Pollution Loss Research Articles

Renewable Energy Resource in the Eurasian Economic Union: Current and Future Scenarios for Development

Factors preventing the development of non-traditional and renewable sources of energy in countries of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are considered. Mechanisms of solving existing contradictions are proposed. Particular attention is paid to the need to include environmental costs and pollution losses in economic analysis, which will improve the competitiveness of alternative energy sources. The necessity of accelerated development of alternative energy to increase energy supply, energy saving, energy and environmental security is shown.

Study on the quantification of ecological compensation in a river basin considering different industries based on water pollution loss value.

The study on the quantification of ecological compensation (eco-compensation) in a river basin can help to make environmental protection more compatible with ecological construction. In this paper, the upstream and downstream of the river basin were treated as the subjects and objects of eco-compensation, and the mechanism of eco-compensation was clarified. The emergy analysis theory (EMA) was used to calculate the values of water resources in sub-industries (agriculture, industry, life, and recreation). The pollution loss rate theory (PLR) was adopted to calculate the water pollution loss rate in sub-industries. According to the value of water resources and pollution loss rate in sub-industries, combined with the water consumption of sub-industries in the river basin, the Ecological Compensation Quantification Model of Sub-industries (ECQ-Is Model) was constructed. Under the guidance of the aforementioned theory and model, a comprehensive research was conducted on the Xiaohong River. The results showed that the eco-compensation values of the upstream area, industry, and agriculture in the river basin were higher. Therefore, it is essential that the water resources in the Xiaohong River basin be well conserved and managed. In addition, the research results point out the direction for water pollution control, which includes promoting the coordinated development of the upstream and downstream, and maximizing the ecological benefits of the river basin.

Application of Set Pair Analysis in a Comprehensive Evaluation of Water Resource Assets: A Case Study of Wuhan City, China

With the rapid development of the social economy, China is suffering from severe water scarcity due to improper management. Evaluation of water resource value is a crucial issue for innovative management in regional water resources. In this paper, in consideration of the complexity and uncertainty of water resources, 15 indicators were selected to establish the assessment system for its value in Wuhan City from the following three aspects, namely the environment, resources, and society. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Entropy Weight Method were combined to calculate the comprehensive weight. An improved set pair analysis (SPA) model was applied to evaluate water resource assets in the period of 2013–2017. For the sake of the dependability of these results, the James Pollution Loss model was utilized to compute loss of water resource value caused by the decline of water quality in the water pollution environment. The results show that the amount of water resource through physical quantitative accounting in Wuhan City fluctuates greatly. The initial change is relatively stable, then surges in 2015 and 2016, but slumps in 2017. The total water resource assets for Wuhan City from 2013 to 2017 are 14.221, 14.833, 28.375, 75.558, and 21.315 billion RMB, respectively. Therefore, water resource value accounting plays an indispensable role in the environmental protection and sustainable development of water, as well as provides a support for comprehensive calculation and management of various valuable natural resources.

A Framework for Wetlands' Ecological Integrity Assessment in Rwanda

Wetland's Ecological Integrity Assessment refers to "an assessment approaches that measures overall wetland condition with an emphasis on the structure, composition, and function of an ecosystem in reference to a natural habitat of the region" It provides government agencies, and key stakeholders with critical information on factors that may be degrading, maintaining or helping to restore an ecosystem, therefore supporting decision making. With continued degradation of protected areas over the last four decades, wetland ecosystems served as soft edges for biodiversity and genetic resources in Rwanda. However, there is no holistic framework to assess the ecological integrity of these important ecosystems, and the little and incomplete information collected is scattered, hence difficult to access. Consequently, wetlands are under continued overexploitation, reclamation pollution, biodiversity and ecological functions loss (Singh et al. 2015). Throughout a six months period, with a participatory planning process that involved individual expert consultations and workshops, supported with a robust literature review and the established multidisciplinary technical team, we came up with a holistic and Integrated Framework for Wetlands' Ecological Integrity Assessemnt. The framework is cost-effective and was designed to collect and analyse data on the structure (soil, hydrology), composition (biota), and functions (Ecosystem services mapping and valuation) as well as the social economy status within and around wetland landscapes in the region. In addition, the ARCOS Biodiversity Information Management System (ARBIMS), an online platform for data sharing, was developed and upgraded. The developed assessment framework will help to mobilize and integrate biodiversity data into relevant documents to inform wetland management plans and support other investment decisions in Rwanda.

