I need some points on the topic :global climatic changes and it's effects on agriculture?

Question

I need some points on the topic :global climatic changes and it's effects on agriculture?

Answer 1

There is more to warming than just warm. Aside from the agricultural zones established, warming changes weather patterns and it is not clear yet the extent. The causes will be many and one can expect increased unstable weather like hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, as well as more violent rains/ hail with higher winds. Desertification may speed up in some areas, and other spots which have been fine may find that rains that were counted on won't happen and prime spots become problem areas especially associated with the northern hemisphere. Spots in the southern half of the planet which had wet and dry seasons may see blistering dry punctuated by biblical rains that do more damage than good.

One of the problems sighted is the stalling of ocean currents by the increases of huge amounts of fresh water and a changing wind current. At a time when we are beginning to really understand how this whole earth wind and water current system works, it is changing, and now we will really understand how important it is when our livelihood as a species is threatened.

It seems almost ironic that at a time when our civilization is really making an impact on the environment, that natural tendencies which alone would be felt (probably adversely) are combining with our effect to really cause a problem. In the end food prices will go up because it will require so much more to offset the effect. Production of food will go down because of lost land, more storm damage, increases in crop insurance, increased imports of staples during non-productive seasons, an import- export imbalance that leads to changes in global economics, increased use of fossil fuel in shipping foods, and with the increased environmental pressure now more pest and disease issues because the seasonal interruption of their cycles which helps in control and management are suddenly not there (insects and disease innoculum are not being naturally controlled by freeze-thaw and dry-wet cycles).

Along with that we will see problems with ocean products and their availability and problems with fresh water availability. In the end will have to make additions to correct problems which will cause more fossil fuels to be used and will see an increased dependence on the industries that produce chemicals. For all that it is hard to tell this early the depth of the effect because, as I said, we just are beginning to really understand it all, just as it is changing.