Impacts of agricultural water use on climate change - Revision history

Stefanie Ettling: /* Agriculture’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions */

2014-10-15T07:31:12Z

‎Agriculture’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions

Irena Irmler at 10:35, 20 February 2014

2014-02-20T10:35:36Z

Jana Herold at 11:33, 3 May 2013

2013-05-03T11:33:54Z

Jana Herold at 13:53, 22 April 2013

2013-04-22T13:53:33Z

Irena Irmler at 09:30, 25 March 2013

2013-03-25T09:30:10Z

Irena Irmler at 10:39, 18 March 2013

2013-03-18T10:39:30Z

Irena Irmler: /* Agriculture’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions */

2013-03-18T10:02:01Z

‎Agriculture’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions

Felix Zeiske: /* Impact pathways to agriculture */

2013-03-04T12:43:30Z

‎Impact pathways to agriculture

Felix Zeiske: /* Agriculture’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions */

2013-03-04T12:41:58Z

‎Agriculture’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions

Felix Zeiske: /* References */

2013-03-04T12:40:27Z

‎References

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 Agriculture, both crop agriculture and animal husbandry, depend critically on the prevailing climate in its particular locality. As climates change, agricultural systems that depend on those climates are profoundly affected. Those effects pass on to both producers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, and to non-agricultural populations which consume the surplus food produced.
 = Agriculture’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions =
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 About 40% of nitrous oxide emissions are anthropogenic, and the primary driver for the industrial era increase in N<sub>2</sub>O levels is enhanced microbial production in expanding and more heavily-fertilized agricultural lands (Denman et al., 2007).
-Agriculture has the potential to help mitigate the rising concentration of GHG in the atmosphere. Its contribution can come in several ways. One is by employing improved management practices for forests and [[Dryland_farming|dryland agricultural]] areas. Such practices are discussed in the GiZ publications ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Running dry?]'', ''Central Asia: Acting locally – cooperating regionally'', and ''Climate change and agriculture''.
+Agriculture has the potential to help mitigate the rising concentration of GHG in the atmosphere. Its contribution can come in several ways. One is by employing improved management practices for forests and [[Dryland farming|dryland agricultural]] areas. Such practices are discussed in the GiZ publications ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Running dry?]'', ''Central Asia: Acting locally – cooperating regionally'', and ''Climate change and agriculture''.
-Another way agriculture can help reduce net GHG emissions is by making intensive irrigated agriculture [[Water use efficiency|more productiveand]] hence reducing the need to clear fragile drylands to expand more extensive [[Rainfed Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]].
+Another way agriculture can help reduce net GHG emissions is by making intensive irrigated agriculture [[Water use efficiency|more productive]] and hence reducing the need to clear fragile drylands to expand more extensive [[Rainfed Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]].
 Production of biofuels is another possible way to reduce the net release of GHGs by substituting the solar energy used in photosynthesis for the burning of fossil fuels, a practice which releases long-sequestered carbon. Such measures must be approached very cautiously, however, because of the high CO<sub>2</sub> footprint of intensively-cultivated crops such as maize which are sometimes fermented to produce liquid biofuels. Net reductions of CO<sub>2 </sub>emission from maize to ethanol conversions can be quite small, on the order of 10 to 20%, and such conversions have the potential to drive up [[Food Prices|foodgrain prices]], negatively affecting poor urban consumers.
 = Impact pathways to agriculture =

