Transcript Document

Role of land surface models in GCMs
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Provides the boundary conditions at the land-atmosphere interface
– e.g. albedo, surface temperature, surface fluxes
Partitions available energy at the surface into sensible and latent heat flux components
Partitions rainfall into runoff and evaporation
– Evaporation provides surface-atmosphere moisture flux
– River runoff provides freshwater input to the oceans
Provides the carbon fluxes at the surface (photosynthesis, respiration)
Updates state variables which affect surface fluxes
– e.g. snow cover, soil moisture, soil temperature, vegetation cover, leaf area index
LSM cost is actually not that high ( ~10% of full coupled model)
Role of land surface models in GCMs
The land-surface model solves (at each timestep)
– Surface energy balance (and other energy balances, e.g. in canopy, snow, soil)
• S + L = S + L + E + H + G
– S, S are down(up)welling solar radiation
– L , L are down(up)welling longwave radiation
–  is latent heat of vaporization, E is evaporation
– H is sensible heat flux
– G is ground heat flux
–
Surface water balance (and other water balances such as snow and soil water)
• P = ES + ET + EC + RSurf + RSub-Surf + ∆SM / ∆t
– P is rainfall
– ES is soil evaporation, ET is transpiration, EC is canopy evaporation
– RSurf is surface runoff, RSub-Surf is sub-surface runoff
– ∆SM / ∆t is the change in soil moisture over a timestep
–
Carbon balance (and plant and soil carbon pools)
• NPP = GPP – Ra = (∆Cf + ∆Cs + ∆Cr) / ∆t
• NEP = NPP – Rh
• NBP = NEP - Combustion
– NPP is net primary production, GPP is gross primary production
– Ra is autotrophic (plant) respiration, Rh is heterotrophic (soil) respiration
– ∆Cf, ∆Cs, ∆Cr are foliage, stem, and root carbon pools
– NEP is net ecosystem production, NBP is net biome production
– Combustion is carbon loss during fire
Surface energy balance and surface temperature
Surface energy balance
(S-S) + L = L[Ts] + H[Ts] + E[Ts] + G[Ts]
L   (Ts  273.15)4  (1   ) L 
H   C p
E  
Gk
(Ta  Ts )
raH
C p  ea  e*[Ts ]

raW
Ts  Tsoil 
z
Atmospheric forcing
S - incoming solar radiation
L - incoming longwave radiation
Ta – air temperature
ea – vapor pressure
Surface properties
S - reflected solar radiation (albedo)
 - emissivity
raH – aerodynamic resistance (roughness length)
raW – aerodynamic resistance (roughness length)
Tsoil – soil temperature
k – thermal conductivity
z – soil depth
With atmospheric forcing and surface properties specified, solve
for temperature Ts that balances the energy budget
Turbulent fluxes
Logarithmic wind profile in atmosphere near surface
16
Height above ground (m)
14
12
10
8
6
4
Day 14
2
Day 12
Day 35
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
-1
Wind speed ( m s )
 z / u* u / z  1/ k


u2  u1  u / k ln  z2 / z1 
*


 
u ( z )  u / k ln z / z0M
*


u ( z )  u / k ln  z  d  / z0M 
*
Similar logarithmic profiles for temperature and vapor pressure
Turbulent fluxes
   (u  us ) / raM  u / raM
H   C p
raM
(a  Ts )
raH


1  
 2 ln  z d  m ( )
k u   z0 M 

2
raH 
 

1   z d 
z d  ( ) 
ln

 m ( )  ln 
h
2
   z0 H 

k u   z0 M 

 

raW 
 

1   z d 
z d  ( ) 
ln

 m ( )  ln 
w
2
   z0W 

k u   z0 M 

 

