Date of Award
Summer 8-2022
Level of Access Assigned by Author
Open-Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Forest Resources
Advisor
Sean Birkel
Second Committee Member
Sandra De Urioste-Stone
Third Committee Member
Lily Calderwood
Additional Committee Members
Rachel E. Schattman
Abstract
Climate change is a wicked problem with global impacts, one of which being the sustainability of the existing global food system. As temperatures and variability in precipitation are projected to increase, the challenges to agriculture are expected to intensify. This thesis examines the Maine historical climate record over the growing season, in combination with future projections, to assess how conditions have changed and will change with agricultural implications. In this analysis, relevant climatic variables are analyzed, and agriculture-significant measures are derived for Maine’s three climate divisions using four decades of daily and monthly gridded datasets. In addition, this thesis explores climate change risk perceptions of Maine wild blueberry growers and establishes a survey instrument which may be used to measure the risk perceptions of migrant workers in the state and within other regions of the United States, by drawing from and expanding upon the Climate Change Risk Perception Model (CCRPM). In all, this work will help inform climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for safeguarding the productivity, safety, and sustainability of food systems in Maine.
Recommended Citation
Frank, Carly, "Assessment of Historical Climate Variability in Maine with Implications for Future Agricultural Productivity and Adaptation" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3621.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/3621