Stronger temperature-moisture couplings exacerbate the impact of climate warming on global crop yields

The combination of hot and dry conditions reduces crop yields through heat and drought stresses. The heat sensitivity of crops depends on the local strength of couplings between temperature and moisture, but how future climate will impact the temperature-moisture couplings remains unknown. On the basis of historical patterns and a suite of climate models, this study projects that climate change will modify the couplings and probably worsen the impacts of warming on some of the world's most important crops. Rising air temperatures are a leading risk to global crop production. Recent research has emphasized the critical role of moisture availability in regulating crop responses to heat and the importance of temperature-moisture couplings in driving concurrent heat and drought. Here, we demonstrate that the heat sensitivity of key global crops depends on the local strength of couplings between temperature and moisture in the climate system. Over 1970-2013, maize and soy yields dropped more during hotter growing seasons in places where decreased precipitation and evapotranspiration more strongly accompanied higher temperatures, suggestive of compound heat-drought impacts on crops. On the basis of this historical pattern and a suite of climate model projections, we show that changes in temperature-moisture couplings in response to warming could enhance the heat sensitivity of these crops as temperatures rise, worsening the impact of warming by -5% (-17 to 11% across climate models) on global average. However, these changes will benefit crops where couplings weaken, including much of Asia, and projected impacts are highly uncertain in some regions. Our results demonstrate that climate change will impact crops not only through warming but also through changing drivers of compound heat-moisture stresses, which may alter the sensitivity of crop yields to heat as warming proceeds. Robust adaptation of cropping systems will need to consider this underappreciated risk to food production from climate change.

Automated summary

Climate change is projected to modify temperature-moisture couplings and potentially worsen the impacts of warming on key global crops. Rising air temperatures pose a significant risk to global crop production, with the sensitivity of crops to heat depending on the strength of temperature-moisture couplings in the climate system. However, the impact of these changes on crop yields is highly uncertain in some regions, highlighting the need for robust adaptation strategies to address the underappreciated risk to food production from climate change.