Economic component of the ecosystem services losses

The article is aimed at development of the scientific approaches as to assessment of the economic component of the ecosystem services losses at the local level.
 An analysis is made of the components of the environmental economic index at the local level and the economic mechanism of formation of the ecosystem services losses is studied. It is emphasized that the ecosystem assessment of the environmental pollution losses at the local level is impossible without taking into consideration the up-to-date approaches as to the ecosystem development analysis and their state assessment. The ecosystem assets accounting while estimating the investment attractiveness of the territory is substantiated. Basing on the water resources, the management and economic approaches are specified while estimating losses of the ecosystem water services under management decentralization to prevent negative consequences of the economic activities at the local level. The necessity is substantiated to develop novel theoretical and methodological approaches to solve this problem envisaging three key aspects in particular, aiming at development of the theory of the ecosystem services losses based on losses (gaining no advantages) from the water ecosystem, development of the theory of ecological risk and that of the water ecosystem degradation. Conceptual scheme is proposed to determine parameters of the economic damage caused by the water ecosystem services losses.
 The further long-term researches involve approaches as follows: to form an integrated strategic approach for implementation of the ecosystem analysis of the losses caused by the economic negative consequences at the local level; to develop and implement effective methodical approaches for assessment of the losses caused by the negative economic consequences to make the territory attractive for investment using local natural resources in particular, water, as environmental assets of the territory sustainable development.

Study on environmental pollution loss measurement model of energy consumption emits and its application in industrial parks

While increasing the total output value, industrial production also increases the scale of three-waste emissions, causing serious environmental pollution. As the environmental pollution loss of energy consumption emits in industrial parks has the characteristics of virtual property, diffusion and amplification, the problem of environmental pollution loss measurement is put forward. In order to explore the effective way to measure the environmental pollution loss of energy consumption emits in industrial parks, on the basis of literature review, by analyzing the classical theory of environmental economics, using the method of shadow price and the combination of input and output, the environmental pollution loss measurement model of energy consumption emits was established and applied to with the actual data of Nanjing MV industrial park, achieving satisfactory result. It provides an effective quantitative analysis method for local government to measure the environmental pollution loss and formulate related policies for environmental pollution control.

Üretim Planlaması Yapılarak Su Bazlı Boyaların Üretimi Esnasında Oluşan Su Kirliliğinin ve Boya Kaybının Önlenmesi

Son zamanlarda endüstriyel üretimdeki artışla beraber çevre ve su kirliliğinde meydana gelen artışlar da önemli boyutlara ulaşmıştır. Bu çalışmada, uygun üretim planı yapılarak su bazlı boyaların üretimi sırasında su kullanımının ve boya kaybının mümkün olduğunca azaltılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu kapsamda uygun bir planlama ile farklı renklerde 30 kazan boya üretimi neticesinde olası gereken boya kaybı 2388 kg’dan 79.6 kg’a düşmüştür. Hem su hem de boya kaybı açısından ortalama %96,7’lik bir kazanç elde edilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra pigment kullanımında da azalmalar olduğu görülmüştür. Boya kaybı engellenerek 30 kazan su bazlı inşaat boyasında ortalama 2865.6 $’lık bir kazancın olacağı ön görülmüştür. Bu çalışmada önerilen planlama ile su kaynaklarının korunması, çevre kirliliğinin ve ekonomik kayıpların önlenmesi için oldukça önemli veriler elde edilmiştir.

Characteristic Analysis and Loss Accounting for Water Pollution in Plain River Network Region - A Case Study of the Yangtze Delta

Because there are many water systems, severe human activities, increasingly serious water pollution problems and great economic loss in the plain river network region, the establishment of scientific and reasonable economic loss function is necessary to guide the protection and management of water resources. Taking the Yangtze Delta as an example, the characteristics of water pollution in the same period are that the flood season is stronger than the non-flood season. The analysis based on the physical mechanism shows that the process of economic loss of water pollution not only accords with S-type curve but also gives a reason for the S-type curve from the aspect of mechanism. The water pollution loss rate function which is constructed on the basis of hyperbolic tangent function divides the development stage into such three stages as non-enrichment, enrichment and saturation of pollutants, gives turning points of each stage as well as the solution and significance of parameters and enriches the physical process of models. The results of living samples show that the comprehensive water grades can be obtained easily and quickly through the river length failure rate. Their good correlation has certain promotion significance. The total water pollution economic loss is bigger. The average economic loss in the flood period from May to July is bigger than that in the flood period from August to September and non-flood period. The living samples prove that there exists pollutant diffusion phenomenon in the flood period.

