Usefulness of Remote Sensing Information in Developing Climate Change Adaption Strategies Using Cista- a (Agroecosystem) Model for Effective Decision Making.

Adapting our ecosystems to climate change for sustainable management requires an understandingof three broad interconnected systems: ecosystems, climate systems and adaptive management andplanning systems. Multiple factors shape adaptive responses to a changing climate because of the com-plexities and multi-disciplinary nature of these three systems. In this study, the conceptual model CISTA-A(CISTA for Agro-ecosystems) is developed using Indicators that are identified as using a Systems Thinkingapproach to Adaptation. CISTA addresses questions concerning “how to adapt” our ecosystems to climatechange and has three or more layers: A base (element) layer has abiotic/biotic information (e.g. ecological,agro-hydrological, and meteorological data). One or more components (intermediate) layer(s) have eco-logical, agro-hydrological, and climatological indicators (e.g. length of the growing season and growingdegree days) that affect the ecosystem. Indicators are identified and estimated from an element layer.In the final layer, the translation of information from indicators to adaptation strategies (incrementalsystems and transformational adaptation) depends on the degree of change and the level of adaptation.CISTA can stand alone or combine with existing crop/integrated assessment models to develop quanti-tative adaptation strategies. The use of 23 indicators and 3 empirical tests in the agro-ecosystems (AS)of Kansas, USA demonstrate the application of CISTA-A.