Summary
This 2023 Nature Sustainability study models the impacts of compound drought–heatwave events on socio-ecosystem productivity at a global scale. The authors integrate hydrological, crop and livestock production, and human demand systems to project how concurrent temperature and water stress threatens food and ecosystem services. The work suggests that compound extremes pose a greater risk to agricultural and natural systems than single stressors alone, with implications for future food security and ecosystem resilience.
UK applicability
UK agriculture faces increasing frequency of compound stress events; findings may inform climate adaptation planning for water-dependent sectors (horticulture, grassland-based livestock) and water resource management policy. However, the global modelling approach may require contextualisation to UK-specific soil, hydrological and cropping characteristics.
Key measures
Ecosystem and agricultural productivity indices under compound drought-heatwave stress; spatial and temporal distribution of compound climate extremes; sectoral vulnerability assessments
Outcomes reported
The study examined how compound drought–heatwave events affect socio-ecosystem productivity, integrating hydrological, agricultural, and human systems modelling. The research quantified productivity losses across multiple sectors under present and future climate scenarios.
Topic tags
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