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Climate change is an abbreviated way of representing the effects that human-caused release of greenhouse gasses (GHG) are having on the global climate. The increased concentration of these gasses in the atmosphere is causing the average global temperature to rise and leading to a wide variety of follow-on effects, including [[Sea Level Rise|rising sea levels]], changes in [[Precipitation|rainfall]] amount and distribution, increase in the frequency and severity of [[Extreme Weather Events|extreme weather events]], and others. These effects, in turn, generate impacts on a variety of human situations and activities, including, importantly, the practice of agriculture.
+Climate change is an abbreviated way of representing the effects that human-caused release of greenhouse gasses (GHG) are having on the global climate. The increased concentration of these gasses in the atmosphere is causing the average global temperature to rise and leading to a wide variety of follow-on effects, including [[Sea Level Rise|rising sea levels]], changes in [[Precipitation|rainfall]] amount and distribution, increase in the frequency and severity of [[Variability_and_extreme_events|extreme weather events]], and others. These effects, in turn, generate impacts on a variety of human situations and activities, including, importantly, the practice of agriculture.
 = Background =
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 About 40% of nitrous oxide emissions are anthropogenic, and the primary driver for the industrial era increase in N<sub>2</sub>O levels is enhanced microbial production in expanding and more heavily-fertilized agricultural lands (Denman et al., 2007).
-Agriculture has the potential to help mitigate the rising concentration of GHG in the atmosphere. Its contribution can come in several ways. One is by employing improved management practices for forests and dryland agricultural areas. Such practices are discussed in the GiZ publications ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Running dry?]'', ''Central Asia: Acting locally – cooperating regionally'', and ''Climate change and agriculture''.
+Agriculture has the potential to help mitigate the rising concentration of GHG in the atmosphere. Its contribution can come in several ways. One is by employing improved management practices for forests and [[Dryland_farming|dryland agricultural]] areas. Such practices are discussed in the GiZ publications ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Running dry?]'', ''Central Asia: Acting locally – cooperating regionally'', and ''Climate change and agriculture''.
 Another way agriculture can help reduce net GHG emissions is by making intensive irrigated agriculture [[Water use efficiency|more productiveand]] hence reducing the need to clear fragile drylands to expand more extensive [[Rainfed Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]].
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 [http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Water_and_Adaptation_to_Climate_Change_-_Consequences_for_Developing_Countries Svendsen, M, and N. Künkel (2008): Water and adaptation to climate change: consequences for developing countries. GTZ, Eschborn.]

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 About 40% of nitrous oxide emissions are anthropogenic, and the primary driver for the industrial era increase in N<sub>2</sub>O levels is enhanced microbial production in expanding and more heavily-fertilized agricultural lands (Denman et al., 2007).
-Agriculture has the potential to help mitigate the rising concentration of GHG in the atmosphere. Its contribution can come in several ways. One is by employing improved management practices for forests and dryland agricultural areas. Such practices are discussed in the GiZ publications ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Running dry?]'', ''Central Asia: Acting locally – cooperating regionally ''(make hotlink), and ''Climate change and agriculture''.
+Agriculture has the potential to help mitigate the rising concentration of GHG in the atmosphere. Its contribution can come in several ways. One is by employing improved management practices for forests and dryland agricultural areas. Such practices are discussed in the GiZ publications ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Running dry?]'', ''Central Asia: Acting locally – cooperating regionally'', and ''Climate change and agriculture''.
 Another way agriculture can help reduce net GHG emissions is by making intensive irrigated agriculture [[Water use efficiency|more productiveand]] hence reducing the need to clear fragile drylands to expand more extensive [[Rainfed Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]].

