Are vegetation-specific model parameters required for estimating gross primary production?


Author / Producer

Date

2013

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

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Data

Abstract

Models of gross primary production (GPP) are currently parameterized with vegetation-specific parameter sets and therefore require accurate information on the distribution of vegetation to drive them. Can this parameterization scheme be replaced with a vegetation-invariant set of parameter that can maintain or increase model applicability by reducing errors introduced from the uncertainty of land cover classification? Based on the measurements of ecosystem carbon fluxes from 150 globally distributed sites in a range of vegetation types, we examined the predictive capacity of seven light use efficiency (LUE) models. Two model experiments were conducted: (i) a constant set of parameters for various vegetation types and (ii) vegetation-specific parameters. The results showed no significant differences in model performances to simulate GPP while using both sets of parameters. These results indicate that a universal set of parameters, which is independent of vegetation cover type and characteristics can be adopted in prevalent LUE models. Availability of this well tested and universal set of parameters would help to improve the accuracy and applicability of LUE models in various biomes and geographic regions.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

6

Pages / Article No.

5475 - 5488

Publisher

Copernicus

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Organisational unit

03648 - Buchmann, Nina / Buchmann, Nina check_circle

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