Biochar and Water Quality.

Biochar application is considered to be an emerging strategy to improve soil ecosystem services. However, implications of such application on water quality parameters have not been widely discussed. This paper synthesizes the state-of-the-art research on biochar effects on water erosion, nitrate leaching, and other sources of water pollution. Literature indicates that in general, biochar application reduces runoff by 5 to 50% and soil loss by 11 to 78%, suggesting that it can be effective at reducing water erosion, but the magnitude of erosion reduction is highly variable. Co-application of biochar with other organic amendments (i.e., animal manure, compost) appears to be more effective at reducing water erosion than biochar alone. A main mechanism by which biochar can reduce water erosion is by improving soil properties (i.e., organic C, hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability), which affect soil erodibility. This review also indicates that biochar reduces nitrate leaching, in most cases by 2 to 88%, but has mixed effect on phosphate and dissolved C leaching. Additionally, biochar effectively filters urban runoff, adsorbs pollutants, and reduces pesticides losses. Biochar feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, application amount, time after application, and co-application with other amendments affect biochar impacts on water quality. Biochar erosion and potential reduction in nutrient and pesticide use efficiency due to the strong adsorption are concerns that deserve consideration. Overall, biochar application has the potential to reduce water erosion, nitrate leaching, pesticide losses, and other pollutant losses, but more field-scale data are needed to better discern the extent to which biochar can improve water quality.

Cost Accounting of Environmental Degradation by Pollution Loss Method

The biosphere provides many natural processes to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment for human life, which is known as ecosystem services. Economic theory often disregards the impact of its decisions on the biosphere or assumes unlimited resources or capacity for its needs. However, whenever humans alter the ecosystem, we potentially limit or remove ecosystem services. While individually, these activities may seem inconsequential to the total ability of the biosphere’s functioning potential, cumulatively they are directly impacting the biodiversity and causing environmental degradation. Many scholars mostly adopt Costanza's method in the evaluation of ecosystem service function. However, the evaluation of ecosystem service function is static and not spatial, which is not intuitive enough. In this paper, the cost accounting of environmental degradation using the pollution loss method is summarized. Considering that the loss caused by pollution is often unmanageable and the cost of pollution control is often different from the loss caused by pollution, the pollution loss method is adopted in the selection of pollution accounting method instead of the traditional cost method. The InVEST model is introduced when calculating specific indicators. The model is very accurate to calculate the loss of environmental damage, has great significance for our future cost of protecting the environment but also saving environmental protection.

Watershed diffuse pollution dynamics and response to land development assessment with riverine sediments

Sediment cores can reflect diffuse pollution history due to the accumulation of pollutants over time, therefore, the quantitative relationship between the sedimentation flux of pollutants and diffuse loads can identify the historical change. Sediment cores were collected from two river reaches in a small agricultural watershed (143 km2), and the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were determined. The sediments were dated using 210Pb isotope radioactivity and the TN and TP sedimentation flux was calculated with Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) and Constant Initial Concentration (CIC) models. Watershed loss loads were simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in the same temporal period. As the similar natural condition in the post-depositional period of sediments, a linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between TN and TP sedimentation flux and the hindcast model data. The TP sedimentation flux showed a clear positive relationship with its simulated load (R2 = 0.600 and 0.664) using the CRS model, and better reflected long-term diffuse pollution loss dynamics than nitrogen. The impacts of land use change on diffuse pollution loading were identified with the combination of sedimentation flux from different reaches and watershed modeling. During the expansion of paddy land in the lower reach, the difference of TP sedimentation flux between upper and lower reaches narrowed, while gap of TN sedimentation flux increased. Base on the lateral correlations of two sections, the sediment concentration of TP was more reliable for the long term diffuse pollution assessment under land development.

