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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Atmospheres

 

Keywords

  • terrestrial ecosystem model
  • boreal forest
  • parameter estimation
  • sensitivity analysis
  • Bayesian inference
  • net ecosystem exchange

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Biosphere/atmosphere interactions
  • Biogeosciences: Biogeochemical cycles, processes, and modeling
  • Mathematical Geophysics: Inverse theory
  • Mathematical Geophysics: Uncertainty quantification
Abstract
Cited By (2)
 

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 114, D15303, 19 PP., 2009
doi:10.1029/2009JD011724

A global sensitivity analysis and Bayesian inference framework for improving the parameter estimation and prediction of a process-based Terrestrial Ecosystem Model

Jinyun Tang

Purdue Climate Change Research Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Qianlai Zhuang

Purdue Climate Change Research Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

A global sensitivity analysis and Bayesian inference framework was developed for improving the parameterization and predictability of a monthly time step process-based biogeochemistry model. Using a Latin Hypercube sampler and an existing Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM), a set of 500,000 Monte Carlo ensemble simulations was conducted for a black spruce forest ecosystem. A global sensitivity analysis was then conducted to identify the key model parameters and examine the interaction structures among TEM parameters. Bayesian inference analysis was also performed using these ensemble simulations and eddy flux data of carbon, latent heat flux, and MODIS gross primary production (GPP) to reduce the uncertainty of parameter estimation and prediction of TEM. We found that (1) the simulated carbon fluxes are mostly affected by parameters of the maximum rate of photosynthesis (CMAX), the half-saturation constant for CO2 uptake by plants (k c), the half-saturation constant for Photosynthetically Active Radiation used by plants (k i), and the change in autotrophic respiration due to 10°C temperature increase (RHQ10); (2) the effect of parameters on seasonal carbon dynamics varies from one parameter to another during a year; (3) to well constrain the uncertainties of TEM predictions and parameters using the Bayesian inference technique, at least two different fluxes of NEP, GPP, and ecosystem respiration (RESP) are required; and (4) different assumptions of the error structures of the flux data used in the Bayesian inference analysis result in different uncertainty bounds of the posterior parameters and model predictions. We further found that, using the Bayesian framework and eddy flux and satellite data, the uncertainty of simulated carbon fluxes has been remarkably reduced. The developed global sensitivity analysis and Bayesian framework could further be used to analyze and improve the predictability and parameterization of relatively coarse time step biogeochemistry models when the eddy flux and satellite data are available for other terrestrial ecosystems.

Received 7 January 2009; accepted 9 June 2009; published 11 August 2009.

Citation: Tang, J., and Q. Zhuang (2009), A global sensitivity analysis and Bayesian inference framework for improving the parameter estimation and prediction of a process-based Terrestrial Ecosystem Model, J. Geophys. Res., 114, D15303, doi:10.1029/2009JD011724.

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