A Costa Rica climate scientist models crop yield loss: each 1°C rise reduces output by 7%. If baseline yield is 5,000 kg/ha and temperature increases by 2.4°C, what is the new yield per hectare?

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:56:05 +0000

Climate Impact on Costa Rican Crops: How Rising Temperatures Threaten Yield Costa Rica’s agriculture is highly sensitive to climate change, and recent research by a local climate scientist reveals alarming projections: every 1°C rise in average temperature leads to a 7% decline in key crop yields. As global temperatures continue to climb—reaching a projected increase of 2.4°C by 2050—Costa Rica’s farmers face shrinking harvests unless adaptive measures are implemented. ### The Science Behind Crop Yield Loss Traditionally, tropical crops such as coffee, bananas, and maize are vulnerable to temperature fluctuations. Dr. Elena Mendoza, a Costa Rican climate scientist, has modeled how sustained warming affects productivity. Her analysis builds on established ecological principles—each degree Celsius of temperature rise can drastically reduce photosynthetic efficiency, accelerate evapotranspiration, and stress plant physiology.