Benefits Of Climate Change Research Articles

Policies to curb fossil fuel pollution and mitigate climate change benefit child and adult health and the economy, but assessments can do better

Abstract

From crisis to opportunity: climate change benefits livestock production in Somalia

Abstract While livelihoods of Somalian livestock smallholders rely heavily on seasonal climate conditions, little is known of long-term implications of the changing climate for this nation. Here, we quantify implications of the changing climate on the productivity and profitability of livestock smallholders across a rainfall gradient in northwestern Somalia. Using the Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) model, we explore 80 future climate realisations, with global climate model projections including low- and high-impact socio-economic pathways (SSP245 and SSP585), two climate horizons (2040 and 2080) and four case study farm regions. In general, future seasonal and annual rainfall and temperature relative to the baseline period (1981–2020) increased for most regions. Mean annual temperatures increased by 9%–14%, while cumulative annual precipitation increased by 37%–57% from mid to late century, respectively. Grassland production increased with later climate horizons, as higher average annual rainfall together with elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide drove up growth rates in spring and autumn. Under the low emissions scenario (SSP245), changes in farm profit were modest or positive, ranging from negative 4% in Berbera–20% plus in Sheikh. Under the higher emissions scenario (SSP585), farm profits were higher, ranging from 23% to 42% above baseline profits, largely due to greater pasture production and lower requirements for supplementary feed. We conclude that future climates will benefit the productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers in Somalia, although more agile farm management will be required to cope with increased seasonal climate variability.

Climate change and deer in boreal and temperate regions: From physiology to population dynamics and species distributions.

Climate change causes far-reaching disruption in nature, where tolerance thresholds already have been exceeded for some plants and animals. In the short term, deer may respond to climate through individual physiological and behavioral responses. Over time, individual responses can aggregate to the population level and ultimately lead to evolutionary adaptations. We systematically reviewed the literature (published 2000-2022) to summarize the effect of temperature, rainfall, snow, combined measures (e.g., the North Atlantic Oscillation), and extreme events, on deer species inhabiting boreal and temperate forests in terms of their physiology, spatial use, and population dynamics. We targeted deer species that inhabit relevant biomes in North America, Europe, and Asia: moose, roe deer, wapiti, red deer, sika deer, fallow deer, white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, and reindeer. Our review (218 papers) shows that many deer populations will likely benefit in part from warmer winters, but hotter and drier summers may exceed their physiological tolerances. We found support for deer expressing both morphological, physiological, and behavioral plasticity in response to climate variability. For example, some deer species can limit the effects of harsh weather conditions by modifying habitat use and daily activity patterns, while the physiological responses of female deer can lead to long-lasting effects on population dynamics. We identified 20 patterns, among which some illustrate antagonistic pathways, suggesting that detrimental effects will cancel out some of the benefits of climate change. Our findings highlight the influence of local variables (e.g., population density and predation) on how deer will respond to climatic conditions. We identified several knowledge gaps, such as studies regarding the potential impact on these animals of extreme weather events, snow type, and wetter autumns. The patterns we have identified in this literature review should help managers understand how populations of deer may be affected by regionally projected futures regarding temperature, rainfall, and snow.

Improving Northeast China’s soybean and maize planting structure through subsidy optimization considering climate change and comparative economic benefit

The planting structure of Northeast China (NEC) is greatly responsible for China’s food security and self-sufficiency. Climate change promoted the northward expansion of the suitable planting area for maize in NEC, and its higher comparative economic benefit largely helped it occupy the soybean planting space. Yet, knowledge on how climatic suitability and comparative economic benefit affected the northward expansion of maize planting area is limited. To bridge this gap, this study quantified the climatic suitability of maize and soybean from 1981 to 2020 using the fuzzy mathematical method. Combined with yield, crop distribution and social economic data in 2000, 2010 and 2020, this study further calculated the comparative economic benefit between the two crops. Furthermore, a crop planting decision simulation model was developed to clarify the impact of climatic suitability and comparative economic benefit on the planting area of soybean and maize. Results showed that from 2000 to 2010, the maize planting area increased dramatically. This was due to the continuous northward expansion of the most suitable region (S1) for maize from 47.63°N to 48.43°N before 2010, along with the fact that 65% of the total area was more profitable to plant maize. From 2010 to 2020, the maize planting area partially retreated, mainly due to the shrinking trend of the northern boundary of S1 for maize and the implementation of soybean producer subsidy. The improvement of maize climatic suitability played a fundamental role in the northward expansion of its planting area. On this basis, the comparative economic benefit was critical for planting proportion adjustments. The current soybean producer subsidy largely reduced the profit gap between the two crops, but it was still insufficient in nearly one-third of the total area. This study suggested to increase amount of soybean subsidies in the identified soybean-maize imbalanced regions. Specifically, the average recommended increase amounts ranged from 756 to 2052 CNY/ha depending on the regions. These findings could provide valuable references for understanding the motivation of crop planting decisions and optimizing the corresponding subsidy policies.

