![\"central](\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/writingsciencenews2020\/files\/2020\/04\/lbnl_Bakersfield_pollution_686-300x177.jpg\")
California’s central valley suffers from high levels of air pollution, including ozone. Photo courtesy of University of California<\/p><\/div>\n
The study first looked at the yield responses of perennial crops to ambient ozone and climate warming of 2 degrees Celcius from 1980 to 2015. Many of the crops examined are the most valuable in the state, including wine grapes, strawberries, table grapes, walnuts, hay, lemons, freestone peaches, nectarines, almonds, and plums. Researchers found that although the effects of warming were not significant, seven out of these ten crops showed significant negative yield responses to ozone, with yields dropping 2 to 22%. This was estimated to translate to a loss of about a 1 billion dollars per year. After analyzing historical trends in ozone levels and climate in relation to crop yields, it was found that crops yield damage has lessened as ambient ozone has decreased, although recent damage has still been notable. The good news is that future projections showed significant increases in crop yields if ozone levels continue to fall, with table grapes predicted to have up to a 20% net yield increase. The takeaway from this study seems to be generally positive. If we can continue to decrease the amount of air pollution we produce, it looks like we\u2019ll see our efforts greatly rewarded.<\/p>\n
Study:<\/p>\n