Height
z
raM
raM
raH = raM + r*b
z0M
r *b
z0H
us = 0
Wind speed
uz
z
Temperature
s
Community Land Model
Hydrometeorology
Reflected Solar
Radiation
Absorbed Solar
Radiation
Photosynthesis
Sensible Heat Flux
Latent Heat Flux
Longwave Radiation
Hydrology
Momentum Flux
Wind Speed
0
ua
Precipitation
Evaporation
Interception
Canopy Water
Transpiration
Emitted Longwave Radiation
Diffuse Solar
Radiation
Biogeophysics
Throughfall
Stemflow
Sublimation
Melt
Soil Heat Flux
Evaporation
Infiltration
Surface Runoff
Snow
Soil Water
Heat Transfer
Redistribution
Drainage
Community Land Model
• Land model for Community Climate System Model
• Developed by the CCSM Land Model Working
Group in partnership with university and
government laboratory collaborators
Bonan et al. (2002) J Climate 15:3123-3149
Oleson et al. (2004) NCAR/TN-461+STR
Dickinson et al. (2006) J Climate 19:2302-2324
Energy fluxes: radiative transfer; turbulent fluxes
(sensible, latent heat); heat storage in soil; snow
melt
Hydrologic cycle: interception of water by leaves;
infiltration and runoff; snow accumulation and melt;
multi-layer soil water; partitioning of latent heat
into evaporation of intercepted water, soil
evaporation, and transpiration
Community Land Model
Dynamic vegetation
0 15003000
g CO2g-1s-1
g CO2g-1s-1
0
-10 25 60
Temperature (C)
0 15 30
Autotrophic
Respiration
Temperature
(C)
Litterfall
0 500 1000
Heterotrophic
Respiration
Ambient
CO2 (ppm)
0
1 2
Vapor Pressure
Foliage
Deficit (Pa)
Nitrogen (%)
Nutrient
Uptake
8
1
0 15 30
Temperature
(C)
1
5
4
3
2
1
0
Nov
Dec
g CO2g-1s-1
6
4
2
0
0
-10 25 60
Temperature (C)
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
0 -1 -2
Foliage Water
Potential (MPa)
0
-10 25 60
Temperature (C)
6
0.3
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
0 500 1000
PPFD
(molm-2s-1)
0.01
Root
Leaf Area Index
6
4
2
0
Growth
Respiration
0.5
Leaf phenology
Sapwood
Relative Rate
6
4
2
0
Foliage
Relative Rate
g CO2g-1s-1
g CO2g-1s-1
Photosynthesis
g CO2g-1s-1
Ecosystem carbon balance
0
0
100
Soil Water
(% saturation)
Needleleaf evergreen tree
Broadleaf deciduous tree
Vegetation
dynamics
Bonan et al. (2003) Global Change Biology 9:1543-1566
Levis et al. (2004) NCAR/TN-459+IA
Bonan & Levis (2006) J Climate 19:2290-2301
First-generation models
Evaporation E =  Ep
=1
for ww0
 = w/w0 for w<w0
Precipitation
Sensible heat
H   C p
E  
Ta  Ts 
ra
 C p  ea  e*[Ts ]

