Quantifying crop vulnerability to weather-related extreme events and climate change through vulnerability curves

Abstract

Weather extremes have been responsible for widespread economic damage at global scale in the last decades. Agriculture alone absorbed 26% of the overall impact caused by natural hazards in low- and middle-income countries and even in high-income countries yield losses due to extreme weather are relevant. Vulnerability curves are traditionally used to quickly estimate the damage due to extreme events. This study maps the articles published from January 2000 to May 2022 implementing crop vulnerability curves to weather-related extreme events and climate change. Fifty-two articles have been identified through the use of Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and the references of the selected papers. The selected papers have been analysed to determine for which extreme events vulnerability curves have been proposed, which crops have been studied, which explanatory variables have been used to create the curves, which functions are used to develop vulnerability curves and the number of parameters on which the proposed functions rely. Comparisons among the vulnerability curves for the various extremes are proposed, as well as indications of the main drawback of the developed vulnerability curves. Finally, areas where further research is needed are proposed together with recommendations on which elements should be included in vulnerability curve development.

A review of the global climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and mitigation options in the socio-economic and environmental sectors

“…GHGs include CH4, CO2, and N2O. Two distinct causes have combined to produce climate change which are natural phenomena and human activities (Monteleone et al, 2023). It has also been predicted that by the end of the 21st century, the global average temperature could climb anywhere from 1.1 to 3.7 degrees Celsius (Urban et al, 2023).…”

Development of a Pre-Automatized Processing Chain for Agricultural Monitoring Using a Multi-Sensor and Multi-Temporal Approach

“…At the same time, intensive and unsustainable agricultural practices deplete and degrade natural resources and key ecosystem services. In fact, in European countries, extreme events are responsible for reducing crop yields by 9% and 3.1% [2]. The European Union (EU) is significantly promoting sustainable agricultural practices [3].…”

An agro-meteorological hazard analysis for risk management in a Mediterranean area: a case study in Southern Italy (Campania Region)

“…higher likelihood of floods in Europe (European Commission 2021; Handmer et al 2013). In view of the direct relationship between the variability of production yields and uncertainty of meteorological conditions, there is a latent demand for vulnerability analysis and risk management tools in the primary sector (Monteleone et al 2023;Shah et al 2021) that could be a key factor for the resilience and the very survival of farms (Glauber et al 2021).…”