Dynamic global vegetation modelling: quantifying terrestrial ecosystem responses to large-scale environmental change

摘要: DGVMs exploit the power of modern computers and computational methods to yield a predictive description land ecosystem processes that takes account knowledge previously developed through long histories separate disciplinary approaches study biosphere. The degree interaction between different scientific still falls far short optimal; thus, DGVM developers have responsibility be aware progress in several disciplines order ensure their models remain state-of-the-art. We presented series case studies evaluation demonstrate capability current achieved. Nevertheless, there are plenty unresolved issues — differences among not well understood, important omitted or treated simplistically by some all models, sets observations satisfactorily reproduced models. More comprehensive “benchmarking” against multiple data is required would most effectively carried out an international consortium, so as avoid duplicating large amount work involved selecting processing model experiments. also illustrate DGVMs, even with known limitations, explaining remarkable variety Earth System phenomena addressing contemporary related climate land-use change. These encourage us believe continued development worthwhile enterprise. Finally, new directions Science point range aspects which could improved take recently acquired knowledge, such experimental on whole-ecosystem responses environmental modification understanding functional basis plant traits; complemented effort represent semi-natural agricultural ecosystems impacts management practices these ecosystems; extended include trace-gas emissions, understand role terrestrial biosphere System. Together, potential developments add up ambitious research program, requiring economies scale only collaborative can provide.