A new study has revealed that the unending climate change can modify conditions for plant growth, and in turn, impact ecological and social systems of the Earth.

Scientists at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa have challenged the postulation that warmer temperatures would be beneficial to plants in the northern latitudes.

According to the scientists, postulated theory failed to notice the key fact that the plants in the northern latitudes will still only be receiving limited solar radiation. This would in turn restrain the effects of additional warmer temperatures and CO2 availability.

According to lead author Camilo Mora, a professor at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa's College of Social Sciences those that think climate change will benefit plants need to see the light, literally and figuratively.

He added, "A narrow focus on the factors that influence plant growth has led to major underestimations of the potential impacts of climate change on plants, not only at higher latitudes but more severely in the tropics, exposing the world to dire consequences".

For the study, the scientists used satellite-derived data and analyzed 95% of the ranges worldwide where plant growth occurs. Their focus was on temperatures, water availability, and solar radiation.

In order to demonstrate how variables in the environment that limit plant growth could impact ecosystems they used climate projections under mitigating scenarios.

The findings revealed that although warming temperatures would increase growing days at higher latitudes by about 7%, the locations would still have limited solar radiation.