Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4376817 | Ecological Modelling | 2011 | 5 Pages |
Process-based ecosystem models are useful tools, not only for understanding the forest carbon cycle, but also for predicting future change. In order to apply a model to simulate a specific time period, model initialization is required. In this study, we propose a new scheme of initialization for forest ecosystem models, which we term a “slow-relaxation scheme”, that entails scaling of the soil carbon and nitrogen pools slowly during the spin-up period. The proposed slow-relation scheme was tested with the CENTURY version 4 ecosystem model. Three different combinations of scaled soil pools were also tested, and compared to the results from a fast-relaxation regime. The fast-relaxation of soil pools produced unstable, transient model behaviour whereas slow-relaxation overcame this instability. This approach holds promise for initializing ecosystem models, and for starting simulations with more realistic initial conditions.
► We propose a new scheme of initialization for ecosystem models. ► The scheme entails the scaling of the soil pools slowly during the spin-up. ► The slow-relaxation scheme was tested with the CENTURY version 4 ecosystem model. ► Slow-relaxation overcame the unstable model behaviour seen using fast-relaxation.