ra / 
Latent heat
Ta
ea
ra
ra/
Ts
e*(Ts)
Water
depth,
w
Critical
depth,
w0
Runoff
Simple energy balance model: (1-r)S + L = L[Ts] + H[Ts] + E[Ts]
Prescribed surface albedo
Bulk parameterizations of sensible and latent heat flux
No influence of vegetation on surface fluxes
Prescribed soil wetness factor  or calculated wetness from bucket model
No soil heat storage
Manabe (1969) Monthly Weather Review 97:739-774
Williamson et al. (1987) NCAR/TN-285+STR
Green world vs desert world
Two climate model experiments
Wet – evapotranspiration not limited by soil water; vegetated planet
Dry – no evapotranspiration; desert planet
July surface temperature (C)
July precipitation (mm/day)
Wet soil
Wet soil
Dry soil
Dry soil
Dry soil warmer than wet soil
Shukla & Mintz (1982) Science 215:1498-1501
Dry soil has less precipitation
Second-generation models
Vegetation and hydrologic cycle
Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS)
Dickinson et al. (1986) NCAR/TN-275+STR
Simple Biosphere Model (SiB)
Sellers et al. (1986) J Atmos Sci 43:505-531
Snow-Covered Ground
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
Visible
Canopy Albedo
Fractional Canopy Absorption
Radiative transfer
Near-infrared
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Leaf Area Index (m2 m-2)
Sunlit Leaf Area Index
random
horizontal
vertical
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Zenith Angle = 30
0.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
Leaf Area Index
6
Random leaf orientation
Zenith angle = 45
Near-infrared
Visible
0
1
2
3
4
Leaf Area Index (m2m-2)
3.0
2.5
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
7
8
5
6
Plant canopy
Sensible Heat
Ta
Ta
Ta
Ta
raH
raH
raH
rs
raH
rc
Tac
Tacu
racu
Tv
Ts
rac
Ts
Bulk Surface
No Vegetation
Bulk Surface
With Vegetation
Tacl
racl
Tg
One Vegetation
Layer
rcu
Tvu
rcl
Tvl
Tg
Two Vegetation
Layers
Latent Heat
ea
ea
raW
ea
ea
raW
raW
rs
raW
rc
es
es
rs
Bare Surface
No Vegetation
Bulk Surface
With Vegetation
rcu
evu
rcl
evl
eacu
eac
rac
ev
eg
One Vegetation
Layer
racu
eacl
racl
eg
Two Vegetation
Layers
Leaf stomatal resistance
Stomatal Gas Exchange
Leaf Cuticle
High CO2
Dry Air
CO2
H2O
Guard Cell
Guard Cell
Photosynthetically
Active Radiation
Chloroplast
Low
CO2
light
CO2 + 2 H2O  CH2O + O2 + H2O
Moist
Air
Stomata Open:
• High Light Levels
• Moist Leaf
• Warm Temperature
• Moist Air
• Moderate CO2
• High Leaf Nitrogen
Stomata Close (Smaller Pore Opening):
• Low Light Levels
• Dry Leaf
• Cold Temperature
• Dry Air
• High CO2
• Low Leaf Nitrogen
Leaf boundary layer
Dry Air
High CO2
H2O
Boundary Layer
Thickness:
1 to 10 mm
rb
Leaf Cuticle
rb
Height
CO2
Sensible
Heat
Guard
Cell
Guard Cell
High
0
Wind Speed
Photosynthetically
Active Radiation
Chloroplast
rs
Low
CO2
light
CO2 + 2 H2O  CH2O + O2 + H2O
Moist
Air
Low
Temperature
High
Plant canopy
Leaf
Boundary
Layer
rb/2
Stomata
Ts
Total Resistance
Ta
ei=e*(Ts)
Canopy
rb/(2L)
Sensible Heat
rb/2
es
Tac
1.65rs
Latent Heat
(rs+rb)
ei=e*(Ts)
es
1.65rs/L
1.37rb
ci
cs
rb/L
rs/L
ea
ca
Photosynthesis
(1.65rs+1.37rb)
Total Resistance
Ta
Sensible Heat
rb/(2L)+ra
ea
Latent Heat
(rs+rb)/L+ra
Ts
rb
rs
Atmosphere
Surface
Layer
ra
ra
eac
1.37rb/L
Photosynthesis
ci
cs
ca
(1.65rs+1.37rb)/L
Soil temperature
Vertical Heat Transfer
Fin
F  k
FT I   k FT I
Hz K Hz K
y
x
5 mm
A
41C
F  15
.
change in storage = flux in - flux out
F
I
G
HJ
K
T
c
xyz ( Fin  Fout )xy
t
z
T I F
F I
F
G
Ht J
KG
Hz J
K
T I  F T I F
2T I
 cF
 G
k
kG J
G
J
J
Ht Kz H z K Hz 2 K
c
Fout
15 mm
B
37C
F
G
H
W
41o C  37 o C

