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Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change | ISSN: 2157-7617 | Climate 2018 | Volume: 9
5
th
World Conference on
May 23-24, 2018 | New York, USA
Climate Change and Global Warming
Climate change in the cool climate wine regions of Canada: Risks, opportunities and adaptive strategies
Tony B Shaw
Brock University, Canada
E
stablished wine regions in temperate and tropical regions are witnessing the impacts of climate change characterized by extreme
temperature and precipitation events and within-season and inter-annual variability, altogether affecting grape yield and wine
quality. In Canada's cool climate wine regions, climate change will most likely produce mixed benefits, such as longer and warmer
growing seasons, a moderation in winter temperatures and the possibility of growing less cold-hardy Vitis vinifera varieties. Also,
there are favorable prospects to expand into new areas once considered climatically marginal owing to frequent damaging cold
temperatures and a short growing season. However, these benefits could be thwarted by greater volatility in weather conditions and a
gradual evolution in the growing conditions that could threaten suitability of the existing cool climate varieties on which the industry
is established. This study provides an insightful analysis of the evolution of Canada's principal grape growing regions, assessment
of the risks and benefits associated with climate change and variability and a discussion of prospective mitigation and adaptation
strategies. These objectives are achieved by analyzing the daily climatic data from the 1970 to 2016 period for representative locations
in Canada's principal and emerging wine regions using time series analysis to determine long-term trends in the critical viticulture
indices and climatic variables; providing a baseline analysis of the temperature and precipitation data for the 1961-1990 normal
period; and employing the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM) to predict future changes based on selected greenhouse gas
emission scenarios. The study also examines adaptive strategies with respect to viticulture practices, suitable grape varieties, risk
reduction options and institutional support.
tshaw@brocku.caJ Earth Sci Clim Change 2018, Volulme: 9
DOI: 10.4172/2157-7617-C1-040