A sensitivity analysis of the land-surface scheme JULES conducted for three forest biomes: Biophysical parameters, model processes, and meteorological driving data

Alton, P.; Mercado, L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4069-0838; North, P.. 2007 A sensitivity analysis of the land-surface scheme JULES conducted for three forest biomes: Biophysical parameters, model processes, and meteorological driving data. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 20 (2), GB1008. 10.1029/2005GB002653

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Abstract/Summary

We conduct a sensitivity/uncertainty analysis of the land-surface scheme JULES focusing on biophysical parameters and model processes that govern light propagation and canopy photosynthesis. We find that current simulations of productivity/energy-exchange are limited as much by their approximate representation of complex physical processes as they are by the accuracy to which their biophysical parameters can be specified. This inference is made for three forest biomes: sparse, boreal needleleaf; dense, tropical broadleaf; and temperate broadleaf of intermediate density. Within the present study, the most influential biophysical parameters are light-limited quantum efficiency (α), the Rubisco-limited rate of photosynthesis at the top of the canopy (V cmax ) and the near-infrared transmittance of vegetation (T NIR ). Assuming respective, current uncertainties of 0.02, 20 μmol/m2/s and 0.16 in these aforementioned parameters, predictions of Gross Photosynthetic Product (GPP), latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H) and upwelling thermal radiation (R) vary by ∼20%, ∼10%, ∼35% and ∼0.3%, respectively. Current representations of canopy photosynthesis and stomatal conductance yield comparable uncertainties in simulated GPP and LE and a ∼60% uncertainty in H. For canopy photosynthesis, explicit treatment of sunfleck penetration and leaf orientation are important elements in the calculation. Of the meteorological variables that drive the land-surface scheme, the downwelling fluxes of radiation in the shortwave and longwave vie in importance with the most influential biophysical parameters. The results from our study are partly biome-dependent. Thus ground albedo and leaf area index (LAI) assume greater importance in sparsely vegetated systems.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2005GB002653
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry > CC01B Land-surface Feedbacks in the Climate System
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Harding (to July 2011)
ISSN:	0886-6236
Additional Keywords:	carbon cycle, climate, land surface-atmospheric interactions
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology Ecology and Environment Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	10 Jan 2008 13:11 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1964

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