0.01 m
mo C
F  600 W / m
2
I
J
K
Hydrologic cycle
Reflected Solar
Radiation
Absorbed Solar
Radiation
Photosynthesis
Sensible Heat Flux
Latent Heat Flux
Longwave Radiation
Hydrology
Momentum Flux
Wind Speed
0
ua
Precipitation
Evaporation
Interception
Canopy Water
Transpiration
Emitted Longwave Radiation
Diffuse Solar
Radiation
Biogeophysics
Throughfall
Stemflow
Sublimation
Melt
Soil Heat Flux
Evaporation
Infiltration
Surface Runoff
Snow
Soil Water
Heat Transfer
Redistribution
Drainage
Soil water – Richards equation
Vertical Water Flow
 (  z ) O F
 I
L
M
N z P
Q  k Hz 1K
L(  z) O
F 1I   k F   1I
F  k M
 k
P
N z Q Hz K Hz  K
F  k
Fin
y
x
change in storage = flux in - flux out
z
 I
F
G
Ht J
Kxyz ( Fin  Fout )xy
 / t   F / z
L
F
M
H
NG
IJ O
KP
Q
 
 

k

1
t z
z 
50 mm
A
Fout
=-478 mm
z=500 mm
F  2
550 mm
B
=-843 mm
z=0 mm
L
M
N
mm ( 478 mm  500 mm)  ( 843 mm  0 mm)

