Balaan, 2021)3.

Limnological Investigations of Sewage Stabilization Ponds at Sewage Treatment Plant in Bikaner (NW Rajasthan)

Abstarct: Geographically Bikaner has four natural slopes, one towards the vallabh garden area, where the three anaerobic and two aerobic stabilization ponds of sewage treatment plant are situated in the North –West part of the Rajasthan. The Thar desert lies which is characterized by typical arid conditions like scarcity of water, low rainfall, intense radiations, violent winds, high temperature fluctuations and dust storms. This paper is based on the chemical limnological study of three anaerobic and two aerobic stabilization ponds of sewage treatment plant. The study was carried out for a period of 15 months from March 2010 to May 2011. The chemical parameters measured include pH, EC (electrical conductance), TDS (total dissolve solids), and Free CO2. The parameters of three anaerobic stabilization ponds of water was ranged pH (6.7 to 8.2), EC (1.5 mmhos/cm to 2.0 mmhos/cm), TDS (960 mg/l to 1280 mg/ l), Free CO2 (172 mg/l to 294 mg/l) and two aerobic stabilization ponds of water was ranged pH (7.3 to 8.4), EC (1.3 mmhos/cm to 1.8 mmhos/cm), TDS (832 mg/l to 1152 mg/ l) and Free CO2 (152 mg/l to 270 mg/l) were recorded.

Impact of Urbanization on Land use and Land Cover Changes in Growing Cities of Rwanda

Objectives : This research examined the effect of urbanization on environmental justice in Rwanda from 1999 to 2019. Specifically, the research sought to document changes in land use and land cover in the study region in order to analyze the environmental consequences of urban growth in Rwanda.Methods : Land use/land cover patterns were identified and modelled using remotely sensed data.Results and Discussion : The findings revealed that in the majority of cases, economic development influenced land use change in various aspects, both in terms of area and intensity, which replaced agricultural land with human settlements. For example Nyagatare city, built-up areas have expanded by 15 to 20%, while forests, vegetation, and waterbodies have decreased by 49%. It has been noted that urbanization is out of step with the natural urban environment, resulting in soil erosion, violent winds, flooding, and landslides, all of which are linked to environmental injustice. Also, settlement destruction, flooding, infrastructure damage, loss of natural habitat, and agricultural loss were all linked to urban expansion, particularly uncontrolled settlements in metropolitan contexts, with 64 people killed and 178 injured in just five years.Conclusion : Therefore, this shows that there are consequences of biodiversity losses which affect land use and land cover. To overcome, the research suggests current households located in high-risk zones be moved to the convenient zones and the government policy to focus on family planning, encouraging the flexibility of land use, crop production, and farming systems based on agroecosystem models, and strengthening the greening city strategy by raising public understanding on environmental issues.

Climate change perception and local adaptation of natural resource management in a farming community of Cameroon: A case study

Climate change is perceived by communities at different levels and their adaptation measures are often corresponding to local understanding and realities. A socio-economic survey and field observations were conducted among 95 Bàkì farmers in the Ntui district of Central Cameroon, to examine the community's perception of the changes observed and the adaptation measures undertaken locally. Apart from the relative homogeneity of its community, the area was chosen for its climatic conditions. This area is characterized by a bimodal rainfall pattern on the one hand and by a transitional rainfall pattern between the bimodal patterns of the far south and the unimodal pattern of northern Cameroon. The study found that the Bàkì community has developed a classification of the climatic seasons through the changes observed over time, namely the increase in temperature, the decrease in rainfall, and the resurgence of extreme events such as the recurrence of violent winds and drought. The classification confirms the locally important changes in climate that affect the agricultural calendar and thereby the planning of the community's socio-economic activities. In response to the effects observed, the farmers have developed an adaptation strategy that includes reverting to more appropriate farming practices and more resistant varieties. Notably, the farmers use a reading grid of climatic and environmental variations as a reference to decide on adaptive actions and adaptation measures. The study results reconfirm that perception of climate change is strongly influenced by age and education.

Planetary magnetosphere evolution around post-main-sequence stars

ABSTRACT Accompanying the mounting detections of planets orbiting white dwarfs and giant stars are questions about their physical history and evolution, particularly regarding detectability of their atmospheres and potential for habitability. Here we determine how the size of planetary magnetospheres evolves over time from the end of the main sequence through to the white dwarf phase due to the violent winds of red giant and asymptotic giant branch stars. By using a semi-analytic prescription, we investigate the entire relevant phase space of planet type, planet orbit, and stellar host mass ($1\!-\!7\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$). We find that a planetary magnetosphere will always be quashed at some point during the giant branch phases unless the planet’s magnetic field strength is at least two orders of magnitude higher than Jupiter’s current value. We also show that the time variation of the stellar wind and density generates a net increase in wind ram pressure and does not allow a magnetosphere to be maintained at any time for field strengths less than 10−5 T (0.1 G). This lack of protection hints that currently potentially habitable planets orbiting white dwarfs would have been previously inhospitable.

