Numerical models that simulate tropical forest ecosystem dynamics, such as the Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator (FATES), have been proposed as a way to improve projections of future climate change. However, parameterizing these complex, process-based models is challenging due to their numerous and interconnected non-linear relationships and relatively long spin-up requirements. This analysis identifies three high-performing parameter sets for use in future FATES experiments by quantitatively evaluating the performance of nearly 600 simulations, which test 300 unique parameter sets in two different background environments, against diverse observations at a tropical forest test site.
This repository contains the following files:
fates_parameter_selection.ipynb: This is the main file used in this analysis. This is file contains an introduction, the analysis, a summary of results, and references.
psfxns: This folder contains several modules that define functions used in the main analysis file above.
Note: If GitHub has trouble loading the fates_parameter_selection.ipynb file, visit https://nbviewer.jupyter.org/ and enter the URL for the file's github page.
Details of the parameter ensemble and analysis herein:
Kovenock, M. (2019). Ecosystem and large-scale climate impacts of plant leaf dynamics (Doctoral dissertation). Chapter 4: "Within-canopy gradient of specific leaf area improves simulation of tropical forest structure and functioning in a demographic vegetation model." http://hdl.handle.net/1773/44061
Details of the Functionally Assembled Ecosystem Simulator (FATES):
GitHub code repository:
https://github.com/NGEET/fates
Fisher, R. A., Koven, C. D., Anderegg, W. R., Christoffersen, B. O., Dietze, M. C., Farrior, C. E., et al. (2018). Vegetation demographics in Earth System Models: A review of progress and priorities. Global Change Biology, 24(1), 35–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13910