A hűtési és fűtési időszakot jellemző éghajlati klímaindexek változása Magyarországon

Összefoglalás. Az elmúlt évtizedekben a globális felmelegedés hatásai Európában, azon belül a Kárpát-medencében is nyilvánvalóvá váltak, s ez a hatás jelentős mértékű az energiaszektorra is. A kizárólag az időjárás által befolyásolt függő fűtési és hűtési energiaigényt leíró technikai klímaindexek alakulását mutatjuk be Magyarországon, nevezetesen a fűtési foknap (Heating Degree Days) és a hűtési foknap (Cooling Degree Days) paramétereket vizsgáljuk. A jelen klímát leginkább jellemző éves és havi normálértékek mellett a változásokat is elemezzük. A múlt század elejétől a fűtési foknapok egyértelmű csökkenése, míg a hűtési foknapok egyértelmű emelkedése figyelhető meg. Országos átlagban 314,6 foknappal [°C nap] csökkent a fűtési foknapok éves összege a lineáris trendmodell szerint 1901-től, míg ugyanerre az időszakra 79,4 ℃ nappal nőtt a hűtési foknap értéke. A legutóbbi három évtizedben, a legintenzívebb melegedés időszakában igen markánsak a változások, s ez a folyamat minden bizonnyal folytatódik a század végéig és azon túl is. Summary. In recent decades, the effects of global warming have become evident in Europe, including the Carpathian Basin, and this impact is significant for the energy sector. The most obvious impact of climate change in Hungary is the increase in extremes associated with high temperatures. Not only summer, but also winter and transition seasons show a warming trend, affecting all productive and service sectors. Rising temperatures could lead to shorter heating seasons and milder cold months, potentially reducing heating energy demand. However the heat waves have become more frequent and intense due to warming, leading to an increase in cooling energy demand. In the first part of this article, we present the evolution of heating degree-days from the beginning of the last century to the present day for the whole area of Hungary. The heating degree day is an indicator of the energy consumption for heating of buildings, which depends only on the weather. That is a temperature value, expressed in °Cday, which is proportional to the amount of energy required to heat the indoor environment to a given temperature on a given day, taking into account the daily minimum, maximum and mean temperature for a specific base temperature (15.5°Cday). Importantly, its value does not depend on the insulation of the buildings, economic indicators or the type of energy sources. Essentially, the colder the weather, the more the air temperature deviates from the base temperature of 15.5 degrees Celsius, the more energy is needed to heat the indoor environment and the higher the heating degree day value will be. In addition, we present the analysis of cooling degree days. The cooling degree day is derived in a similar way, following the logic of the heating degree day derivation. Therefore, the warmer the weather and the higher the air temperature is above the base temperature of 22°C, the more energy is needed to cool the indoor environment. Based on the results presented in the article, we can conclude that the annual as well as the monthly amounts of heating degree-days have decreased since the beginning of the last century, with the greatest decrease in mountainous areas and in Western Hungary. One of the few benefits of climate change is that less energy is needed to heat interiors, and this is particularly true for the last decades, when annual heating degree-day amounts were usually lower than normal. At the same time, as heating degree-days have decreased, as the heat waves have become more frequent and intense with warming, resulting in an increase in cooling degree-days. In Hungary, on average, the last 30 years have been characterised by the highest cooling degree-day values over the last century’s climate normal periods. On a national average, the annual amount of heating degree-days has decreased by 314.6°Cday according to the linear trend model since 1901, while the cooling degree-day value has increased by 79.4°Cday over the same period. During the period of most intense warming, the August weather-dependent cooling energy demand increased the most. Due to the urban heat island effect in the inner-city environment, cooling of buildings requires additional energy. The recent trends is likely to continue until the end of the century and beyond. Therefore important to monitor changes in climate parameters affecting energy security and to develop an effective strategy and action plans to address the climate risks for the energy sector.