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''Climate change'' is an abbreviated way of representing the effects that human-caused release of greenhouse gasses (GHG) are having on the global climate. The increased concentration of these gasses in the atmosphere is causing the average global temperature to rise and leading to a wide variety of follow-on effects, including [[Sea Level Rise|rising sea levels]], changes in [[Precipitation|rainfall]] amount and distribution, increase in the frequency and severity of [[Extreme Weather Events|extreme weather events]], and others. These effects, in turn, generate impacts on a variety of human situations and activities, including, importantly, the practice of agriculture.
+Climate change is an abbreviated way of representing the effects that human-caused release of greenhouse gasses (GHG) are having on the global climate. The increased concentration of these gasses in the atmosphere is causing the average global temperature to rise and leading to a wide variety of follow-on effects, including [[Sea Level Rise|rising sea levels]], changes in [[Precipitation|rainfall]] amount and distribution, increase in the frequency and severity of [[Extreme Weather Events|extreme weather events]], and others. These effects, in turn, generate impacts on a variety of human situations and activities, including, importantly, the practice of agriculture.
 = Background =
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 Demand for agricultural water is also affected by climate change. Rising temperatures increase evapotranspiration by plants of all types, including agricultural crops, depleting soil moisture more rapidly and increasing irrigation demand. At the same time, the increased level of CO<sub>2</sub>in the atmosphere, a raw material for photosynthesis, will increase the rate of biomass formation, to a point. However this effect tends to level off as other factors such as nutrients and water become limiting (Chandler, 2007).
 = Adaptation =
 [http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Framework_planning_and_coordination A Framework for Understanding Climate Change Adaptation].
 = References =
@@ Line 64: / Line 60: @@
 [http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Climate_Change_and_Agriculture Rosegrant, M, et al. (2008): Climate change and agriculture; threats and opportunities. GTZ, Eschborn.]
-[[Running_dry?_-_Extracts|Sorensen, L., et al. (2009): Running dry? Climate change in drylands and how to cope with it. GTZ, Eschborn.]]
+[[Running dry? - Extracts|Sorensen, L., et al. (2009): Running dry? Climate change in drylands and how to cope with it. GTZ, Eschborn.]]
 [http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Water_and_Adaptation_to_Climate_Change_-_Consequences_for_Developing_Countries Svendsen, M, and N. Künkel (2008): Water and adaptation to climate change: consequences for developing countries. GTZ, Eschborn.]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''Climate change'' is an abbreviated way of representing the effects that human-caused release of greenhouse gasses (GHG) are having on the global climate. The increased concentration of these gasses in the atmosphere is causing the average global temperature to rise and leading to a wide variety of follow-on effects, including [[Sea_Level_Rise|rising sea levels]], changes in [[Precipitation|rainfall]] amount and distribution, increase in the frequency and severity of [[Extreme_Weather_Events|extreme weather events]], and others. These effects, in turn, generate impacts on a variety of human situations and activities, including, importantly, the practice of agriculture.
+''Climate change'' is an abbreviated way of representing the effects that human-caused release of greenhouse gasses (GHG) are having on the global climate. The increased concentration of these gasses in the atmosphere is causing the average global temperature to rise and leading to a wide variety of follow-on effects, including [[Sea Level Rise|rising sea levels]], changes in [[Precipitation|rainfall]] amount and distribution, increase in the frequency and severity of [[Extreme Weather Events|extreme weather events]], and others. These effects, in turn, generate impacts on a variety of human situations and activities, including, importantly, the practice of agriculture.
 = Background =
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Agriculture has the potential to help mitigate the rising concentration of GHG in the atmosphere. Its contribution can come in several ways. One is by employing improved management practices for forests and dryland agricultural areas. Such practices are discussed in the GiZ publications ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Running dry?]'', ''Central Asia: Acting locally – cooperating regionally ''(make hotlink), and ''Climate change and agriculture''.
-Another way agriculture can help reduce net GHG emissions is by making intensive irrigated agriculture [[Water_use_efficiency|more productive]]and hence reducing the need to clear fragile drylands to expand more extensive [[Rainfed_Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]].
+Another way agriculture can help reduce net GHG emissions is by making intensive irrigated agriculture [[Water use efficiency|more productiveand]] hence reducing the need to clear fragile drylands to expand more extensive [[Rainfed Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]].
 Production of biofuels is another possible way to reduce the net release of GHGs by substituting the solar energy used in photosynthesis for the burning of fossil fuels, a practice which releases long-sequestered carbon. Such measures must be approached very cautiously, however, because of the high CO<sub>2</sub> footprint of intensively-cultivated crops such as maize which are sometimes fermented to produce liquid biofuels. Net reductions of CO<sub>2 </sub>emission from maize to ethanol conversions can be quite small, on the order of 10 to 20%, and such conversions have the potential to drive up [[Food Prices|foodgrain prices]], negatively affecting poor urban consumers.
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 = Impact pathways to agriculture =
-Even if aggressive actions are taken worldwide to stem the release of GHG, global warming will continue for at least a century as a result of forces already set in motion. Consequently, agriculture will almost certainly have to adapt, to some degree, to changes in temperature and [[Precipitation|precipitation]] under both [[Irrigated_Agriculture|irrigated]] and [[Rainfed_Agriculture|rainfed conditions]]. See the GiZ publication ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Water_and_Adaptation_to_Climate_Change_-_Consequences_for_Developing_Countries Water and Adaptation to Climate Change]'' for a more extensive discussion of impact pathways.
+Even if aggressive actions are taken worldwide to stem the release of GHG, global warming will continue for at least a century as a result of forces already set in motion. Consequently, agriculture will almost certainly have to adapt, to some degree, to changes in temperature and [[Precipitation|precipitation]] under both [[Irrigated Agriculture|irrigated]] and [[Rainfed Agriculture|rainfed conditions]]. See the GiZ publication ''[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Water_and_Adaptation_to_Climate_Change_-_Consequences_for_Developing_Countries Water and Adaptation to Climate Change]'' for a more extensive discussion of impact pathways.
 == Water supply ==
-The most direct impact of GCC on agricultural water supply is its alteration of [[Precipitation|precipitation patterns]]. Changes will occur in average annual amount, temporal distribution, and intensity and duration of individual events. The effects will be felt directly, in the case of [[Rainfed_Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]], and indirectly, through their effect on [[Watershed_management|watershed]] hydrology and runoff, in the case of [[Irrigated_Agriculture|irrigated agriculture]]. Higher global temperatures will evaporate more water and increase the moisture-holding capacity of the atmosphere. Annual precipitation will increase in some areas and decrease in others. In general, areas which are already humid will receive more rainfall and already dry areas will receive less. Regional climate models can provide more detailed predictions, but their resolution is still relatively coarse. Worldwide, the expectation is for more intense precipitation events and longer dry periods between events.
+The most direct impact of GCC on agricultural water supply is its alteration of [[Precipitation|precipitation patterns]]. Changes will occur in average annual amount, temporal distribution, and intensity and duration of individual events. The effects will be felt directly, in the case of [[Rainfed Agriculture|rainfed agriculture]], and indirectly, through their effect on [[Watershed management|watershed]] hydrology and runoff, in the case of [[Irrigated Agriculture|irrigated agriculture]]. Higher global temperatures will evaporate more water and increase the moisture-holding capacity of the atmosphere. Annual precipitation will increase in some areas and decrease in others. In general, areas which are already humid will receive more rainfall and already dry areas will receive less. Regional climate models can provide more detailed predictions, but their resolution is still relatively coarse. Worldwide, the expectation is for more intense precipitation events and longer dry periods between events.
 Impacts on stream hydrology will likewise be mixed. Watershed responses to reduced rainfall and higher temperatures are typically amplified, so, for example, a 20% reduction in rainfall might yield a 50% reduction in runoff. Streamflow will be flashier in response to higher intensity storms, and floods will be more frequent and more severe.
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 [http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Climate_Change_and_Agriculture Rosegrant, M, et al. (2008): Climate change and agriculture; threats and opportunities. GTZ, Eschborn.]
-[http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Running_dry?_-_Extracts Sorensen, L., et al. (2009): Running dry? Climate change in drylands and how to cope with it. GTZ, Eschborn.]
+[[Running_dry?_-_Extracts|Sorensen, L., et al. (2009): Running dry? Climate change in drylands and how to cope with it. GTZ, Eschborn.]]
 [http://agriwaterpedia.info/wiki/Water_and_Adaptation_to_Climate_Change_-_Consequences_for_Developing_Countries Svendsen, M, and N. Künkel (2008): Water and adaptation to climate change: consequences for developing countries. GTZ, Eschborn.]
 <br/>

