Terrestrial biosphere models need better representation of vegetation phenology: Results from the North American Carbon Program Site Synthesis

Andrew D. Richardson, Ryan S. Anderson, M. Altaf Arain, Alan G. Barr, Gil Bohrer, Guangsheng Chen, Jing M. Chen, Philippe Ciais, Kenneth J. Davis, Ankur R. Desai, Michael C. Dietze, Danilo Dragoni, Steven R. Garrity, Christopher M. Gough, Robert Grant, David Y. Hollinger, Hank A. Margolis, Harry Mccaughey, Mirco Migliavacca, Russell K. MonsonJ. William Munger, Benjamin Poulter, Brett M. Raczka, Daniel M. Ricciuto, Alok K. Sahoo, Kevin Schaefer, Hanqin Tian, Rodrigo Vargas, Hans Verbeeck, Jingfeng Xiao, Yongkang Xue

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

557 Scopus citations

Abstract

Phenology, by controlling the seasonal activity of vegetation on the land surface, plays a fundamental role in regulating photosynthesis and other ecosystem processes, as well as competitive interactions and feedbacks to the climate system. We conducted an analysis to evaluate the representation of phenology, and the associated seasonality of ecosystem-scale CO 2 exchange, in 14 models participating in the North American Carbon Program Site Synthesis. Model predictions were evaluated using long-term measurements (emphasizing the period 2000-2006) from 10 forested sites within the AmeriFlux and Fluxnet-Canada networks. In deciduous forests, almost all models consistently predicted that the growing season started earlier, and ended later, than was actually observed; biases of 2 weeks or more were typical. For these sites, most models were also unable to explain more than a small fraction of the observed interannual variability in phenological transition dates. Finally, for deciduous forests, misrepresentation of the seasonal cycle resulted in over-prediction of gross ecosystem photosynthesis by +160 ± 145 g C m -2 yr -1 during the spring transition period and +75 ± 130 g C m -2 yr -1 during the autumn transition period (13% and 8% annual productivity, respectively) compensating for the tendency of most models to under-predict the magnitude of peak summertime photosynthetic rates. Models did a better job of predicting the seasonality of CO 2 exchange for evergreen forests. These results highlight the need for improved understanding of the environmental controls on vegetation phenology and incorporation of this knowledge into better phenological models. Existing models are unlikely to predict future responses of phenology to climate change accurately and therefore will misrepresent the seasonality and interannual variability of key biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks and interactions in coupled global climate models.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)566-584
Number of pages19
JournalGlobal Change Biology
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Global and Planetary Change
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Ecology
  • General Environmental Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Terrestrial biosphere models need better representation of vegetation phenology: Results from the North American Carbon Program Site Synthesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this