Social perception of climate change and forms of use impact on the forests of Dogo-Kétou and Pobè in Benin

This study examined the local perception on the climate changes and how these changes combined with anthropogenic pressures generated by the forms of use of the forest resources, impact the sustainability of the forests of Pobè and Dogo-Kétou in southeast Benin. The data were collected through an investigation of 148 and 139 local populations sampled respectively in the municipalities of Pobè and Kétou in the studied area. An interview guide and a structured research questionnaire were used to collect the data which were analyzed using the software Ri386 3.5.1. The mains results revealed that more than 98% of the local population living around these forests perceive the effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities are the main causes. The consequences of climate change from the social perception are diversified, such as the violent winds and the scarcity of rains. The prolonged droughts are also confirmed by 61% of local population in Kétou and 81% in Pobè. In these conditions, trees have a harder time of reproduction with a poor capacity of regeneration. The analysis of the vulnerability of these forests in relation to the use values (UV) revealed that the populations living near to Dogo-Kétou forest use so much the forest resources (UV>2.5) than those of Pobè (UV<2.5). So, moderate pressure was notified on Pobè forest. The forest of Dogo-Kétou is therefore more vulnerable than the forest of Pobè from the view of the pressures linked to the categories of uses relative to food, energy wood, service wood, non-timber forest products and medicinal use. For adaptation strategies, the local population revealed the enrichment of the forests by indigenous forest species (32% in Kétou and 19% in Pobè), the reforestation (76% in Kétou and 84% in Pobè) and the creation of private plantations (39% in Kétou and 57% in Pobè). However, the establishment of ethnobotanical family gardens, the reduction of wood consumption for energy to the detriment of domestic gas, sensitization, prayer (church and vodoun) are ways to better adapt a good resilience to climate change.Keywords: Climate change, adaptation strategies, reforestation, resilience, forests, Benin.

COVID-19, Storms, and Floods: Impacts of Tropical Storm Cristobal in the Western Sector of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The presence of extreme hydrometeorological threats has co-occurred with the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the potential risk of a disaster scenario occurring. The hurricane “Cristobal”, which impacted Mexico’s tropical regions, presented a high risk of contagion and death caused by the combined effects of violent winds, floods, and evacuations. This work aims to determine whether the presence of concurrent events during the pandemic caused an increase in confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in the Yucatan Peninsula’s western sector. To achieve this, a numerical analysis and identification of the tropical storm’s extreme characteristics were conducted. Next, a combined analysis of the territorial system subject to flooding and the rainfall level reported during the emergency period was conducted at the municipal level. The third phase consisted of analyzing the confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 at the municipal level on four strategic dates (before, during, observation, and end of the emergency period). Finally, a content analysis of the emergency bulletins, action guides, and disaster declarations was carried out to identify the measures and adaptations implemented during the pandemic. It is recognized that emergency management measures were implemented for municipalities with more than 30 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and where the shelter capacity was reduced. Protocols for caring for people were followed, these being one of the leading adaptive methods. From the analyzed data, it can be pointed out that there is no direct evidence for an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in 10 of the municipalities. However, in the case of the municipality of Escarcega, there was a sudden increase in cases from June 8, which continues to grow. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen the study of multiple events to recognize the actions that can prevent catastrophes in these times of crisis.

Gaps present a trade-off between dispersal and establishment that nourishes species diversity.

We took advantage of two natural experiments to investigate processes that regulate tree recruitment in gaps. In the first, we examined the recruitment of small and large saplings and trees into 31 gaps resulting from treefalls occurring between 1984 and 2015 in the 2.25-ha core area of a 4-ha tree plot at Cocha Cashu in Perú. In the second, we identified the tallest saplings recruiting into 69 gaps created during a violent wind storm in February 2000. In the established tree plot, we were able to compare the composition of saplings in the disturbance zones of gaps prior to, during, and subsequent to the period of gap formation. Recruitment in gaps was compared with that in "nofall" zones, areas within the plot that had not experienced a treefall at least since the early 1980s. Our results confirmed earlier findings that a consistently high proportion (~60%) of established saplings survived gap formation. Light demanding species, as proxied by mortality rates, recruited under all conditions, but preferentially during periods of gap formation, a pattern that was especially strong among gap pioneers. Similar results were noted, separately, for small and large saplings and trees recruiting at≥10cm dbh. One hundred percent of previously untagged trees recruiting into gaps in the first post-disturbance census were gap pioneers, suggesting rapid development. This conclusion was strongly supported in a follow-up survey taken of 69 gaps 19months after they had been synchronously created in a wind storm. Ten species of gap pioneers, eight of which are not normally present in the advance regeneration, had attained heights of 6-10m in 19months. The 10 gap pioneers were dispersed, variously, by primates, bats, birds, and wind and reached maximum frequency in different-sized gaps (range<100 m2 to >1,000 m2 ). Both gap size and limited dispersal of zoochorous species into gaps serve as filters for establishment, creating a complex mosaic of conditions that enhances species diversity.

