WMO pub. Technical report on the role of agroclimatology in determining food production strategies in rainy tropical zones of South East Asia - describes the climateic environment, soil types and agricultural production; discusses methodologys to interpret agroclimatic variables in relation to crop production, and attempts to classify the agroclimatic environment. Graphs, maps, references, statistical tables.

The impact of climate on human activities and the effect of humans on cli mate are two of the most important areas of inquiry in climatology. These interactions conducted through physical, chemical and biological process es were described as early as Roman and Greek times. Marcus Vitruvius (75-25 B. C. ), a famous Roman engineer and architect, made the following observation about the climatic conditions necessary for founding a city: Land ideal for the health is slightly elevated and there should be neither fog nor frost. The direction of the slope and the distance to the swamps, lakes, and beaches must also be considered. The prevailing wind directions, observed by a wind tower at the center of the city, like Horologium at Athens, should be taken into consideration in city planning. The main and narrow streets should be placed in the middle angle of the two prevailing wind directions. Then the location of the Pantheons and squares should be decided. The influence of humans on climate was a major subject for discussion in the 19th century, inspired in part, by the rapid industrial growth and expanding deforestation of the time. D. L. Howard wrote brilliant pieces on the climate of London in the 1830s, while G . P. Marsh discussed the effects of forests on precipitation in the U. S . A. in the second half of the 19th century.

Roger C. Dahlman Environmental Sciences Division U.S. Department of Energy Washington, D.C. The potential for humans to alter Earth's atmosphere has been recognized since the end of the 19th century when Arrhenius estimated that a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide could alter the atmospheric radiation balance and raise average global temperature. Today, atmospheric CO concentrations play an important part in the 2 climate-change debate. Sources and sinks of CO associated with land use can be 2 significant determinants of the rate and magnitude of atmospheric CO change. 2 Combustion of fossil fuels and the deforestation associated with land-use change both contribute CO to the atmosphere; in contrast, biological processes on land create 2 potential sinks for the excess CO . Thus, land-use change and associated biological 2 processes become important elements in assessments of future atmospheric CO 2 increase; land-cover properties also affect the Earth's albedo, which is a climate feedback.

Upland rice distribution; Climate; Landscape and soils; Cropping systems; Varietal improvement; Soil management; Land preparation and crop establishment; Farm equipment; Weed management; Disease management; Insect pest management; Economics of upland rice production.

No other book on natural rubber covers such a broad spectrum of subjects as this unique publication. Subjects related to the biology, cultivation and technology of natural rubber are dealt with, along with such important aspects as its history, production and processing, through to its sophisticated engineering applications. Every chapter follows a monograph style of presentation, with comprehensive citations and depth of treatment. Contributions from highly experienced, and still active, renowned scientists reflect the truly international effort to the development of this commodity. In addition to the wealth of information presented, most of the chapters contain elaborate lists of earlier contributions in the respective fields; one chapter each has been included on rubber wood, ancillary products and guayule.