Predicting equilibrium vegetation responses to global climate change using coupled biogeography and ecosystem models
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, OR (United States)
Much current uncertainty surrounding the sensitivity to climatic change of natural vegetation in the USA is related to widely-varying approaches taken in constructing simulation models. Our goal was to reduce this uncertainty by coupling the biogeography model MAPSS (Mapped Atmosphere-Plant-Soil System) with critical ecosystem processes as simulated by TEM (Terrestrial Ecosystem Model). MAPSS predicts changes in leaf-area index (LAI) and vegetation biome boundaries using a site water balance model in conjunction with a physiologically-conceived rule-base model. On the other hand, TEM simulates equilibrium fluxes and pools of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) such as net primary productivity (NPP) and available N without redistributing vegetation. In the coupled version of MAPSS presented here, these hydrological and biogeochemical processes are mutually constrained. For example, N availability may limit maximum LAI, and therefore, site water balance. Alternatively, actual evapotranspiration and soil water availability may modulate NPP via photosynthesis and net N mineralization. Initial results with this TEM-coupled version of MAPSS reveal significantly different patterns of NPP and vegetation distribution for the conterminous USA compared to those from uncoupled models, particularly at thermal and hydric extremes.
- OSTI ID:
- 95751
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9507129-; ISSN 0012-9623; TRN: 95:004728-0016
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, Vol. 76, Issue 2; Conference: 80. anniversary of the transdisciplinary nature of ecology, Snowbird, UT (United States), 30 Jul - 3 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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