Forecasting of Wind Capacity Ramp Events Using Typical Event Clustering Identification

With the large-scale integration of wind generation into the power grid, violent wind speed fluctuation will cause wind power ramp events that can affect the safe and stable operation of power systems. In this article, a forecasting method for day-ahead ramp events is proposed based on wind speed event definition and profile analysis. Firstly, event-based K-means (EB-K) clustering is used to preprocess historical wind speed. Typical event indexes, such as change rate, amplitude, and time intervals are then extensively used to describe ramp event characteristics and decrease the computational burden for the following event identification within given intervals. Then, the similarity of wind power event set is obtained through empirical probability estimation of successive history ramp events. Typical event clustering identification (TECI) algorithm based on EB-K clustering, wind capacity events, and event cluster profiles is proposed to search the maximum occurrence probability for historical data with the similarity indicator. Finally, a case study on a practical farm in Hebei, China is used to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of wind capacity ramp event forecasting by using TECI.

Global simulations of galactic discs: violent feedback from clustered supernovae during bursts of star formation

ABSTRACT A suite of idealized, global, gravitationally unstable, star-forming galactic disc simulations with 2 pc spatial resolution, performed with the adaptive mesh refinement code ramses, is used in this paper to predict the emergent effects of supernova feedback. The simulations include a simplified prescription for the formation of single stellar populations of mass $\sim 100 \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$, radiative cooling, photoelectric heating, an external gravitational potential for a dark matter halo and an old stellar disc, self-gravity, and a novel implementation of supernova feedback. The results of these simulations show that gravitationally unstable discs can generate violent supersonic winds with mass-loading factors η ≳ 10, followed by a galactic fountain phase. These violent winds are generated by highly clustered supernovae exploding in dense environments created by gravitational instability, and they are not produced in simulation without self-gravity. The violent winds significantly perturb the vertical structure of the disc, which is later re-established during the galactic fountain phase. Gas resettles into a quasi-steady, highly turbulent disc with volume-weighted velocity dispersion $\sigma \gt 50 \, {\rm km\, s}^{-1}$. The new configuration drives weaker galactic winds with a mass-loading factor η ≤ 0.1. The whole cycle takes place in ≤10 dynamical times. Such high time variability needs to be taken into account when interpreting observations of galactic winds from starburst and post-starburst galaxies.

Ewangelizator napełniony Duchem Świętym. Formacja świadków Ewangelii w Zgromadzeniu Sióstr Benedyktynek Misjonarek

Apostołowie „zostali napełnieni Duchem Świętym, i zaczęli mówić obcymi językami, tak jak im Duch pozwalał” (Dz 2, 4). Towarzyszyły temu spektakularne znaki, takie jak gwałtowny wicher oraz tajemnicze języki ognia. Dokładnie tak, jak przepowiedział to Jezus, wydarzyło się coś niezwykłego, coś, co sprawiło, że życie uczniów radykalnie się zmieniło. Podstawą tego doświadczenia jest historyczny fakt krzyża i zmartwychwstania Jezusa. Dzieło ewangelizacji, podjęte przez benedyktynkę misjonarkę, potwierdza autentyczność życia chrześcijańskiego w Duchu Świętym, jakie stało się również udziałem apostołów i tych, którzy przyjęli dar Ducha Świętego. Dzięki temu benedyktynka misjonarka stała się świadkiem Chrystusa, i we wspólnocie Kościoła realizuje otrzymaną misję. Budowaniu historii zbawienia, w Duchu Świętym, służy formacja chrześcijańska. Świadomość daru chrztu świętego, wprowadzającego niejako przez „bramę” w nową jakość życia – życia według Ducha, sprawia, że każde działanie benedyktynki misjonarki jest uwielbieniem Boga, komunią z Nim i „źródłem” więzi z każdym człowiekiem.

Climate Variability and Its Effects on School Attendance in Selected Public Senior Secondary Schools in Urban Areas of Ibadan, Nigeria

Good classrooms, adequate security, school location, incessant strikes have been found to significantly influence school attendance and are baseline factors in determining student success. However, little is known about the influence of climate variability on school attendance in Nigeria. Thus, the focus of this study was to examine the effects of climate variability on school attendance in urban areas of Ibadan, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used. A total of 450 students were sampled randomly from five public senior secondary schools in urban areas of Ibadan. The study revealed that the awareness of climate variability was high and not significantly different among students (x2= 20.465; p&gt;0.05). Rainfall explained 38.9% and had a significant negative correlation with school attendance (r= -0.609; p&lt;0.05), and this was largely due to the perceived threats that come along with high rainfall in the form of violent wind. The reality of climate variability has made students to devise means of coping with its adverse effects such as; sleeping naked and frequent drinking of water. The study concluded that there should be adequate enlightenment on effective environmental interaction to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability.

