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

作者：Hashimoto S^*; Wattenbach M; Smith P

来源：Ecological Modelling, 2011, 222(19): 3598-3602.

DOI：10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.08.011

• Ecosystem model
• Initialization
• Spin-up
• Soil carbon
• Forest

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.

• 出版日期2011-10-10