Global warming’s grip on agriculture: Strategies for sustainable production amidst climate change using regression based prediction

The intersection of climate change and food production is emerging as a critical area of research, focusing on both the potential benefits and the significant challenges posed by changing climate conditions. Elevated levels of carbon dioxide alongside rising global temperatures could theoretically boost crop yields, benefiting both human and animal consumption. This study examines the impact of various climate variables—temperature, humidity, precipitation, and soil moisture—on the primary production of essential foods such as rice, wheat, livestock, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. Utilizing data from different countries spanning from 2000 to 2020, drawn from world development indicators, this research employs econometric analysis coupled with deep learning-based cluster analysis. Additionally, it projects future production trends up to 2100 using the moving average time series forecasting method. The findings reveal a direct correlation between climate variables and the production levels of vegetables and other food items, highlighting the immediate effects of climatic changes on agriculture. The study also points out the uneven distribution of these climate impacts, with developing countries facing more severe challenges due to their limited resources and adaptive capacities. This uneven impact contributes to increased uncertainty in food supply and affects market stability. Furthermore, concerns about food safety are intensifying under the influence of climate change, although some regions have implemented effective food conservation and control measures to mitigate these risks. This research underscores a complex landscape where the risks and benefits of climate change on food production are not uniformly distributed, but rather are influenced by a myriad of factors including geographic location, economic conditions, and the level of technological advancement in food safety practices. The nuanced understanding of these dynamics is crucial for developing targeted strategies to enhance food security in the face of a changing climate.

Nature based solutions in cities of the global South—The ‘where, who and how’ of implementation

Nature-based solutions have gained popularity as an approach to reduce the impacts of climate and environmental change, providing multi-fold and multi-sectoral benefits especially in cities. Yet there has been growing concern about their utility for cities of the Global South, a concern fuelled by the paucity of studies, including scientific peer reviewed and gray literature. In this paper, we contribute to this knowledge gap, based on an analysis of 120 case studies of NBS in Global South cities, documented in two databases (Urban Natural Atlas and Oppla). These cases fall largely under categories of blue and green infrastructure, with a few cases also focusing on grey infrastructure (in buildings or campuses). While most cases are in Asia, several have also been documented in Africa and Central/South America. Two-third of documented NBS cases are aligned towards either national, or lower-level (regional and local) policies indicating the importance of policy mechanisms for driving their implementation. Institutional arrangements are usually non-government, government or collaborative arrangements, with the goal of climate resilience, biodiversity support and ecosystem restoration—along with social goals of creating public spaces. However, when private players take on the mandate for NBS, they focus primarily on grey infrastructure (in buildings and campuses), primarily meant for private or employee benefits, and not for the public. In cases where public engagement is a stated priority, we find tokenistic approaches deployed, primarily seeking engagement through information dissemination and consultation predominate. Despite the stated importance for participation and engagement, only a few cases focused on empowerment and co-creation of NBS with local communities. We suggest that there is a greater need for documentation regarding the modes of participation especially on roles and levels of actors involved, to enrich our understanding of the impact of NBS on values of justice and equity in the cities of the global South.

Global trends in applying decision science in mangrove restoration: are we missing some dimensions?

Mangrove restoration involves complex decision-making processes and can often lack adequate stakeholder engagement and empowerment to inform effective restoration outcomes. Decision science has the potential to overcome such challenges by facilitating structured approaches to make informed, participatory, and defensible decisions through the use of decision-support frameworks and tools. In this paper, we conduct a bibliometric and scoping review of peer-reviewed scientific literature to identify how decision science has been applied to advise mangrove restoration efforts and the extent to which social, economic, and ecological variables have been used to inform these studies. We find a steady increase in the number of mangrove restoration studies that employ decision science from 1990 to 2022, with an annual growth rate of 4.4%. We identified over 300 decision support tools used in mangrove restoration literature. Spatial data was the most documented tool to support mangrove studies. We also find that most papers focused on ecological variables (85.5%), while social (27.2%) and economic (15.1%) variables received less attention. Studies that used decision support frameworks were also sparse, where the most featured framework was Systematic Conservation Planning. The number of studies explicitly incorporating social and economic variables was limited, and there was also a scarcity of studies incorporating variables associated with governance. Regardless of the dominance of ecological variables, this review highlights a shift towards incorporating social dimensions into decision tools, emphasizing concepts like vulnerability to climate change, ecosystem services, and social benefits. Collaboration among countries, scientists, and practitioners is crucial to operationalise a socio-ecological framework within decision science. Enhancing the utility of scientific research for practitioners remains a critical goal in addressing the challenges faced by mangrove restoration projects globally.

