Why is the content of this map important?
Climate change effects on Net Primary Production (NPP) by plants.It is affected mainly by climate parameters (i.e. temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, humidity, etc.). NPP plays a key role in the global carbon cycle by capturing a major part of CO2 emissions from anthropogenic activities.The NPP measure is Carbon per square meter per year (gC/m2/yr).
Which sectors are affected by this result?
NPP is mainly an indicator of carbon uptake capacity of an area. A change of NPP in an area mainly means a change in the photosynthetic activity of plants. This influences the agricultural, industrial and energy supplying sectors.
What is shown on the maps?
The maps show NPP values for the base reference and 2ºC warming periods, and the ensemble mean impacts. The highest NPP value (ca. 590 gC/m2/yr in reference 660 gC/m2/yr in 2ºC periods) can be found in temperate and semi-boreal areas between maritime temperate and subarctic climates, where distribute the cold deciduous broadleafed forest with broadleafed and coniferous trees. These areas are the most important locations for carbon sinks of the terrestrial Earth ecosystem. Since NPP is directly influenced by synergy of sunlight intensity, warmth and rainfall, any change in climate straightly effects the photosynthetic activity, and thus directly the carbon source or sink of the terrestrial ecosystems.
Details and further information:
It is to see that the NPP is mostly effected in the regions with high value. In that regions the carbon capture by plants increases around 80 gC/m2/yr. In cold (i.e. northern Europe) and in summer dry regions, the change in NPP is minimal (less than 20 gC/m2/yr). It is important to mention that at the Dinaric Alps where, distribute sub-mediterranean cold deciduous broadleafed forests, the NPP decreases ca. up to 40 gC/m2/yr.
Abdulla Sakalli
Climate Risk Management Unit Institute for Environment and Sustainability, European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre TP 290, 21027 (Va), ITALY