hr
500 mm
F  3.46 mm / hr
O
P
Q
Land degradation
Climate feedback
Overgrazing
Drought
Reduced
Vegetation
Cover
Dead vegetation in drought-stricken area,
Sol-Dior area, Senegal (FAO, Ch. Errath)
Less Rainfall
Increased Albedo
Decreased Clouds
And Convection
Goat seeks food in the sparsely
vegetated Sahel of Africa (US AID)
Decreased Net
Radiation
Subsidence
Surface
Cooling
Charney (1975) QJRMS 101:193-202
Charney et al. (1975) Science 187:434-435
Land degradation
Climate model experiments
Degradation scenario - the vegetation type within the
shaded area was changed to type 9 to represent
degradation: less vegetation, lower LAI, smaller
surface roughness length, higher albedo, sandy soil
Broadleaf evergreen tree
Broadleaf shrub/ground cover
Broadleaf tree/ground cover
Clark et al. (2001) J Climate 14:1809-1822
Broadleaf shrub/bare soil
Land degradation
Climate impacts
July-August-September precipitation differences
(mm/day) due to degradation. Differences that are
significant at the 95% confidence level are shaded
and the degraded area is enclosed by a solid line.
July-August-September mean differences due
to degradation. Values are means over the
degraded area. D–C is the difference between
degraded and control values.
Clark et al. (2001) J Climate 14:1809-1822
Tropical deforestation
Settlement and deforestation surrounding Rio
Branco, Brazil (10S, 68W) in the Brazilian state
of Acre, near the border with Bolivia. The large
image covers an area of 333 km x 333 km.
(NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL)
(National Geographic Society)
Tropical deforestation
Warmer, drier tropical climate
Annual response to Amazonian deforestation in various climate model studies.
albedo and z0 indicate the change in surface albedo and roughness due to
deforestation (+, increase; -, decrease). T, P, and ET are the simulated
changes in temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration. Shading denotes
warmer, drier climate.
Surface Change
Study
albedo
z0
Climate Change
T
P
ET
(C)
(mm)
(mm)
Dickinson and Henderson-Sellers (1988)
+
-
+3.0
0
-200
Lean and Warrilow (1989)
+
-
+2.4
-490
-310
Nobre et al. (1991)
+
-
+2.5
-643
-496
Dickinson and Kennedy (1992)
+
-
+0.6
-511
-256
Mylne and Rowntree (1992)
+
unchanged
-0.1
-335
-176
Henderson-Sellers et al. (1993)
+
-
+0.6
-588
-232
Lean and Rowntree (1993)
+
-
+2.1
-296
-201
Pitman et al. (1993)
+
-
+0.7
-603
-207
Polcher and Laval (1994a)
+
unchanged
+3.8
+394
-985
Polcher and Laval (1994b)
+
-
-0.1
-186
-128
Sud et al. (1996)
+
-
+2.0
-540
-445
McGuffie et al. (1995)
+
-
+0.3
-437
-231
Lean and Rowntree (1997)
+
-
+2.3
-157
-296
Hahmann and Dickinson (1997)
+
-
+1.0
-363
-149
Costa and Foley (2000)
+
-
+1.4
-266
-223
Third-generation models
Stomatal Gas Exchange
CO2
Net Photosynthesis (molm-2s-1)
Guard Cell
Guard Cell
Leaf Cuticle
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
H2O
Photosynthetically
Active Radiation
Low Moist
CO2 Air
Chloroplast
0
200
400
600
800 1000 1200 1400
light
CO2 + 2 H2O  CH2O + O2 + H2O
Stomata Open:
• High Light Levels
• Moist Leaf
• Warm Temperature
• Moist Air
• Moderate CO2
• High Leaf Nitrogen
0
200
400
600
800 1000 1200 1400
Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (molm-2s-1)
Bonan (1995) JGR 100:2817-2831
Denning et al. (1995) Nature 376:240-242
Denning et al. (1996) Tellus 48B:521-542, 543-567
Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
Photosynthesis
Transpiration
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Stomatal Conductance (mmol CO2m-2s-1)
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
Transpiration (mmol H2Om-2s-1)
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Net Photosynthesis (mol CO2m-2s-1)
Stomatal Conductance
(mmol CO2m-2s-1)
Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (molm-2s-1)
Leaf stomatal resistance
A (h /100) P
1
 gs  m n s
b
rs
cs
wc is the rubisco-limited rate of
photosynthesis, wj is light-limited rate
allowed by RuBP regeneration
rubisco-limited rate is
wc 
Vmax (ci * )
ci  Kc (1Oi / Ko )
RuBP regeneration-limited rate is
wj 
J (ci * )
4(ci 2* )
Photosynthesis (mol CO2m-2s-1)
An  min(wc , w j )  Rd
Light Response Curve
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
Wj
Wc
Wj
4
2
0
0
100 200
300 400 500 600 700
800 900 1000
Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (mol photonsm-2s-1)
Canopy resistance
Percent Of Full Solar Radiation
0
7
7
6
6
Height (meters)
Height (meters)
Oak Forest
5
4
3
2
40
60
80
100
4
5
5
4
3
2
1
1
0
0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75
0
Leaf Area Index
20
LAI
Radiation
0
1
2
3
Cumulative Leaf Area Index
CO2 fertilization and stomatal conductance
Leaf photosynthesis and conductance response to
atmospheric CO2 concentration, light-saturated
(a)
(b)
(c)
Dependence of leaf-scale photosynthesis for C3
and C4 vegetation on external CO2
concentration
The C3 photosynthesis curves for unadjusted (C
and P) and down-regulated (PV) physiology
Dependence of stomatal conductance on CO2
concentration for the unadjusted and downregulated cases.
Photosynthesis increases and stomatal
conductance decreases with higher
atmospheric CO2
Bounoua et al. (1999) J Climate 12:309-324
CO2 fertilization and stomatal conductance
CO2 fertilization (RP, RPV) reduces canopy conductance and increases temperature
compared with radiative CO2 (R)
Amazonian evergreen forest,
diurnal cycle January
Bounoua et al. (1999) J Climate 12:309-324
Canadian evergreen forest,
diurnal cycle July
CO2 fertilization and stomatal conductance
Global climate:
Reduced conductance
Reduced evaporation
Reduced precipitation
Warmer temperature
Bounoua et al. (1999) J Climate 12:309-324
Fourth-generation of models