The effect of pre-harvest wind damage on post-harvest quality of ‘Triumph’ persimmon fruit

The post-harvest quality of ‘Triumph’ persimmon fruits grown in the Western Cape, South Africa varies with seasons. Poor post-harvest fruit quality is assumed to be associated with seasons that are characterized by violent wind occurrences. This study was carried out to investigate if pre-harvest wind damage to trees and fruit affects post-harvest fruit quality. The study was conducted in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Wind and its damage were simulated by blowing trees with a mist blower, shaking trees, defoliating half of the trees and twisting fruit stalks 10 days prior to harvest. Fruit quality was evaluated at harvest, after 6½ weeks storage and after four days shelf-life. Simulated wind and its damage affected fruit quality at different stages during storage. Defoliation and twisting of fruit stalks increased soft fruits from 0% at harvest to 28% after storage in the 2012 season. Defoliation and blowing trees decreased total soluble solids after shelf-life in both seasons. Twisting fruit stalks delayed fruit colour development after storage and after shelf-life in the 2013 season. Blowing trees increased soft fruits to around 50% after shelf-life in both seasons. It can, therefore, be concluded that, post-harvest quality of ‘Triumph’ persimmon fruits is negatively affected by pre-harvest wind damage.

Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change and Their Implications in the Zou Department of South Benin

Climate change is a global phenomenon. Its impact on agricultural activities in developing countries has increased dramatically. Understanding how farmers perceive climate change and how they adapt to it is very important to the implementation of adequate policies for agricultural and food security. This paper aims to contribute to an understanding of farmers’ adaptation choices, determinants of the adaptation choices and the long-term implications of the adaptation choices. Data were collected from 120 respondents in the Zou Department of Benin. A binary logit model was used to analyze the factors influencing household decisions to adapt to climate change. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was estimated to analyze the factors influencing households’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change. The results show that farmers have a developed perception of climate change. These changes are translated by rainfall disturbances (rainfall delays, early cessation, bad rainfall distribution etc.), shortening of the small dry season, increasing of temperature and sometimes, violent winds. The survey reveals that Benin farmers adopt many strategies in response to climate change. These strategies include “Crop–livestock diversification and other good practices (mulching, organic fertilizer),” “Use of improved varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” “Agroforestry and perennial plantation” and “Diversification of income-generating activities.” The findings also reveal that most of the respondents use these strategies in combination. From the binary logit model, we know that “farming experience” and “educational level of household head” positively influence adaptation decisions. The result of the multinomial logit analysis shows that farming experience, educational level, farm size and gender have a significant impact on climate change adaptation strategies. Based on in-depth analysis of each strategy, we identify crop diversification and agroforestry as being the most promising strategies with benefits for farmers, the environment and future generations.

Climate change and cashew (&lt;i&gt;Anacardium occidentale&lt;/i&gt; L.) productivity in Benin (West Africa) : perceptions and endogenous measures of adaptation

This study aimed at analyzing the perceptions of cashew producers of the climate change, climate change effect on cashew productivity and to identify the adaptation strategies developed to mitigate them, two hundred and seventeen (217) cashew producers older than 50 with more than 10 years experience in cashew plantation were selected randomly from 20 villages. In each of the selected villages, the data were collected using questionnaires, individual and group interviews and fields visit. The collected data were sociodemographic characteristics of the households (sex, age, household size, education level, years of experience in the cultivation of cashew, types of the men size of household laborer used, farm size), perceptions of cashew producers in relation to indicators of climate change, and climatic factors that influence the productivity of cashew and especially the various strategies developed to adapt to. These data have been submitted to descriptive statistic, analysis of variance and multivariate analysis. The results this study indicate that the producers of the Central parts of the country were significantly older and more experienced (P<0.05 to P<0.0001) when compared to producers from other areas. The lowest of cashew plantation area were recorded in the North-East despite the availability of cultivable lands (P <0.0001). The producers have reported an increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall and the occurrence of violent winds from time to time. The high rates of dried flowers and yield losses were the new climate change indicators identified in the study. Mulching (71.80%), manure application (7.8%) and regular management of plantations (6%) were the main strategies developed. The number of household laborer, the experience of the producer, determined significantly (P < 0.05 to P <0.0001), the choice of the adaptation measures to climate change. We recommend to assess the efficacy of these strategies for sustainable cashew production. Keywords : Adaptation strategies, Benin, cashew tree, climate change, farmers perceptions, yield.