Study on the Railway Effect of the Coordinated Development of the Economy and Environment in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle

Transportation infrastructure plays a crucial role in economic development and significantly influences climate change, providing direct and indirect benefits towards the attainment of Goals 8 and 13 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the impact of railway infrastructure on the level of economic and environmental coordination development in the Chengdu–Chongqing economic circle, using panel data from 16 cities spanning from 2010 to 2020. The analysis employs a coupled coordination degree model and a panel fixed effects model. The findings reveal a gradual increase in the level of economic and environmental coordination development in each city during the study period. Notably, Chongqing and Chengdu exhibit significantly higher levels compared to other cities. Railway infrastructure construction can significantly promote the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment. In areas with a high level of coordinated development of the economy and environment, the promoting effect is relatively small, while in areas with a low level of coordinated development of the economy and environment, the promoting effect is relatively large. Over the long term, railways continue to significantly promote the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment. The construction of railways can stimulate the development of the urban private economy and marketization, thereby facilitating the coordinated development of the urban economy and environment.

Life cycle assessment of mycelium-based composite materials

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) show promising acoustic and thermal insulation, fire safety, and mechanical strength properties and are suitable for multiple applications in the construction, packing or furniture industry. A life cycle assessment confirmed climate change and fossil energy demand benefits in a laboratory scale production modelled for Germany. MBC are associated with 0.3668 kg CO2e / kg MBC (EN 15804 + A2). The electricity required to run MBC production and hemp cultivation, if used as a substrate, contribute significantly to the environmental impact categories considered. Compared to conventional insulation materials, environmental advantages of MBC can be confirmed. Particularly, MBC has a better climate change impact than extruded polystyrene, quadcore sandwich panel, foam concrete and rockwool. However, since the end-of-life is not assessed, the wood-fiber and straw panels perform better regarding climate change. Moreover, MBC has lower fossil energy demand than all conventional insulation materials. Land-use and water demand are higher than for conventional materials.

Potential benefits of climate change on navigation in the northern sea route by 2050

Climate change has been inducing a continuous increase in temperatures within the Arctic region, consequently leading to an escalation in the rates of Arctic ice depletion. These changes have profound implications for navigation along the Arctic Northern Sea Route (NSR). However, access to the NSR is constrained to specific temporal intervals when the sea ice thickness reaches a threshold that permits safe passage of ships. This research employs climate change model simulations and the Polar Operational Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System framework to investigate the navigational feasibility of diverse ship types along NSR during the calendar years 2030, 2040, and 2050, under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. Different ship categories were analyzed within the context of these two scenarios. Results indicate considerable variation in the navigability of different ship categories across different scenarios and years. In general, polar ships demonstrate a higher navigational potential throughout most of the year, while pleasure crafts are constrained to specific periods. These findings bear significant implications for the future of shipping along the NSR. As Arctic ice continues to melt, NSR is anticipated to become more accessible to ships, albeit with navigational availability remaining contingent on the ship category and seasonal considerations.

Vulnerability of Paddy Farming Households to Climate Change in Aceh Province

Climate change has significantly impacted human history and evolution, making paddy a vulnerable commodity. Historically, humans have been able to adapt to the changing climate, but the long-term effects can inhibit growth and reduce agricultural production. Adaptation strategies can help reduce the effects of climate change and increase benefits, but there is still room for improvement. This study was conducted in Aceh Besar and Aceh Utara Districts. This study focuses on how households that raise paddy are affected by climate change. Purposive sampling was used as the sampling strategy in this study. This research uses a quantitative and qualitative approach. This study uses Livelihood Index analysis (LVI). The research results show that the vulnerability of paddy farming households in North Aceh is more vulnerable to climate change compared to Aceh Besar because the vulnerability value of paddy farming households in Aceh Besar is 0.44 and North Aceh is 0.45. The impact of climate change in Aceh Besar and North Aceh Regencies is that droughts occur more frequently.

