Extremos térmicos e vulnerabilidade num vinhedo do Entre Douro e Minho

Abstract

The carrying out of fine scale measurements on an Entre Douro e Minho vineyard permitted the observation of extreme temperatures that can be the cause of damages for the vine. It was noticed a strong spatial variation of temperatures, generated by the surface characteristics (topography, soil occupation, etc.). Hazard charts of “minimum and maximum temperatures” were produced from a considerable amount of data, obtained on a microclimatic scale. This climatic study (temperature measurement) was developed between February and September 2004, during the vine growing cycle. This is the active vine period and the most vulnerable vine stages in the presence of extreme temperatures. So, it was possible to study the second component of risk: vulnerability. To prove the eventual interference of the temperature in the development and growing of the plant, there were also agronomical observations (following of the vine growing stages and measurement of the grapes’ sugar degree). There was a strong relation between the temperature distribution and the agronomic data collection. This shows the importance of an exact knowledge of topo and microclimate of the vineyards.