Climate Change and the Global Harvest: Potential Impacts of the Greenhouse Effect on Agriculture

If the predictions of many atmospheric scientists on global warming are realized, the mean change in temperature of the earth's surface will rise by several degrees--a warming that is likely to trigger a series of changes affecting the hydrologic regimes of entire regions. These predictions have serious implications for the future of food production and global food security, which depend on the predictability of the climate and on the ability of farmers to adapt to changing conditions. Climate Change and the Global Harvest provides a comprehensive coverage of the interactions between global warming and agriculture, including the physiological effects of carbon dioxide enrichment on crops and the implications of increased temperature and demand for water.

This book explains what is known, and points out where uncertainties yet lie, in regard to the science of the greenhouse effect, the models used to predict global warming, and the significance of these forecasts for future agriculture. The authors take an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on fields including climatology, agronomy, and economics, to elucidate the interplay of biophysical and socioeconomic factors in the ramifications of global warming. Agriculture everywhere is involved in the issue of climate change, and its impact on world food security brings international responsibility into play, affecting government policies as well as individual decisions. Climate Change and the Global Harvest informs students and professionals on how the climatic factors affecting agriculture may be modified in the future and what practical adaptations might be undertaken to prevent or overcome any adverse impacts on world agriculture.