Review of climate change adaptation and mitigation implementation in Canada's forest ecosystems part I: Reporting, science, and institutional/governance supporting practices in Canada

Canada is recognized as a global leader in sustainable forest management. Canadian forests and the forest sector remain vital pillars of the Canadian economy and home to many rural and remote communities. However, climate change is an existential threat to the sustainability of forests and forest-dependent communities. While both direct and indirect threats posed by climate change to Canada's forest sector are now well understood, our understanding of specific forest practices that have emerged from the body of science to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts is not well documented. Through a review of the scientific and grey literature, this study expands our knowledge and operational gaps associated with implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation practices in Canadian forests. The study found a dearth of literature specifically dedicated to reporting on the type of forest practices currently in use across Canada to address mitigation and adaptation. Most reports or studies were published in 2019 or later, with federal and provincial governments being the dominant actors in reporting and monitoring, research, and funding. Across the 15 terrestrial ecozones in Canada, forest practices linked to climate change were reported in 12 ecozones, with most practices reported in the Montane Cordillera located in western Canada. Common forest practices reported include fuel management, assisted migration, enhanced silvicultural activities, and carbon offset projects. We conclude that climate change adaptation/mitigation practices in Canada are in their early stages of implementation. Many practices remain in experimental stages (e.g., genetic trials) or are implemented at a relatively small scale in Canada (e.g., climate-based seed transfer and carbon reserves). The literature suggests that the most mainstream practices associated with climate change mitigation in Canada include tree planting for carbon sequestration and the designation of protected areas to enhance ecosystem resilience. We conclude that despite increasing reports linking climate change benefits with reported forest practices, the reporting in the scientific literature is scarce, poorly reported, and often not grounded in credible evidence.

As Existing Cities Adapt to Climate Change, Can Dynamic Systems Analysis Be Useful in Building a Sustainable Future?

Abstract The World Meteorological Organization estimates that Swiss glaciers lost 6% of their volume in 2022 (Niiler, 2023, “Europe’s Glaciers Melted at Record Rate,” Wall Street J). For summer tourism, this happens to be good news. This means a busier and longer season, more biking and hiking tours and more income for tour operators. However, there are steeper costs that come with such localized benefits of climate change; smaller glaciers also mean less water for drinking, less water for the crops, and less hydroelectricity for the population at-large. This paper outlines how cities and urban areas may moderate the effects of climate change, adapt coping strategies and assure a sustainable future for local populations and the region’s economy by analyzing the cross-correlation, magnitude, and time-dependence of the “causes” and the “effects.” After investigating other mathematical models addressing the effects of climate change (Fernandez et al., 2017, “A 3D Optimal Control Problem Related to the Urban Heat Islands,” J. Math. Anal. Appl., 446(2), pp. 1571–1605; Eikenberry and Gumel, 2018, “Mathematical Modeling of Climate Change and Malaria Transmission Dynamics: A Historical Review,” J. Math. Biol., 77(4), pp. 857–933; Mordecai et al., 2013, “Optimal Temperature for Malaria Transmission is Dramatically Lower Than Previously Predicted,” Ecol. Lett., 16(1), pp. 22–30), this paper proposes a dynamic systems and controls approach to urban development and planning. Climate-related risks such as a rise in temperature that diminishes the ability of typically low-skilled workers to work outside or coastal flooding that shrinks a city’s housing stock and pushes poorer populations to homelessness, crime, and drug abuse are interconnected as in a dynamic system that changes with time in scale and need to be analyzed accordingly (see Fig.1). The author also proposes creating “digital twins” of critical infrastructure, which can be done at comparatively lower cost, in order to analyze if the “inputs” including the remedial measures proposed, will yield the desired “outputs” and run iterations as needed until stable solutions are found.

Juçara palm ecological interactions threatened by climate and land‐cover changes

AbstractOngoing climate change has caused well‐documented displacements of species' geographic distribution to newly climatically suitable areas. Ecological niche models (ENM) are widely used to project such climate‐induced changes but typically ignore species' interspecific interactions that might facilitate or prevent its establishment in new areas. Here, we projected the change in the distribution of Juçara Palm (Euterpe edulis Mart., Arecaceae), a neotropical threatened palm, taking into consideration its ecological interactions. We run ENMs of E. edulis, plus its known seed dispersers (15 bird species) and predators (19 birds and mammals) under current and future climatic conditions. Additionally, for E. edulis, we removed deforested areas from the model. When considering only climate, climate change has a positive impact on E. edulis, with a predicted westward expansion and a modest southward contraction, with a 26% net gain in distribution by 2060. When removing deforested areas, however, climate change harms E. edulis, with a 66% predicted net distribution loss. Within the palm's distribution in this more realistic model, there is also a predicted reduction in the richness of its dispersers and predators. We conclude that the possible benefits of climate change to E. edulis' distribution are overshadowed by widespread habitat loss, and that global change is likely to disrupt some of its ecological interactions. The outcome of the interplay between the negative impact of the loss of dispersers, and the benefit of the loss of predators, is unclear, but the large contraction of E. edulis' range predicted here foresees a dim future for the species.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

