Structure and trends in climate parameters affecting winegrape production in northeast Spain
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Date
2008
Authors
Ramos Martín, Ma. C. (Ma. Concepción)
Jones, G. V.
Martínez Casasnovas, José Antonio
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Abstract
This study examined the structure and trends of climate parameters important to winegrape
production from 1952 to 2006 in the Alt Penedès, Priorat, and Segrià regions of NE Spain. Average
and extreme temperature and precipitation characteristics from 3 stations in the regions were
organized into annual, growing season, and phenological growth stage periods and used to assess
potential impacts on vineyard and wine quality, and changes in varietal suitability. Results show an
overall growing season warming of 1.0 to 2.2°C, with significant increases in heat accumulation
indices that are driven mostly by increases in maximum temperature (average Tmax, number of days
with Tmax > 90th percentile, and number of days with Tmax > 30°C). Changes in many temperature
parameters show moderate to strong relationships with vine and wine parameters in the 3 regions,
including earlier phenological events concomitant with warmer growing seasons, higher wine quality
with higher ripening diurnal temperature ranges, and reduced production in the warmest vintages.
While trends in annual and growing season precipitation were not evident, precipitation during the
bloom to véraison period declined significantly for all 3 sites, indicating potential soil moisture stress
during this critical growth stage. Shorter-term analysis of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) reveals that
the current impact per 1°C of growing season (Apr to Oct) warming is an increase in water demands
in the region by 6 to 14%. These observations, combined with climate projections, indicate potential
disruption of climate–variety balance, increasing water stress, and challenges in producing quality
wines without the adoption of appropriate adaptive measures.
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Climate Research, 2008, vol. 38, p. 1-15