Projeto

Modelling nutrient interactions and climate change response of vegetation in heterogeneous Amazonian landscapes

Resumo

The proposed project aims to contribute to understanding the role of nutrient-CO2 interplay as well as heterogeneity in the resilience of tropical forests. The likely response of tropical forests to future climate change is subject of intensive research, using computer models in which vegetation processes are simulated either with prescribed climate (Dynamic Global Vegetation Models or DGVMs) or in a coupled mode, where a vegetation model is coupled to a climate model (so-called Earth System Models, ESM). The Brazilian science community is actively involved in both types of research, developing several new DGVMs and ESMs, such as the INLAND land surface model and the Brazilian Global Climate System Model (BGCSM). The proposed project will develop concepts, modules and parameter sets to be included in INLAND for dynamic representation of nutrient dependence, elevated CO2 impact and landscape heterogeneity. This is of great interest of, and complementary to, projects such as AMAZALERT of which the proposed PVE is overall co-ordinator and the host institution, INPE/CST is the South-American co-co-ordinator. Summarising, the objectives of this project are: 1 ? to develop, test and implement novel concepts to dynamically account for Nitrogen and Phosphate cycles in the INLAND model environment (PVE and a PhD student) 2 - to develop, test and implement in INLAND, and DGVms in general, a representation of sub-grid spatial heterogeneity in soils, topography, water supply, nutrient cycling, vegetation type or degree of deforestation (PVE and a postdoc researcher). 3 ? To strengthen the network of South-American research on vegetation modelling, through, from an international perspective, organising workshops and trainings, joint development, data exchange, and contribution to undergraduate and masters level education in Brazil. (PI, and PVE) 4 ? To foster the links between the Brazilian modelling and LBA community and the FP7 EU-AMAZALERT project, which has a broader scope.