ADAPTATION OF FIELD FORAGE PRODUCTION IN UKRAINE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE “GREEN” COURSE

The article presents the results of a study of the state and prospects for developing field fodder production as a necessary component in reviving large-scale milk production in the conditions of various challenges today in the context of the “green” course of Ukraine. Field fodder production has a leading role in solving the problem of providing dairy herds with full-fledged bulk fodder in sufficient quantities, especially in arid regions. The creation of a strong and high-quality fodder base for cattle is possible through the innovative development of modern intensive field fodder production, which should be based on a high level of mechanization, electrification, intensive energy-saving technologies for growing and harvesting fodder, on the achievements of genetics, breeding, and biotechnology. In 2021, the sown area of fodder crops was determined to be 1,535 thousand ha, 4.6 times less compared to 2000, 1.7 times less since 2010, and 8.5% less since 2020. There is a clear tendency to decrease livestock and poultry in agricultural enterprises and households. The total number of farm animals for all categories of farms decreased by 1.7-3.6 times during the studied period, and only poultry increased by 1.6 times. In the structure of cultivated areas of crops in Ukraine in 2021, fodder crops occupied 5.4%. At the same time, the specific weight of crops of perennial grasses in the entire sown area was only 2.9%. The revival of animal husbandry in agrarian enterprises in general and dairy cattle breeding, in particular, is associated with the intensification and improvement of the economic efficiency of field fodder production. In this regard, the anticipatory provision of animal husbandry needs with high-quality, protein-balanced, cheap fodder is particularly important. The reasons for the unsatisfactory development of fodder production are summarized. In recent years, military operations in the country have exacerbated the negative trends in field fodder production and the livestock industry, including dairy farming. An important task of modern fodder production is to reduce the negative impact on the environment to counteract the deterioration of the natural environment further. Due to global warming, there is a need to change the land management principles and adapt field fodder production to new climatic conditions. Such a course is inevitable since Ukraine, aiming to further integrate into the European Union, must fulfill its commitments and adhere to sustainable land use and reliable environmental protection principles. In order to reap the benefits of climate change and compensate for potential damages, appropriate adaptation measures must be implemented with a multi-stakeholder approach and collaboration. At the same time, the leading role in reducing the potentially dangerous consequences of climate variability and extreme events, raising awareness of adaptation to new or changing conditions, determining priorities, and developing a coordinated approach belongs to the state and government. Types of measures and specific directions for the adaptation of domestic agricultural enterprises to today’s challenges in the field of field fodder production in the context of sustainable development are proposed, which will contribute to the adoption of balanced management decisions, which will increase the effectiveness of business entities and their competitiveness.

Comparing the Grain Yields and Other Properties of Old and New Wheat Cultivars

Selecting cultivars with greater biomass results in higher yields and greater carbon sequestration. Storage of atmospheric carbon in the plant/soil pool contributes not only to food security but also to mitigating climate change and other agroecological benefits. The objective of this study was to determine: (1) grain, residue, and root biomass yields; (2) harvest indexes; (3) residue-to-product ratio; (4) root-to-shoot ratio; (5) biomass carbon and nitrogen contents; and (6) C:N ratios for two new and two old winter wheat cultivars. The greatest yield difference was found between old Srpanjka (the lowest) and new Kraljica (the highest) cultivar where grain, residue, root, and total biomass yield was higher by 38%, 91%, 71%, and 64%, respectively. Total biomass was composed of 40–47% grain, 10–11% roots, 32–36% stems + leaves, 9–11% chaff, and 1–2% spindle. The range of HI was 0.45–0.53, RPR 0.91–1.25, and R:S ratio 0.12–0.13. For all cultivars, positive carbon and negative nitrogen balance within the plant pool was determined. Still, root biomass and rhizodeposition carbon remain open questions for a better understanding of agroecosystems’ C dynamics.

