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Terrestrial biosphere models need better representation of vegetation phenology: results from the North American Carbon Program Site Synthesis

Formally Refereed

Abstract

Phenology, by controlling the seasonal activity of vegetation on the land surface, plays a fundamental role in regulating photosynthesis and other ecosystem processes, as well as competitive interactions and feedbacks to the climate system. We conducted an analysis to evaluate the representation of phenology, and the associated seasonality of ecosystem-scale CO2 exchange, in 14 models participating in the North American Carbon Program Site Synthesis. Model predictions were evaluated using long-term measurements (emphasizing the period 2000-2006) from 10 forested sites within the AmeriFlux and Fluxnet-Canada networks.

Keywords

autumn senescence, carbon cycle, land surface model (LSM), leaf area index (LAI), model error, North American Carbon Program (NACP), phenology, seasonal dynamics, spring onset

Citation

Richardson, Andrew D.; Anderson, Ryan S.; Arain, M. Altaf; Barr, Alan G.; Bohrer, Gil,; Chen, Guangsheng; Chen, Jing M.; Ciais, Philippe; David, Kenneth J.; Desai, Ankur R.; Dietze, Michael C.; Dragoni, Danilo; Garrity, Steven R.; Gough, Christopher M.; Grant, Robert; Hollinger, David; Margolis, Hank A.; McCaughey, Harry; Migliavacca, Mirco; Monson, Russel K.; Munger, J. William; Poulter, Benjamin; Raczka, Brett M.; Ricciuto, Daniel M.; Sahoo, Alok K.; Schaefer, Kevin; Tian, Hanqin; Vargas, Rodrigo; Verbeeck, Hans; Xiao, Jingfeng; Xue, Yongkang. 2012. Terrestrial biosphere models need better representation of vegetation phenology: results from the North American Carbon Program Site Synthesis. Global Change Biology. 18(2): 566-584.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/41704