Transient Climate Change and Potential Croplands of the World in the 21st Century

Joint Program Report
Transient Climate Change and Potential Croplands of the World in the 21st Century
Xiao, X., J.M. Melillo, D.W. Kicklighter, A.D. McGuire, H. Tian, Y. Pan, C.J. Vorosmarty and Z. Yang (1997)
Joint Program Report Series, 18 pages

Report 18 [Download]

Abstract/Summary:

A cropland distribution model, which is based on climate, soil and topography, is applied to estimate the area and spatial distribution of global potential croplands under contemporary climate and to assess the effect of transient climate changes projected by the MIT Integrated Global System Model for assessment of climate change. The area of global potential croplands is about 32.91 x 106 km 2 under contemporary climate, and increases substantially over the period of 1977-2100 and differs among the three transient climate change predictions, being about +6.7% (2.20 x 106 km2), +11.5% (3.78 x 106 km2), and +12.5% (4.12 x 106 km2) in 2100, respectively. Among twelve economic regions of the world, the Former Soviet Union and the Other OECD Countries regions have the largest increases in potential croplands, while developing countries have little increases in potential croplands. Spatial distribution of potential croplands changes considerably over time, dependent upon the transient climate change predictions.

Citation:

Xiao, X., J.M. Melillo, D.W. Kicklighter, A.D. McGuire, H. Tian, Y. Pan, C.J. Vorosmarty and Z. Yang (1997): Transient Climate Change and Potential Croplands of the World in the 21st Century. Joint Program Report Series Report 18, 18 pages (http://globalchange.mit.edu/publication/14660)

Superseded by:

Reprint 1999-15. Transient Climate Change and Potential Croplands of the World in the 21st Century (Sistema Terra: Remote Sensing and the Earth, 1999)
  • Joint Program Report
Transient Climate Change and Potential Croplands of the World in the 21st Century

Xiao, X., J.M. Melillo, D.W. Kicklighter, A.D. McGuire, H. Tian, Y. Pan, C.J. Vorosmarty and Z. Yang

Joint Program Report Series

Report 

18
18 pages
1997

Abstract/Summary: 

A cropland distribution model, which is based on climate, soil and topography, is applied to estimate the area and spatial distribution of global potential croplands under contemporary climate and to assess the effect of transient climate changes projected by the MIT Integrated Global System Model for assessment of climate change. The area of global potential croplands is about 32.91 x 106 km 2 under contemporary climate, and increases substantially over the period of 1977-2100 and differs among the three transient climate change predictions, being about +6.7% (2.20 x 106 km2), +11.5% (3.78 x 106 km2), and +12.5% (4.12 x 106 km2) in 2100, respectively. Among twelve economic regions of the world, the Former Soviet Union and the Other OECD Countries regions have the largest increases in potential croplands, while developing countries have little increases in potential croplands. Spatial distribution of potential croplands changes considerably over time, dependent upon the transient climate change predictions.

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