5 ms·
CO2 is an input to photosynthesis. How does it lead to a net loss of crops? EDIT: Of course, with changing climate: some crops will benefit; others will not.
by georgewsinger 5y ago
CO2 is an input to photosynthesis. How does it lead to a net loss of crops?
EDIT: Of course, with changing climate: some crops will benefit; others will not. But how do we know in net that crop yields will definitely decrease under global warming?
- WalterSear 5y agoBit hard to plant crops during a hurricane, or water them during a drought.
- goatlover 5y agoHurricanes and droughts are regional. Might make growing more expensive and limited in some places, while others are able to grow more.
- danielheath 5y agoMore extreme temperatures will clearly affect plant growth rates.
- gameswithgo 5y agoDifferent plants have different optimum co2 concentrations, more is going to be bad for some, changing weather patterns and water availability will mean upheaval of agriculture for some regions, rising oceans will put some agriculture underwater.
- lm28469 5y agoIt's one of many variable, o2 is an input for respiration but if I'm sitting on your chest you'll still struggle. And rest assured, co2 isn't a bottleneck for crops
- EdwardDiego 5y agoMore intense weather leads to more crop damage, changes in precipitation patterns and average temperature affect the range and numbers of insect pests, etc. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/09/warmer-wetter-climate-change-insects-biodiversity/ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/09/warmer-wetter-climate...
- runarberg 5y agoI’m guessing among other reasons: droughts, floods, loss of pollinators, extreme temperatures, loss of natural fertilizers, etc.
- Symmetry 5y agoMore CO2 is generally good for photosynthesis. Higher temperatures are generally bad for photosynthesis. Which dominates depends on a lot of factors including base temperature, C3 versus C4 photosynthesis, etc. And then there's the changes in rainfall. Personally I wouldn't be particularly surprised if the first .5 C of global warming was a net benefit for humanity. I'd be pretty surprised if the second was, though, and very very* surprised if the third was. And that's just what takes us to our current target for limiting warming.