Image courtesy of NASA/GSFC

Climate Change and Crop Production in the US Midwest and Globally

Eugene S. TakleProfessor

Department of Agronomy

Director, Climate Science Program

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 50011

Pioneer HybridJohnston, IA

8 September 2011

Outline Observed changes in Midwest climate

Projected future changes in temperatures and precipitation

Ipwa farmer adaptation to climate change

AgMIP, CORDEX

Three separate analyses of the temperature record – Trends are in close agreement

2010 has tied 2005 as the warmest year on record since 1880

First Date Iowa’s Average Fall 4-inch Soil Temperature Was Below 50oF

Iowa Environmental Mesonet 2010

Des Moines Airport Data

Caution: Not corrected for urban heat island effects

Des Moines Airport Data

Caution: Not corrected for urban heat island effects

1977: 8

Des Moines Airport Data

1983: 13

1988: 10

6 days ≥ 100oF in the last 22 years

“Warming Hole”: Regional climate model simulations of changes in daily maximum summertime temperatures between 1990s and 2040s

DTmax (JJA) ˚CPan, Z., R. W. Arritt, E. S. Takle, W. J. Gutowski, Jr., C. J. Anderson, and M. Segal,2004: Altered hydrologic feedback in a warming climate introduces a “warming hole”. Geophys. Res. Lett.31, L17109, doi:10.1029/2004GL020528.

Adapted from Folland et al. [2001]

Observed Summer (JJA) Daily Maximum Temperature Changes (K), 1976-2000

Iowa State-Wide Average Data

North American RegionalClimate Change Assessment ProgramDomain

VIC average (1981-1999) number of GDD base 50Fduring growing season (Apr-Aug)

WRF24KF average (1981-1999) number of GDD base 50Fduring growing season (Apr-Aug)

WRFG average (1981-1999) number of GDD base 50Fduring growing season (Apr-Aug)

CRCM average (1981-1999) number of GDD base 50Fduring growing season (Apr-Aug)

HRM3 average (1981-1999) number of GDD base 50Fduring growing season (Apr-Aug)

2500

3000

VIC

WRF24KF WRFG

HRM3CRCM

2500

2500

2500

2500

3000

3000

3000

2000

Summer (JJA) Cloud Cover, Des Moines

19731975

19771979

19811983

19851987

19891991

19931995

19971999

20012003

20052007

20090

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

Series1Trendline

Year

Clou

d Co

ver

Summer (JJA) Cloud Cover, Cedar Rapids (Pre ASOS Installation)

197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419950

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

Series1Trendline

Year

Clou

d Co

ver

Summer (JJA) Cloud Cover, Mason City (Pre ASOS Installation)

19731974

19751976

19771978

19791980

19811982

19831984

19851986

19871988

19891990

19911992

19931994

19951996

19971998

19990

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

Series1Trendline

Year

Clou

d Co

ver

Iowa State-Wide Average Data

30.8”

34.0”10% increase

Iowa State-Wide Average Data

30.8”

34.0”10% increase

Iowa State-Wide Average Data

2 yearsTotals above 40”

30.8”

34.0”10% increase

Iowa State-Wide Average Data

2 yearsTotals above 40”

8 years

Cedar Rapids Data

28.0” 37.0”32% increase

Cedar Rapids Data

28.0” 37.0”32% increase

Cedar Rapids Data

Years with more than 40 inches

1

28.0” 37.0”32% increase

Cedar Rapids Data

Years with more than 40 inches

1

11

“One of the clearest trends in the United States observational record is an increasing frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events… Over the last century there was a 50% increase in the frequency of days with precipitation over 101.6 mm (four inches) in the upper midwestern U.S.; this trend is statistically significant “

Karl, T. R., J. M. Melillo, and T. C. Peterson, (eds.), 2009: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Cambridge University Press, 2009, 196pp.

4.2 days 57% increase 6.6 days

Cedar Rapids Data

1.25 inches

4.2 days 57% increase 6.6 days

Cedar Rapids Data

1.25 inches

2

13Years having more than 8 days

1890189118921893189418951896189718981899190019011902190319041905190619071908190919101911191219131914191519161917191819191920192119221923192419251926192719281929193019311932193319341935193619371938193919401941194219431944194519461947194819491950195119521953195419551956195719581959196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820090

10

20

30

40

50

60

Des Moines Annual Precipitation (inches)

31.9 33.86% Increase

7 10

Years with more than 40 inches: 43% Increase

1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 20200

2

4

6

8

10

12

Des Moines Precipitation Days per Year with More than 1.25 inches

3.7 5.241% Increase

1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 20200

2

4

6

8

10

12

Des Moines Precipitation Days per Year with More than 1.25 inches

Years having more than 8 days

2

7

3.7 5.241% Increase

350% Increase

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

21.2 => 25.3 inches (22% increase) 12.1 => 10.5 inches (13% decrease)