Impacts of a hydroinfiltrator rainwater harvesting system on soil moisture regime and groundwater distribution for olive groves in semi-arid Mediterranean regions

Dry periods in semi-arid regions constitute one of the greatest hazardous features that agriculture faces. This study investigates the effects of using a new device called ‘Hydroinfiltrator Rainwater Harvesting System (HRHS) on the water balance of soils. It was designed for arid and semi-arid zones affected by long periods of drought punctuated by heavy rainstorms. The new hydroinfiltrator consists of a net-like shell filled mainly with biochar. It is cylindrical in shape, is placed vertically and is half-buried in the soil around the crop tree to facilitate the infiltration of rainwater, irrigation or runoff water deep into the soil. The experimental plot is located in Baena (Córdoba, southern Spain) in an olive grove where the hydroinfiltrator was installed in 90 olive trees while 10 were left as a control group. In the xeric climate (bordering on arid), typical of the region, soils without a hydroinfiltrator have had a low infiltration rate, which reduces the effectiveness of precipitation and significantly increases the risk of water erosion. The effects of infiltration assisted by the device were analysed by simulating a torrential rain in which 600 L of water were passed through the hydroinfiltrator on an olive tree which had been installed 3 years previously. Geophysical methods (electrical resistivity tomography, ERT), direct analyses of soil samples, both in situ and in the laboratory, and theoretical flow models indicated a very significant increase in soil moisture (which nearly tripled in respect to the control group) because water was absorbed into the soil quickly, preventing runoff and water erosion. The soil moisture at 20 cm depth was 2.97 times higher with the HRHS than in the control plots. In addition, olive production increased by 211% and was higher in fat yield by 177%. Moreover, the resistivity profiles, taken by ERT showed that the water that entered the soil accumulated in the root zone of the olive tree, encouraged by the preferential pathways created by the roots and away from the surface, which prevented rapid evaporation during the high temperatures of spring and summer. Here we show for the first time that the use of the hydroinfiltrator rainwater harvesting system represents a significant improvement in the use of scarce water resources caused by climate change, providing agronomic and environmental benefits for rainfed, Mediterranean agricultural systems.

The Analysis of the Impact of Climate Change on Human

Since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, social productivity has made a qualitative leap. At the same time, diseases and climate change caused by industrialization have also brought new challenges to the earth's ecology and human health. This paper will focus on the impact of climate change and extreme temperature events (ETEs) on the Earth's ecology to date, as well as the threat to humans health and living environment. The heat that is produced as a result of global warming brought on by climate change will offer enormous kinetic energy to the air and oceans, which will lead to the formation of devastating storms such as typhoons, hurricanes, and tsunamis. In the meanwhile, climate change will also influence the physiological function of human beings. The spread of various physiological diseases will breed new physiological diseases, such as respiratory diseases, heart diseases, viral diseases, bacterial diseases, etc., which will greatly affect the living environment of human beings.The potential benefits of climate change in particular regions will also be analyzed. Finally, this paper summarizes the coping and adaptation methods of climate change, which may provide ideas for future research.

Coping with rapid and cascading changes in Svalbard: the case of nature-based tourism in Svalbard

Tourism has been booming in Svalbard and has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, the island is a hotspot of rapid and cascading climate and environmental changes, which are already placing natural and social systems under stress. There is more precipitation, less sea ice, and glaciers are shrinking at an increasing rate. Presently, sweeping legislative changes are underway in Svalbard that hold the potential to change the scope and conditions of tourism in multiple ways. Drawing on a review of literature presenting recent projections for climate and environmental change and interviews with tourism actors (n=25), this article outlines how climate and environmental changes are currently impacting nature-based tourism actors in the archipelago and discusses opportunities and barriers for their adaptation to current and projected changes. We define impacts in three broad categories: increased vulnerability of ecosystems; climate risks to tourism; and climate change benefits to tourism. We find that tourism actors have a high adaptive capacity to said changes, taking advantage of increased access due to shrinking ice in the fjords and extending the summer season into the autumn months due to higher temperatures. Avalanches and other natural hazard risks are increasing, causing a higher frequency of disruptions to organized tours and excursions. This article contributes to ongoing discussions about how the tourism industry and residents will be impacted by the cascading and cumulative effects of climatic and environmental changes on Svalbard.