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Multi-model simulation of soil temperature, soil water content and biomass in Euro-Mediterranean grasslands: Uncertainties and ensemble performance

Sándor, Renáta and Barcza, Zoltán and Acutis, M. and Doro, L. and Hidy, D. and Lelleiné Kovács, Eszter (2017) Multi-model simulation of soil temperature, soil water content and biomass in Euro-Mediterranean grasslands: Uncertainties and ensemble performance. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY, 88. pp. 22-40. ISSN 1161-0301

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Abstract

This study presents results from a major grassland model intercomparison exercise, and highlights the main challenges faced in the implementation of a multi-model ensemble prediction system in grasslands. Nine, independently developed simulation models linking climate, soil, vegetation and management to grassland biogeochemical cycles and production were compared in a simulation of soil water content (SWC) and soil temperature (ST) in the topsoil, and of biomass production. The results were assessed against SWC and ST data from five observational grassland sites representing a range of conditions - Grillenburg in Germany, Laqueuille in France with both extensive and intensive management, Monte Bondone in Italy and Oensingen in Switzerland - and against yield measurements from the same sites and other experimental grassland sites in Europe and Israel. We present a comparison of model estimates from individual models to the multi-model ensemble (represented by multi-model median: MMM). With calibration (seven out of nine models), the performances were acceptable for weekly-aggregated ST (R2 >0.7 with individual models and >0.8-0.9 with MMM), but less satisfactory with SWC (R2 <0.6 with individual models and <∼0.5 with MMM) and biomass (R2 <∼0.3 with both individual models and MMM). With individual models, maximum biases of about -5°C for ST, -0.3m3 m-3 for SWC and 360gDMm-2 for yield, as well as negative modelling efficiencies and some high relative root mean square errors indicate low model performance, especially for biomass. We also found substantial discrepancies across different models, indicating considerable uncertainties regarding the simulation of grassland processes. The multi-model approach allowed for improved performance, but further progress is strongly needed in the way models represent processes in managed grassland systems. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Soil processes; Multi-model ensemble; modelling; GRASSLANDS; BIOMASS
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation / földrajz, antropológia, kikapcsolódás > GE Environmental Sciences / környezettudomány
Q Science / természettudomány > QH Natural history / természetrajz > QH540 Ecology / ökológia
SWORD Depositor: MTMT SWORD
Depositing User: MTMT SWORD
Date Deposited: 19 Sep 2017 15:51
Last Modified: 19 Sep 2017 15:51
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/62929

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