Arctic carbon flux estimated from the ED2 model: Preliminary results and model development

Erik J.L. Larson, Harvard University, erik_larson@fas.harvard.edu (Presenter)
Takeshi Ise, Kyoto University, kais@kyoto-u.ac.jp
J. William Munger, Harvard University, jwmunger@seas.harvard.edu
Steven Wofsy, Harvard University, wofsy@fas.harvard.edu
Róisín Commane, Harvard University, rcommane@seas.harvard.edu
Donatella Zona, San Diego State University (USA), dzona@mail.sdsu.edu
Eugenie Euskirchen, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, seeuskirchen@alaska.edu
Paul R. Moorcroft, Harvard University, paul_moorcroft@harvard.edu

The Ecosystem Demography model v2.1 (ED2) is used to simulate several different arctic plant communities located at tower sites in the ABoVE domain. ED2 is a process based mechanistic model of the terrestrial biosphere. The model tracks carbon and nitrogen fluxes between the soil, living tissue and atmosphere. The goal of the study is to model the seasonal cycle of carbon (CO2 and CH4) uptake and emission in the Arctic and how this flux is affected by temperature. The ED2 model had not previously been run in the Arctic, and there are multiple avenues of model development underway to simulate realistic plant growth, including new Arctic specific plant functional types. Furthermore, we are adding dynamic soil carbon to the model that will allow for peat accumulation and reduction. We will discuss the current and planned model developments and present preliminary results including comparisons with observed data at the following tower sites: Barrow, Anaktuvuk River, Atqasuk, Imnavait Creek, Ivotuk, and Poker Flat Research Range.

Associated Project(s): 

• Munger-04

Poster Location ID: 92

Session Assigned: Carbon Dynamics