Title:  Micro-climate Monitoring, Crop Impacts, and Preparedness for Southern CA Viticulture

Presenter(s): Alessandra Zuniga

Date: Thursday, May 9 , 2024 from 1:30 – 2:15 pm

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Video call link: https://meet.google.com/mdr-yckd-znv 

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About Speaker:  Alessandra Zuniga

Abstract:

Southern California is currently experiencing rapid changes in climate patterns and more extreme weather events with important implications for the agricultural industry. Current trends and climate models indicate that temperatures in this region will continue to rise in the next century, along with more intense and frequent drought events. The impacts of these changes on crop physiology and production remain ambiguous, which makes this region highly vulnerable to climate change. Moreover, very little is known about how growers are responding to these climate challenges and whether they have the necessary resources and support to adapt accordingly. This project was developed to better understand and predict climate impacts to vineyard production systems in the San Diego region. The first objective of this project was to better understand the physiological response of grapevines to micro-climate and soil water availability and how this varies across different grapevine varieties of the same species (Vitis vinifera L.). This project was conducted at an experimental vineyard located in the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve in Fallbrook, CA. The second objective of this research was to use a social science approach to better understand the impacts and challenges of climate change on the winegrowing community in the San Diego region. These findings help to draw awareness of potential impacts on the grape/wine sector, which may incentivize informed policy and practices.

The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Alexander Tardy of the National Weather Service. The NERTO aligns with the NOAA CESSRST-II program’s goals of supporting and strengthening societal decision-making in response to weather and climate extremes. This project has also deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA weather monitoring by integrating weather data, crop transpiration predictions, and grower risk perception to address information needs and adaptive capacity building of the agricultural sector.