Dynamic vegetation
0 15003000
g CO2g-1s-1
g CO2g-1s-1
0
-10 25 60
Temperature (C)
0 15 30
Autotrophic
Respiration
Temperature
(C)
Litterfall
0 500 1000
Heterotrophic
Respiration
Ambient
CO2 (ppm)
0
1 2
Vapor Pressure
Foliage
Deficit (Pa)
Nitrogen (%)
Nutrient
Uptake
8
1
0 15 30
Temperature
(C)
1
5
4
3
2
1
0
Nov
Dec
g CO2g-1s-1
6
4
2
0
0
-10 25 60
Temperature (C)
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
0 -1 -2
Foliage Water
Potential (MPa)
0
-10 25 60
Temperature (C)
6
0.3
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
0 500 1000
PPFD
(molm-2s-1)
0.01
Root
Leaf Area Index
6
4
2
0
Growth
Respiration
0.5
Leaf phenology
Sapwood
Relative Rate
6
4
2
0
Foliage
Relative Rate
g CO2g-1s-1
g CO2g-1s-1
Photosynthesis
g CO2g-1s-1
Ecosystem carbon balance
0
0
100
Soil Water
(% saturation)
Needleleaf evergreen tree
Broadleaf deciduous tree
Vegetation
dynamics
Foley et al. (1996) GBC 10:603-628
Levis et al. (1999) JGR 104D:31191-31198
Levis et al. (2000) J Climate 13:1313-1325
Cox et al. (2000) Nature 408:184-187
ATMOSPHERE
E, H, x,y,
S, L, (CO2)
T, u,v, q, P
S, L, (CO2)
BIOGEOPHYSICS
canopy physics
water
radiative energy balance aerotransfer temperature dynamics balance
Greening of a land surface model
VEGETATION DYNAMICS
plant functional type (presence, extent)
height
plant carbon
litter and soil carbon
canopy physiology
photosynthesis stomatal
conductance
(GPP)
litter
GPP
soil water
leaf temperature
soil temperature
daily
leaf
area
index
litter carbon
soil carbon
rain green
maximum
leaf area
index
DAILY STATISTICS
phenology
•10-day mean temperature
•10-day mean photosynthesis
•growing degree-day accumulation
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
heterotrophic respiration (RH)
summer
green
fire probability
net primary
production
•growth efficiency
bioclimatology
•frost tolerance
•heat stress
soil organic
matter
fire
occurrence
•moisture
•fuel load
mortality
fire resistance
combustion
plant, litter
competition
aboveground space
establishment
•potential rate
•canopy gap
bioclimatology
•frost tolerance
•heat stress
•winter chilling
•growing season warmth
•low precipitation
ANNUAL STATISTICS
bioclimatology
•minimum monthly temperature (20-year mean)
•growing degree-days above 5C (20-year mean)
•precipitation
•growing degree-days above heat stress
Net CO2
GPP-RA-RH
Bonan et al. (2003) Global Change Biology 9:1543-1566
•leaf litter
•sapwood to
heartwood
•root litter
•fire season length
•net primary production
•GPP and potential GPP
GPP-RA
20-minutes
ecophysiology
turnover
mortality
soil
PHENOLOGY
soil/snow/ice physics
energy temperature water
balance
balance
autotrophic respiration (RA)
maintenance
growth
•foliage,stem,root
allocation
•leaves
•stems
•roots
•seeds
Daily
Yearly
Model validation – tower fluxes
Boreal Ecosystem Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)
Model
Tower
Observations
Bonan et al. (1997) J Geophys Res 102D:29065-29075
Simulated Leaf Area Index
Three types of phenology
• Evergreen
• Raingreen
• Summergreen
Bonan et al. (2003) Global Change Biology 9:1543-1566
Model validation – global net primary production
Annual net primary production (g C m-2 yr-1)
Vegetation Type
Simulated
Observed
Tropical broadleaf evergreen forest
1278
1250900
Tropical broadleaf deciduous forest
886
825475
Temperate broadleaf deciduous forest
579
600325
Boreal deciduous forest
346
425200
Boreal needleleaf evergreen forest
385
325200
Temperate/boreal mixed forest
576
525275
Grassland
175
575475
Tundra
159
150200
Bonan et al. (2003) Global Change Biology 9:1543-1566
Vegetation dynamics
Boreal forest succession
Bonan et al. (2003) Global Change Biology 9:1543-1566
Global biogeography
Greening of North Africa
Climate 6000 years BP
Increased Northern Hemisphere summer solar radiation
Strengthened African monsoon
Wetter North African climate allowed vegetation to
expand
Two climate model experiments
Desert North Africa
Green North Africa
Kutzbach et al. (1996) Nature 384:623-626
Climate model experiments show:
• Strengthened monsoon due to radiative forcing
• Vegetation forcing similar in magnitude to
radiative forcing
Greening of North Africa
Present Day Biogeography
(percent of grid cell)
6kaBP DynVeg Soil Texture – 0 kaBP
Precipitation Change From Present Day
Dominant forcing
Increase in evaporation
Decrease in soil albedo
Albedo
Vegetation and soil
Orbital geometry
Levis et al. (2004) Climate Dynamics 23:791-802
Effect of boreal forests on climate
Vegetation masking of snow albedo
Maximum satellite-derived surface albedo during winter
Robinson & Kukla (1985) J Climate Appl Meteor 24:402-411
Tree-covered land has a lower albedo
during winter than snow-covered land
Colorado Rocky Mountains
Effect of boreal forests on climate
Climate model simulations show boreal forest warms climate
Climate Model Simulations: Forested - Deforested
Temperature Difference (°C)
14
January
12
April
July
10
October
8
6
4
2
0
-2
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Latitude (degrees N)
Forest warms climate by decreasing surface albedo
Warming is greatest in spring but is year-round
Warming extends south of boreal forest (about 45°N)
Bonan et al. (1992) Nature 359:716-718
Effect of boreal forests on climate
Boreal forest expansion with
2CO2 warms climate
Mean annual temperature (2CO2)
Dominant forcing
Decrease in albedo
[Carbon storage could mitigate warming]
Additional temperature change with vegetation
Bonan & Levis, unpublished
Land cover change as a climate forcing
Land cover change as a climate forcing
Future IPCC SRES Land Cover Scenarios for NCAR LSM/PCM
Forcing arises from
changes in
Community composition
Leaf area
Height [surface roughness]