Dynamics of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic pollutant losses from a small watershed in the drinking-water source protection area in Guiyang City of Southern China.

Nutrients in runoff degrade water quality. The development of schemes to mitigate such degradation requires a characterization of the underlying dynamic processes of nutrient loss. The drinking-water source protection area in the Lake Hongfeng watershed of Guiyang City, the capital of Guizhou Province, China, has been delimited for effective conservation. However, no systematic observations have provided data on nutrient losses from these areas that could support optimal management. We selected one typical watershed in the area. Automatic gauges were installed to record the water levels and calculate runoff rates during 2010 and 2011. A total of 1523 runoff samples were collected at an interval of 3h during a day; total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were tested. The results indicated that surface runoff rates were primarily less than 15L/s but rapidly increased 1-30 times 15L/s when it rained. TN, TP, and COD concentrations primarily fluctuated between 0.06 and 18.79mg/L, between 0.01 and 1.57mg/L, and between 0.01 and 160mg/L, respectively. TN and COD concentrations in 98.98% and 52.04% of the runoff samples, respectively, exceeded the upper limit required by the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (EQSSW) in China. Conversely, 94.29% of the runoff samples had lower concentrations than the upper limit of TP concentration. Surface runoff has been seriously polluted by nitrogen and organic pollutants. The occurrence frequency of different runoff rates and TP and COD concentrations showed different distributions, but TN concentrations had a normal distribution. There was a significant relationship between runoff rates and TP concentration and TN, TP, or COD loss. TN, TP, and COD loss primarily occurred on vegetable lands, rice fields, and residential sites. Effectively controlling nitrogen fertilizer that is applied on vegetable lands and paddy fields and managing wastewater and solid waste are urgent. The results reported here will also provide references for many other regions facing similar problems.

Water Pollution Prevention and Control of Chemical Enterprises Based on Cooperative Game

Due to the particularity of its production technology and process, chemical enterprises are shouldering important missions in environmental protection and pollution control. For this, in this paper, based on the cooperative game, the pollution of chemical enterprises was analysed firstly; Then, in view of the interactive feature of pollution-emission behaviour and survival in Jilin Chemical Industry Park, the non-cooperative game model and cooperative game model of chemical enterprises were established by considering the factors such as tax revenue, governance cost and pollution loss etc. Finally, taking Jilin Chemical Industry Park as example, the models were verified, including the emission and profits respectively in the non-cooperative game state and cooperative game state. The results indicate that the cooperation situation is conducive to reducing pollution emissions, and the cooperative profit after distribution is greater than non-cooperative one, but more comprehensive countermeasures should be also taken to ensure the effective reduction of pollutant emission load in the park.

Is there a nitrogen fertilizer threshold emitting less N2O with the prerequisite of high wheat production?

Excessive use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer and lower nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) are threatening the wheat production in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River. Excess input of N fertilizers also results in severe environmental pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. However, the study on reasonable nitrogen application and NUE improvement with the prerequisite of stable and high yield remains unexplored. In our study, the four different levels of nitrogen were applied to find out the nitrogen threshold which could be both friendly to environment and promise the stable and high yield. The experiment was carried out in Yangzhou University (Yangzhou, China). The wheat cultivar Yangmai 23 was selected as the research material. The four nitrogen levels were as follows: 0, 189, 229.5, and 270 kg ha-1. The results showed that the grain yield under the application of 229.5 kg ha-1 N was as high as that under 270 kg ha-1 N level, with the observation of 20.3% increase in agronomic efficiency. The N2O emission of 229.5 kg ha-1 N application was as low as that of 189 kg ha-1 N, but the grain yield and agronomic efficiency were significantly higher (11.9%) under 229.5 kg ha-1 treatment than the lower one. Taken together, this indicated the nitrogen level at 229.5 kg ha-1 could be identified as the fertilizer threshold, which will be beneficial for the future fieldwork.

