Heat response of global vegetation biomes to ongoing climate warming based on remote sensing

Abstract

Research is needed by global change scientists on how global vegetation biomes respond to ongoing climate warming. To address this issue, we selected study sites with significant climate warming for diverse vegetation biomes, and used global gridded temperature and remote sensing data over the past 32 years (1982–2013). The results suggested that climate warming in areas above approximately 60º N is relaxing the heat-constraints on vegetation activity, thus promoting plant growth; whereas, in mid to low latitude areas, ongoing climate warming probably imposes negative impacts on vegetation biomes through drought and heat stress. Understanding these potential effects is important for planning adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate warming, particularly for agro-ecosystems.