The “Capitol Hill” published an article saying that climate change is threatening apple production in the United States. Data refutes this assertion, with apple production increasing significantly amid recent mild warming. [emphasis, links added]
Like other crops, apple production increases or decreases from year to year depending on a variety of factors, including weather, labor, economics, and often political conditions.
Also like most other crops, There is evidence that apples benefit from rising carbon dioxide levels and generally better growing conditions.
Climate Staff Writer hillsSharon Udasin wrote an article titled “Climate Change Is Hindering U.S. Apple Quality, Yield: Study,” citing a study as support for her assertion that climate change is harming apple production. evidence.
The problem with Udasinh's statement is that the climate in the region she discusses has barely changed. Temperatures increased slightly, but there was no significant increase in severe weather.
As discussed in Climate at a Glance: U.S. Heat WaveHeat waves lasting four days or more have not increased in recent decades, but are much less frequent now than they were in the 1930s, 95 years ago. (See picture below).
In fact, as the planet warms modestly, winter nighttime temperatures have moderated, and orchards have suffered fewer unexpected late-season fruit and nut frosts.
The strongest evidence that climate change is not harming Apple production comes from the production data itselfcaptured by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The study Udasin cited examined apple production from 1979 to 2022.
FAO data shows that during the same period, although apple production area decreased by about 26%, Apple production increased by about 23%, and yield (the best measure of crop productivity) increased by about 66%. (see picture below)
So, in any case, apple production has not been harmed during the recent mild climate change.
Any discussion of what may happen in the future is purely speculation.
Any such speculation on Udasinh's part should reflect this, as explored in this article climate realism The Sixth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change It is not possible to predict that drought or frost trends will worsen in the foreseeable future.
Furthermore, the study's authors honestly admit Any impacts of climate change on apple orchards can be mitigated or prevented through “adaptive measures.”
in the end, hills Published an article suggesting that climate change was harming apple production, when in fact apple production and yields were increasing.
hillsIn this highly politicized age of science, readers would be better served if the authors found real-world data on any crop being discussed before citing a new report as evidence of crop harm and citing only its author. Serve as if they are the sole arbiters of truth on the subject.
Top photo by Joanna Stołowicz on Unsplash/apple core
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