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 Agriculture, both crop agriculture and animal husbandry, depend critically on the prevailing climate in its particular locality. As climates change, agricultural systems that depend on those climates are profoundly affected. Those effects pass on to both producers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, and to non-agricultural populations which consume the surplus food produced.
@@ Line 24: / Line 25: @@
 Another way agriculture can help reduce net GHG emissions is by making intensive irrigated agriculture more productive and hence reducing the need to clear fragile drylands to expand more extensive rainfed agriculture.
-Production of biofuels is another possible way to reduce the net release of GHGs by substituting the solar energy used in photosynthesis for the burning of fossil fuels, a practice which releases long-sequestered carbon. Such measures must be approached very cautiously, however, because of the high CO<sub>2</sub> footprint of intensively-cultivated crops such as maize which are sometimes fermented to produce liquid biofuels. Net reductions of CO<sub>2 </sub>emission from maize to ethanol conversions can be quite small, on the order of 10 to 20%, and such conversions have the potential to drive up foodgrain prices, negatively affecting poor urban consumers.
+Production of biofuels is another possible way to reduce the net release of GHGs by substituting the solar energy used in photosynthesis for the burning of fossil fuels, a practice which releases long-sequestered carbon. Such measures must be approached very cautiously, however, because of the high CO<sub>2</sub> footprint of intensively-cultivated crops such as maize which are sometimes fermented to produce liquid biofuels. Net reductions of CO<sub>2 </sub>emission from maize to ethanol conversions can be quite small, on the order of 10 to 20%, and such conversions have the potential to drive up [[Food_Prices|foodgrain prices]], negatively affecting poor urban consumers.
-−