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Positivies and Negatives for S. Alberta Crop Yields With Warming Trend

Jan 19, 2016 | 12:18 PM

LETHBRIDGE:  There’s positives and negatives for crop yields in Southern Alberta as climate patterns show a warming trend.

University of Lethbridge Geography Professor and Hydrologist  Dr. Stefan Kienzle has studied daily weather observations from 1950 to 2010.

Kienzle says winters in Alberta have warmed by 4-5º C and growing season has lengthened up to five weeks in the region.

However he explains that brings more extreme weather – such as hail, windstorms, flooding and heat waves. 

“Hand in hand with those weather extremes, we have 30-40% more days now than in the 1950s with 30º C and above. So that means heat stress, that means stress for the crop.”

Kienzle says the number of heat waves per year have doubled in the summer while the number of cold days have significantly decreased. 

“For instance the number of really, really cold days have decreased in Lethbridge by about 15 days less. So, that’s about half the days [than before 1950] under -20º C or below.

He believes the warming trends will continue if not accelerate in the future.

A recent study from the University of British Columbia claims Global food production is likely to be disrupted by extreme weather driven by climate change.

However the report indicates the impact could be greatest in developed places such as Canada.