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A Bayesian framework for model calibration, comparison and analysis: application to four models for the biogeochemistry of a Norway spruce forest

Van Oijen, M.; Cameron, D.R.; Butterbach-Bahl, K.; Farahbakhshazad, N.; Jansson, P.-E.; Kiese, R.; Rahn, K.-H.; Werner, C.; Yeluripati, J.B.. 2011 A Bayesian framework for model calibration, comparison and analysis: application to four models for the biogeochemistry of a Norway spruce forest. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 151 (12). 1609-1621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2011.06.017

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Abstract/Summary

Four different parameter-rich process-based models of forest biogeochemistry were analysed in a Bayesian framework consisting of three operations: (1) Model calibration, (2) Model comparison, (3) Analysis of model–data mismatch. Data were available for four output variables common to the models: soil water content and emissions of N2O, NO and CO2. All datasets consisted of time series of daily measurements. Monthly averages and quantiles of the annual frequency distributions of daily emission rates were calculated for comparison with equivalent model outputs. This use of the data at model-appropriate temporal scale, together with the choice of heavy-tailed likelihood functions that accounted for data uncertainty through random and systematic errors, helped prevent asymptotic collapse of the parameter distributions in the calibration. Model behaviour and how it was affected by calibration was analysed by quantifying the normalised RMSE and r2 for the different output variables, and by decomposition of the MSE into contributions from bias, phase shift and variance error. The simplest model, BASFOR, seemed to underestimate the temporal variance of nitrogenous emissions even after calibration. The model of intermediate complexity, DAYCENT, simulated the time series well but with large phase shift. COUP and MoBiLE-DNDC were able to remove most bias through calibration. The Bayesian framework was shown to be effective in improving the parameterisation of the models, quantifying the uncertainties in parameters and outputs, and evaluating the different models. The analysis showed that there remain patterns in the data – in particular infrequent events of very high nitrogenous emission rate – that are unexplained by any of the selected forest models and that this is unlikely to be due to incorrect model parameterisation.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2011.06.017
Programmes: CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.2 - Manage, assimilate and integrate long-term datasets ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 1 - Monitoring and Interpretation of Biogeochemical and Climate Changes > BGC - 1.3 - Quantify & attribute changes in biogeochemiical cycles ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 2 - Biogeochemistry and Climate System Processes > BGC - 2.4 - Develop model frameworks to predict future impact of environmental drivers ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry > BGC Topic 2 - Biogeochemistry and Climate System Processes > BGC - 2.1 - Quantify & model processes that control the emission, fate and bioavailability of pollutants
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: Billett (to November 2013)
ISSN: 0168-1923
Additional Keywords: carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, NO, N2O, uncertainty analysis, water cycle
NORA Subject Terms: Agriculture and Soil Science
Ecology and Environment
Data and Information
Date made live: 21 Nov 2011 12:35 +0 (UTC)
URI: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/15938

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