Amplification of the Seasonality of PrecipitationSpring

WinterSummer

Fall

Climate trends of the recent past have low statistical significance. Nevertheless, they

have forced significant agricultural adaptation:

Climate trends of the recent past have low statistical significance. Nevertheless, they

have forced significant agricultural adaptation:

Even climate trends of low statistical significance can have impacts of high

agricultural significance

Iowa agricultural producers already are spending money to adapt to climate change:

Longer growing season: plant earlier, plant longer season hybrids, harvest later

Wetter springs: larger machinery enables planting in smaller weather windows

More summer precipitation: higher planting densities for higher yields Wetter springs and summers: more subsurface drainage tile is being

installed, closer spacing, sloped surfaces Fewer extreme heat events: higher planting densities, fewer

pollination failures Higher humidity: more spraying for pathogens favored by moist

conditions. more problems with fall crop dry-down, wider bean heads for faster harvest due to shorter harvest period during the daytime.

Drier autumns: delay harvest to take advantage of natural dry-down

conditions HIGHER YIELDS!! Is it genetics or climate? Likely some of each.

Visioning Future Climate Change for Agriculture

You are here

Visioning Future Climate Change for Agriculture

Today

You are here

Visioning Future Climate Change for Agriculture

TodayPast

You are here

Visioning Future Climate Change for Agriculture

TodayPast Future

You are here

Visioning Future Climate Change for Agriculture

TodayPast Future

?

You are here

Visioning Future Climate Change for Agriculture

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past Future will return to something in the past

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

Future will be like average of the past

Future will return to something in the past

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

Future will be like average of the past

Future will be like today

Future will return to something in the past

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

Future will be like average of the past

Future will be like today

Future will return to something in the past

Current trend will continue

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

Future will be like average of the past

Future will be like today

Future will be more extreme than today

Future will return to something in the past

Current trend will continue

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

Future will be like average of the past

Future will be like today

Future will be more extreme than today

Future will return to something in the past

Current trend will continue

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

You be the scientist: For which hypothesis of the future can you find the most evidence?

Som

e Cl

imat

e Va

riabl

e (t

emp,

pre

cip,

hum

id)

TodayPast Future

Measured past

My View

A Prudent View of the Future

Natural year-to-year variabilitywill dominate changes in climateover the next 10-15 years

Future Challenges to Adaptation in the US Midwest (near term):

Wetter spring and early summer: Delayed planting Shallow rooting

More frequent and higher-intensity extreme rain events: Water-logged soils Lack of oxygen to roots More ponding (rural roads are becoming levees) Additional installation of subsurface tile drainage is inundating downstream urban areas Loss of nitrogen

Higher daily average temperatures (due to higher night-time temperatures): Differential acceleration of reproductive processes: pollination failure During grain-filling periods leads to higher nighttime respiration and reduced grain weight Loss of soil carbon

Increased humidity: More pressure from pests and pathogens Multiple stressors

Future Challenges to Adaptation in the US Midwest (long-term, occasional short-term):

Drought pattern from the west or south spills into Midwest: Underlying warming of the last 40 years caused by rise in CO2 that has been

buffered by high evaporative and transpiration cooling is unmasked High plant populations not sustainable on reduced moisture Prairie fires Wind erosion of soils

Overwintering of pests and pathogens formerly not able to survive extreme cold temperatures

Apr-Aug days withTmin> 70F

WRF24KF WRFG

HRM3CRCM

VIC

1981-1999

WRF24KF

Number days withTmax>95F

VIC

WRFG

HRN3CRCM

1981-1999

Comparison of NARCCAP and BCSDAnnual T and P Change

Comparison of NARCCAP and BCSDAnnual T and P Change

Comparison of NARCCAP and BCSDMarch-April-May T and P Change

Comparison of NARCCAP and BCSDJanuary-February T and P Change

Comparison of NARCCAP and BCSDOctober-November-December T and P Change

FCA=Future, region ACCB

FCA

Variable or Process 1

Varia

ble

or P

roce

ss 2

Model Simulations

CCA, model 1

CCA, model 2

Climates

CCA=Current, region A

CCB=Current, region B

CCA

CCB, model 2

CCB, model 1

Simulating Future Climates with Models Trained on Current Climates

Fully spanning FCA requires: More

models More

domains

CORDEX Regional Domains

For More Information Contact me directly:

gstakle@iastate.edu Current research on regional climate and

climate change is being conducted at Iowa State University under the Regional Climate Modeling Laboratory http://rcmlab.agron.iastate.edu/

North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program

http://www.narccap.ucar.edu/ Climate Science Program website:

http://climate.engineering.iastate.edu/

Or just Google Eugene Takle