This project, “Assessing the Impact of Climate Change and Intensive Human Activities on China's Agro-Ecosystem and its Supply Potentials,” brought together researchers from IIASA and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) to conduct analysis using a new multi-scale agro-ecosystem model developed to build on the strengths of two leading crop models already in use – Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT), and the Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ). The project used the new model to identify climate change adaptation options for China’s agricultural sector.
The new integrated model allows for a novel and much needed approach to analyze farm-level (DSSAT) and regional (AEZ) agricultural dynamics and associated water relations. The integrated modeling framework was validated with field observation data, remote sensing data, and socio-economic statistical datasets. Thirty-year (1981-2010) observed agriculture site data were used to test model predictions for recent climate change impacts on Chinese agriculture production.
Future short-term and long-term climate impacts were analyzed by driving a regional climate model with results from two general circulation models to simulate changes in crop productivity and water use. The agronomic impacts of future climate-induced changes of Chinese agricultural systems were assessed using a spatial agro-system model and county-level databases of IIASA’s CHINAGRO framework.
The results provide an important contribution to global research on the ability of agricultural systems to adapt to climate change. The research also provides support for the development of policy decisions that enable sustainable adaptation of China’s agriculture to globalization and climate change.
01.01.2010 - 31,12,2012
MODELS AND DATA
RESEARCH PARTNERS
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Phone: (+43 2236) 807 0 Fax:(+43 2236) 71 313