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A model of the coupled dynamics of climate, vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem biogeochemistry for regional applications

Abstract

Regional climate models (RCMs) primarily represent physical components of the climate system, omitting vegetation dynamics, ecosystem biogeochemistry and their associated feedbacks. To account for such feedbacks, we implemented a novel plant individual-based vegetation dynamics-ecosystem biogeochemistry scheme within the RCA3 RCM. Variations in leaf area index (LAI) of seven plant functional type (PFTs) in response to physical forcing and evolving vegetation state feed back to climate via adjustments in surface energy fluxes and surface properties. In an ERA-40-driven simulation over Europe, the model reproduces the recent past climate with comparable accuracy to the standard RCM. Large-scale patterns of LAI, net primary production and vegetation composition were comparable with observations, although winter LAI was systematically overestimated compared to satellite estimates. Analysis of the ERA-40 simulation and an A1B climate-change simulation revealed considerable covariation among dynamic variables of the physical climate and vegetation. At a Mediterranean site, periodic soil water limitation led to fluctuations in leaf cover and a likely positive feedback to near-surface temperature. At an alpine site, rising temperatures led to forest advance onto tundra areas, reducing albedo and effecting a likely positive feedback on temperature. Climate vegetation coupling was less pronounced but still apparent at intermediate temperate and boreal sites
Authors:
Smith, Benjamin; Wramneby, Anna; [1]  Samuelsson, Patrick; [2]  Rummukainen, Markku; [3]  Rossby Centre, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Inst., SE-60176, Norrkoeping (Sweden))
  1. Dept. of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund Univ., Geocentrum II, Lund (Sweden)
  2. Rossby Centre, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Inst., SE-60176, Norrkoeping (Sweden)
  3. Dept. of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund Univ., Geocentrum II, SE-22362, Lund (Sweden)
Publication Date:
Jan 15, 2011
Product Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Tellus, Series A - Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography; Journal Volume: 63A; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: 53 refs., 11 figs., 5 tabs.; 10.1111/J.1600-0870.2010.00477.X
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CLIMATE MODELS; AMBIENT TEMPERATURE; EUROPE; PLANTS; REGIONAL ANALYSIS
OSTI ID:
1008095
Country of Origin:
Sweden
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: ISSN 0280-6495; TRN: SE1107047
Availability:
Available from DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0870.2010.00477.x
Submitting Site:
SWD
Size:
page(s) 87-106
Announcement Date:
Mar 14, 2011

Citation Formats

Smith, Benjamin, Wramneby, Anna, Samuelsson, Patrick, Rummukainen, Markku, and Rossby Centre, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Inst., SE-60176, Norrkoeping (Sweden)). A model of the coupled dynamics of climate, vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem biogeochemistry for regional applications. Sweden: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1111/J.1600-0870.2010.00477.X.
Smith, Benjamin, Wramneby, Anna, Samuelsson, Patrick, Rummukainen, Markku, & Rossby Centre, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Inst., SE-60176, Norrkoeping (Sweden)). A model of the coupled dynamics of climate, vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem biogeochemistry for regional applications. Sweden. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1600-0870.2010.00477.X
Smith, Benjamin, Wramneby, Anna, Samuelsson, Patrick, Rummukainen, Markku, and Rossby Centre, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Inst., SE-60176, Norrkoeping (Sweden)). 2011. "A model of the coupled dynamics of climate, vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem biogeochemistry for regional applications." Sweden. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1600-0870.2010.00477.X.
@misc{etde_1008095,
title = {A model of the coupled dynamics of climate, vegetation and terrestrial ecosystem biogeochemistry for regional applications}
author = {Smith, Benjamin, Wramneby, Anna, Samuelsson, Patrick, Rummukainen, Markku, and Rossby Centre, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Inst., SE-60176, Norrkoeping (Sweden))}
abstractNote = {Regional climate models (RCMs) primarily represent physical components of the climate system, omitting vegetation dynamics, ecosystem biogeochemistry and their associated feedbacks. To account for such feedbacks, we implemented a novel plant individual-based vegetation dynamics-ecosystem biogeochemistry scheme within the RCA3 RCM. Variations in leaf area index (LAI) of seven plant functional type (PFTs) in response to physical forcing and evolving vegetation state feed back to climate via adjustments in surface energy fluxes and surface properties. In an ERA-40-driven simulation over Europe, the model reproduces the recent past climate with comparable accuracy to the standard RCM. Large-scale patterns of LAI, net primary production and vegetation composition were comparable with observations, although winter LAI was systematically overestimated compared to satellite estimates. Analysis of the ERA-40 simulation and an A1B climate-change simulation revealed considerable covariation among dynamic variables of the physical climate and vegetation. At a Mediterranean site, periodic soil water limitation led to fluctuations in leaf cover and a likely positive feedback to near-surface temperature. At an alpine site, rising temperatures led to forest advance onto tundra areas, reducing albedo and effecting a likely positive feedback on temperature. Climate vegetation coupling was less pronounced but still apparent at intermediate temperate and boreal sites}
doi = {10.1111/J.1600-0870.2010.00477.X}
journal = []
issue = {1}
volume = {63A}
place = {Sweden}
year = {2011}
month = {Jan}
}