Publication Abstracts

McDermid et al. 2023

McDermid, S., M. Nocco, P. Lawston-Parker, J. Keune, Y. Pokhrel, M. Jain, J. Jägermeyr, L. Brocca, C. Massari, A.D. Jones, P. Vahmani, W. Thiery, Y. Yao, A. Bell, L. Chen, W. Dorigo, N. Hanasaki, S. Jasechko, M.-H. Lo, R. Mahmood, V. Mishra, N.D. Mueller, D. Niyogi, S.S. Rabin, L. Sloat, Y. Wada, L. Zappa, F. Chen, B.I. Cook, H. Kim, D. Lombardozzi, J. Polcher, D. Ryu, J. Santanello, Y. Satoh, S. Seneviratne, D. Singh, and T. Yokohata, 2023: Irrigation in the Earth system. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ., 4, no. 7, 435-453, doi:10.1038/s43017-023-00438-5.

Irrigation accounts for ∼70% of global freshwater withdrawals and ∼90% of consumptive water use, driving myriad Earth system impacts. In this Review, we summarize how irrigation currently impacts key components of the Earth system. Estimates suggest that more than 3.6 million km2 of currently irrigated land, with hot spots in the intensively cultivated US High Plains, California Central Valley, Indo-Gangetic Basin and northern China. Process-based models estimate that ∼2,700±540 km3 irrigation water is withdrawn globally each year, broadly consistent with country-reported values despite these estimates embedding substantial uncertainties. Expansive irrigation has modified surface energy balance and biogeochemical cycling. A shift from sensible to latent heat fluxes, and resulting land-atmosphere feedbacks, generally reduce regional growing season surface temperatures by ∼1-3°C. Irrigation can ameliorate temperature extremes in some regions, but conversely exacerbates moist heat stress. Modelled precipitation responses are more varied, with some intensive cropping regions exhibiting suppressed local precipitation but enhanced precipitation downstream owing to atmospheric circulation interactions. Additionally, irrigation could enhance cropland carbon uptake; however, it can also contribute to elevated methane fluxes in rice systems and mobilize nitrogen loading to groundwater. Cross-disciplinary, integrative research efforts can help advance understanding of these irrigation-Earth system interactions, and identify and reduce uncertainties, biases and limitations.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{mc03300h,
  author={McDermid, S. and Nocco, M. and Lawston-Parker, P. and Keune, J. and Pokhrel, Y. and Jain, M. and Jägermeyr, J. and Brocca, L. and Massari, C. and Jones, A. D. and Vahmani, P. and Thiery, W. and Yao, Y. and Bell, A. and Chen, L. and Dorigo, W. and Hanasaki, N. and Jasechko, S. and Lo, M.-H. and Mahmood, R. and Mishra, V. and Mueller, N. D. and Niyogi, D. and Rabin, S. S. and Sloat, L. and Wada, Y. and Zappa, L. and Chen, F. and Cook, B. I. and Kim, H. and Lombardozzi, D. and Polcher, J. and Ryu, D. and Santanello, J. and Satoh, Y. and Seneviratne, S. and Singh, D. and Yokohata, T.},
  title={Irrigation in the Earth system},
  year={2023},
  journal={Nature Reviews Earth & Environment},
  volume={4},
  number={7},
  pages={435--453},
  doi={10.1038/s43017-023-00438-5},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - mc03300h
AU  - McDermid, S.
AU  - Nocco, M.
AU  - Lawston-Parker, P.
AU  - Keune, J.
AU  - Pokhrel, Y.
AU  - Jain, M.
AU  - Jägermeyr, J.
AU  - Brocca, L.
AU  - Massari, C.
AU  - Jones, A. D.
AU  - Vahmani, P.
AU  - Thiery, W.
AU  - Yao, Y.
AU  - Bell, A.
AU  - Chen, L.
AU  - Dorigo, W.
AU  - Hanasaki, N.
AU  - Jasechko, S.
AU  - Lo, M.-H.
AU  - Mahmood, R.
AU  - Mishra, V.
AU  - Mueller, N. D.
AU  - Niyogi, D.
AU  - Rabin, S. S.
AU  - Sloat, L.
AU  - Wada, Y.
AU  - Zappa, L.
AU  - Chen, F.
AU  - Cook, B. I.
AU  - Kim, H.
AU  - Lombardozzi, D.
AU  - Polcher, J.
AU  - Ryu, D.
AU  - Santanello, J.
AU  - Satoh, Y.
AU  - Seneviratne, S.
AU  - Singh, D.
AU  - Yokohata, T.
PY  - 2023
TI  - Irrigation in the Earth system
JA  - Nat. Rev. Earth Environ.
JO  - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
VL  - 4
IS  - 7
SP  - 435
EP  - 453
DO  - 10.1038/s43017-023-00438-5
ER  -

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