Improving Arctic-Boreal Ecosystem Processes in Earth System Models with NASA ABoVE Data

Abstract:

Earth System Models (ESMs) are highly uncertain in Arctic-Boreal regions, primarily due to lack of data for model parameterization, structural equation development, and benchmarking. NASA’s Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) and collaborating partners have generated a massive amount of in situ, airborne, and satellite data for the region over the past few years. Here, we mine the ABoVE database for functional relationships that can be aligned directly with ESM structures. These include relationships e.g.: I) hydrology (e.g., field capacity vs. wilting point); II) permafrost (e.g., surface temperature vs. thaw depth); III) vegetation dynamics (e.g., vegetation height vs. canopy cover); IV) biogeochemistry (e.g., soil carbon vs. nitrogen); V) carbon allocation (e.g., stem vs. total biomass); and, V) soil physical properties (e.g., bulk density vs. soil moisture). We present these functional response relationships to the ESM community. Finally, we demonstrate the impact of how these data and relationships can be used to improve two ESM land models—CLM and ELM.