Improved model estimates impact of ozone on soy crops
Date:
February 1, 2021
Source:
University of Exeter
Summary:
The impact of ozone on soybean production can be predicted more
accurately thanks to improvements to a computer modelling system.
FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The impact of ozone on soybean production can be predicted more accurately thanks to improvements to a computer modelling system.
========================================================================== Surface ozone is a pollutant that affects plant growth by entering leaves
and reducing the rate of photosynthesis, and rising ozone levels could
severely limit production of crops including soy.
Being able to estimate this damage on soybean production using a "climate- vegetation model" is vital for predicting global and regional soy yields
in the future.
This study uses results from a field experiment in the USA, which found
that a normal ozone level of 10ppm/h (AOT40) could reduce soybean yield
by 10%.
At extreme ozone levels -- comparable to those observed on very polluted
days in some parts of the world -- soybean production fell to less than
half the amount grown in unpolluted air.
"Currently, ozone concentrations are projected to increase globally,
which could have a significant impact on agriculture and food security,"
said Dr Felix Leung, of the University of Exeter.
========================================================================== "Economic loss from ozone damage to crops is already estimated at $14
billion to $26 billion USD.
"Policy decisions -- such as the promotion of electric vehicles over
diesel and petrol cars -- are urgently required to limit surface ozone
levels." Ozone in the stratosphere protect us from harmful ultra violet radiation, but in the lower atmosphere, the troposphere, it is toxic to
humans and plants.
As well as limiting photosynthesis -- and therefore reducing carbon
storage by plants -- it is also a greenhouse gas, and is toxic to humans
and animals.
Ozone is caused by a combination of pollutants including nitrogen oxide,
which mostly comes from vehicle and factory emissions.
==========================================================================
The climate-vegetation computer model used in this study is called JULES.
It was developed by a wide community of UK researchers, coordinated by
the Met Office and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
"The newly calibrated version of JULES will be applied regionally and
globally in future JULES simulations," said Dr Leung.
"This study helps to build a state-of-the-art impact assessment model
and contribute to a more complete understanding of the impacts of climate change on food production." The research team included Dr Karina Williams
and Dr Andy Wiltshire, who were both among Met Office staff who took
joint positions at the Global Systems Institute at the University of
Exeter last year.
The study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Exeter. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Felix Leung, Karina Williams, Stephen Sitch, Amos P. K. Tai, Andy
Wiltshire, Jemma Gornall, Elizabeth A. Ainsworth, Timothy Arkebauer,
David Scoby. Calibrating soybean parameters in JULES 5.0 from the
US-Ne2/ 3 FLUXNET sites and the SoyFACE-O3 experiment. Geoscientific
Model Development, 2020; 13 (12): 6201 DOI: 10.5194/gmd-13-6201-2020 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210201101534.htm
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