Rising temperatures and extreme weather events significantly impact crop yields worldwide. Here's a breakdown of these effects:

Effects of Rising Temperatures

  • Yield Impact: Higher temperatures can increase or decrease crop yields depending on the crop type and location. In temperate climates, moderate warming might boost yields, but in tropical regions, temperatures already near or above optimal levels can lead to yield reductions.

  • Optimal Temperature: Crops grow best within specific temperature ranges. Temperatures above or below these optima can slow growth and reduce yields.

  • Pollen Sterility: High temperatures during flowering can cause pollen sterility, leading to yield loss in cereal crops.

Effects of Extreme Weather

  • Droughts and Heatwaves: Co-occurring hot and dry events have globally consistent negative effects on crop yields, with significant impacts on maize, rice, soybean, and wheat1. Droughts exacerbate heat stress, reducing soil moisture and increasing crop loss.

  • Flooding: Extreme precipitation events can lead to waterlogging, which also reduces crop yields.

  • Frequency and Intensity: The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, are major contributors to crop loss and yield variability.

Adaptation and Mitigation

  • Crop Management: Efforts to adapt crops to extreme weather include breeding heat and drought-tolerant varieties and improving soil management.

  • Climate Change Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture.

Overall, while rising temperatures and extreme weather events pose significant challenges to crop yields, adaptive strategies and climate change mitigation can help mitigate these impacts.

Citations:

  1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-29378-2
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_climate_change_on_agriculture
  3. https://climatechange.chicago.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply
  4. http://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/economic-impact-climate-change-northwest-farms
  5. https://ourworldindata.org/will-climate-change-affect-crop-yields-future
  6. https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-how-extreme-weather-is-destroying-crops-around-the-world/
  7. https://ourworldindata.org/crop-yields-climate-impact
  8. https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northeast/topic/warmer-isnt-always-better-how-rising-temperatures-impact-crop-production