An improved canopy integration scheme for a land surface model with prognostic canopy structure

A new logical framework relating the structural and functional characteristics of a vegetation canopy is presented, based on the hypothesis that the ratio of leaf area to leaf mass (specific leaf area) varies linearly with overlying leaf area index within the canopy. Measurements of vertical gradients in specific leaf area and leaf carbon:nitrogen ratio for five species (two deciduous and three evergreen) in a temperate climate support this hypothesis. This new logic is combined with a two-leaf (sunlit and shaded) canopy model to arrive at a new canopy integration scheme for use in the land surface component of a climate system model. An inconsistency in the released model radiation code is identified and corrected. Also introduced here is a prognostic canopy model with coupled carbon and nitrogen cycle dynamics. The new scheme is implemented within the Community Land Model and tested in both diagnostic and prognostic canopy modes. The new scheme increases global gross primary production by 66% (from 65 to 108 Pg carbon yr⁻¹) for diagnostic model simulations driven with reanalysis surface weather, with similar results (117 PgC yr⁻¹) for the new prognostic model. Comparison of model predictions to global syntheses of observations shows generally good agreement for net primary productivity (NPP) across a range of vegetation types, with likely underestimation of NPP in tundra and larch communities. Vegetation carbon stocks are higher than observed in forest systems, but the ranking of stocks by vegetation type is accurately captured.

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Copyright 2007American Meteorological Society (AMS). Permission to use figures, tables, and brief excerpts from this work in scientific and educational works is hereby granted provided that the source is acknowledged. Any use of material in this work that is determined to be "fair use" under Section 107 or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law (17 USC, as revised by P.L. 94-553) does not require the Society's permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form on servers, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statements, requires written permission or license from the AMS. Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policies, available from the AMS at 617-227-2425 or amspubs@ametsoc.org. Permission to place a copy of this work on this server has been provided by the AMS. The AMS does not guarantee that the copy provided here is an accurate copy of the published work.


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Author Thornton, Peter
Zimmermann, Niklaus
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2007-08-01T00:00:00
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2023-08-18T18:27:01.135108
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:6987
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Thornton, Peter, Zimmermann, Niklaus. (2007). An improved canopy integration scheme for a land surface model with prognostic canopy structure. UCAR/NCAR - Library. http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7mk6d52. Accessed 15 February 2025.

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