Metal toxicity and recovery response of riverine periphytic algae

In the present study, in situ assessment of metal (Cu and Zn) toxicity followed by their recovery response was examined in periphyton dominated by diatoms. For doing so, metal diffusing substrates (MDS) were constructed and deployed in the river water for 6 weeks (3 weeks stress and 3 weeks recovery after replacing metal solution from the MDS). The use of MDS ensured that colonised periphyton on metal diffusing and control substrates were exposed to similar environmental conditions. The metal toxicity and recovery response of the community was examined in terms of traditional algal community parameters (biovolume, species richness, Shannon index, relative abundance) as well as with the newer non-taxonomical parameters (deformities and lipid bodies in diatoms). Both traditional and non-taxonomical parameters indicated complete recovery (from metal toxicity) of periphytic communities after 3 weeks following the withdrawal of Cu and Zn solution from the diffusing substrates. Newer non-taxonomical parameters, such as, deformities and lipid bodies, provide a new insight to understand metal toxicity and recovery response of diatom assemblages (the dominant autotrophs in the periphyton community) because these features are directly visible in live frustules, need no expertise in identification of diatoms and can be globally assessed with simple protocol. The experimental loss of metal pollutants and the constant immigration of algae (not previously exposed to high levels of metals) in fluvial systems aided periphyton recovery. Lastly, it is found that periphytic biofilms (dominated by diatoms) proved to be good bioindicators of metal toxicity and recovery in fluvial ecosystem.

Lignocellulosic‐based bioenergy and water quality parameters: a review

AbstractHigh rates of crop residue removal as biofuel feedstocks could increase losses of nonpoint source pollutants, negatively affecting water quality. An alternative to residue removal can be growing dedicated bioenergy crops such as warm season grasses (WSGs) and short‐rotation woody crops (SRWCs). Yet, our understanding of the implications of growing dedicated bioenergy crops on water quality is limited. Thus, we (i) synthesized and compared the impacts of crop residue removal, WSGs, and SRWCs on water quality parameters (i.e., sediment and nutrient runoff, and nutrient leaching) and (ii) identified research gaps for growing dedicated energy crops. Literature indicates that residue removal at rates >50% (residue retention up to 4.71 Mg ha−1) can increase runoff by 5–15 mm, sediment loss by 0.2–7 Mg ha−1, NO3–N by 0.58–1 kg ha−1, and sediment‐associated C by 0.3–57 kg ha−1 per rainstorm event compared to no residue removal. Crop residue removal may also increase nutrient leaching. Studies on the impacts of growing WSGs as dedicated bioenergy crops at field scale on water quality parameters are few. However, WSGs when used as conservation buffers reduce losses of sediment by 66–97%, nutrients by 21–94%, and contaminants by 9–98%. This suggests that if WSGs were grown as dedicated bioenergy crops at larger scales, they could reduce losses of nonpoint source pollutants. Literature indicates that SRWCs can consistently reduce NO3–N leaching. More modeled than field data are available, warranting further field research on (i) field data collection from WSGs and SRWCs from marginal lands, (ii) growing monoculture or polyculture of WSGs, and (iii) large‐scale production of energy crops. Overall, dedicated bioenergy crops, particularly WSGs, can reduce losses of nonpoint source pollutants compared to residue removal and be an important strategy to improve water quality if grown at larger scales.

25. Snapping Turtle Conservation in Ontario

Populations of snapping turtles are declining in Ontario. These reptiles play essential roles in wetland habitats through removal of dead animals and weeds, and their eggs provide food sources for mammals and birds. Despite being listed as a species of special concern under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, hunting of snapping turtles is permitted in some regions of Ontario. Snapping turtles are further threatened by pollution, road mortality, and habitat loss. The developmental process of this species also acts as an obstacle to their recovery, as sexual maturity is not reached until the age of 16-19 and only 7 out of 10,000 eggs is expected to survive to adulthood. With the assistance of contacts at the Suzuki Foundation, Guelph University, and other institutions, we intend to develop a conservation strategy for snapping turtles that consists of four components. First, we recommend a government-mandated, province-wide survey of snapping turtle statistics to determine turtle populations and threats. Then we will address whether sustainable hunting is possible. The current catch allowance of two turtles per person daily, as deemed sustainable by the MNR, should be suspended until further review. Next, barriers to recovery will be addressed. Prevention of threats could be achieved through conservation area designations, signs indicating turtle presence, information on how to avoid causing turtle injury and distribution of information to persons whose property contains snapping turtle habitat. Finally, increasing public awareness of snapping turtle demographics is crucial to our strategy. Education through multiple channels will generate public interest and funding.

