Climate change could reduce wheat yields, as the grain stops growing prematurely in hotter weather.

Scientists analysed the Ganges plain in India using nine years worth of images from the MODIS Earth-observation satellite.

As wheat matures and stops growing it turns from green to brown. Wheat turned brown earlier when average temperatures were higher, especially when temperatures were over 34ºC. Scientists then used previous field studies to gauge crop losses.

With an average warming of 2ºC, yield losses in the Ganges plain could reach 50% greater than what existing models project.