Surface albedo
Turbulent fluxes
Hydrologic cycle
Also alters carbon pools
and fluxes, but most
studies of land cover
change have considered
only biogeophysical
processes
Feddema et al. (2005) Science 310:1674-1678
Land use climate forcing
SRES B1
SRES A2
2050
Dominant forcing
Brazil – albedo, ET
U.S. – albedo
Asia - albedo
2100
PCM/NCAR LSM transient climate simulations with changing land cover. Figures show the
effect of land cover on temperature
(SRES land cover + SRES atmospheric forcing) - SRES atmospheric forcing
Feddema et al. (2005) Science 310:1674-1678
Carbon cycle feedback
Three climate model simulations to isolate the climate/carbon-cycle feedbacks
• Prescribed CO2 and fixed vegetation (a 'standard' GCM climate change simulation)
• Interactive CO2 and dynamic vegetation but no effect of CO2 on climate (no climate/carbon cycle feedback)
• Fully coupled climate/carbon-cycle simulation (climate/carbon cycle feedback)
Effect of climate/carbon-cycle feedbacks
on CO2 increase and global warming
Prescribed CO2 and fixed vegetation
Interactive CO2 and vegetation, no climate change
Fully coupled
Carbon budgets for the fully coupled simulation
Cox et al. (2000) Nature 408:184-187