An Improved Representation of Vegetative Filter Strips in SWAT

Abstract. Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are popular conservation practices installed at the edges of agricultural fields to reduce losses of pollutants from agricultural areas to receiving waterbodies. The recent interest in using VFS areas as multifunctional landscapes necessitates an improved depiction of VFS in simulation models. This study is aimed to enhance the physical representation of VFS in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to improve the representation of ecohydrologic processes and land management practices in VFS areas. The proposed enhancement enables routing of water, sediment, and nutrients from the source area through the VFS area and makes the infiltrated water and nutrients available for filter crop uptake. The improvements are implemented in SWAT by modifying input files through Matlab scripts and by changing SWAT subroutines to enable routing. The model improvements are tested with three paired watershed studies with and without edge-of-field VFS in central Iowa. The improved model estimated 46% runoff reduction, 91% sediment reduction, 83% total phosphorus reduction, and 54% nitrate reduction with VFS, and these estimates closely matched the measured VFS reductions. The improved model was able to represent increased infiltration, soil moisture, and denitrification in the VFS area, along with accurately capturing crop yields in the source and VFS areas. Overall, the results indicate improved physical representation of VFS in SWAT. Keywords: Conservation measures, Flexible buffer strips, Multifunctional buffers, SWAT model, Vegetative filter strips.

The effect of peach-soybean intercropping system with straw mulching on N and P losses, surface runoff in Dianchi Lake watershed mountain area, Yunnan province, China

Field experiments were conducted with peach (local variety)-soybean intercropping system as an agro-forestry community. The results showed that the reduction rate of CODcr losses were 24.31%, 50.50% and 65.19% respectively under the precipitation strength between 25mm d-1 and 100 mm d-1 with treatments of 36 kg plot-1, 54 kg plot-1 and 72 kg plot-1 straw mulching. The reduction rate of NH4+-N losses were 12.56%, 49.38% and 58.60%, respectively; The reduction rate of NO3--N losses were 27.78%, 9.55% and 58.61%, respectively; The reduction rate of TN losses were 3.85%, 31.67% and 56.01%, respectively. The reduction rate of TP losses were 23.02%, 30.19% and 42.65%, respectively. The yields of soybean increased by 24.09%, 47.46% and 93.84%, respectively. Peach-soybean intercropping with straw mulching could decrease the runoff losses of nitrogen and phosphorus with time effect for reducing non-point sources pollution losses.

Global diurnal and nocturnal parameters of stomatal conductance in woody plants and major crops

AbstractAimStomata regulate CO2 uptake, water‐vapour loss and uptake of gaseous pollutants. Jarvis‐type models that apply multiple‐constraint functions are commonly used to estimate stomatal conductance (gs), but most parameters for plant functional types (PFTs) have been estimated using limited information. We refined the data set of key components of the gs response to environmental factors in global PFTs.LocationGlobal.Time periodData published in 1973–2015.Major taxa studiedWoody plants and major crops (rice, wheat and maize).MethodsWe reviewed 235 publications of field‐observed gs for the parameterization of Jarvis‐type models in global PFTs. The relationships between stomatal parameters and climatic factors [mean annual air temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP)] were assessed.ResultsWe found that maximal stomatal conductance (gmax) in global woody plants was correlated with MAP rather than with MAT. The gmax of woody plants on average increased from 0.18 to 0.26 mol/m2/s with an increase in MAP from 0 to 2,000 mm. Models, however, can use a single gmax across major crops (0.44 mol/m2/s). We propose similar stomatal responses to light for C3 crops and woody plants, but C4 crops should use a higher light saturation point of gs. Stomatal sensitivity to vapour‐pressure deficit (VPD) was similar across forest PFTs and crops, although desert shrubs had a relatively low sensitivity of stomata to VPD. The optimal temperature for gs increased by 1 °C for every 3.0 °C of MAT. Stomatal sensitivity to predawn water potential was reduced in hot and dry climate. The fraction of nighttime conductance to gmax (0.14 for forest trees, 0.28 for desert shrubs and 0.13 for crops) should be incorporated into the models.Main conclusionsThis analysis of global gs data provides a new summary of gs responses and will contribute to modelling studies for plant–atmosphere gas exchange and land‐surface energy partitioning.