A new scheme for initializing process-based ecosystem models by scaling soil carbon pools

S. Hashimoto, M. Wattenbach and P. Smith

Ecological Modelling, 2011, vol. 222, issue 19, 3598-3602

Abstract: Process-based ecosystem models are useful tools, not only for understanding the forest carbon cycle, but also for predicting future change. In order to apply a model to simulate a specific time period, model initialization is required. In this study, we propose a new scheme of initialization for forest ecosystem models, which we term a “slow-relaxation scheme”, that entails scaling of the soil carbon and nitrogen pools slowly during the spin-up period. The proposed slow-relation scheme was tested with the CENTURY version 4 ecosystem model. Three different combinations of scaled soil pools were also tested, and compared to the results from a fast-relaxation regime. The fast-relaxation of soil pools produced unstable, transient model behaviour whereas slow-relaxation overcame this instability. This approach holds promise for initializing ecosystem models, and for starting simulations with more realistic initial conditions.

Keywords: Ecosystem model; Initialization; Spin-up; Soil carbon; Forest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:222:y:2011:i:19:p:3598-3602

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.08.011

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