A New Project -- An Earth Systems Modeling Framework for A New Project -- An Earth Systems Modeling Framework for

Understanding Biogeochemical Cycling in the Context of Climate VariabilityUnderstanding Biogeochemical Cycling in the Context of Climate Variability Joseph K. Vaughan, Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Washington State University

Our Motivation:

The 21st Century’s Grand Challenges include understanding how changes in the balance of nutrients -- carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus -- in soil, water, and air affect the functioning of ecosystems, atmospheric chemistry, and human health. [ from a report by the National Research Council to the National Science Foundation (2000)]

Our Project Goal:

to improve understanding of the interactions among carbon, nitrogen and water at the regional scale, in the context of global change, to inform decision makers’ strategies regarding natural and agricultural resource management.

Our Approach:

to create a regional modeling framework by integrating a suite of state-of-the-art process-based models that are currently in existence and that are undergoing continuous development.

Our Rationale:

by choosing among the most sophisticated models for each earth system component, and linking these models into a biosphere relevant earth system model (Bio-EaSM), the resulting integrated modeling framework can be continually improved as each contributory component develops.

This 5-year, 18-investigator, six-institution project’s mission is:

• to integrate selected, existing earth system models,

• to demonstrate skill in modeling biogeochemical cycles,

• to explicate potentially important responses to climate variability,

• to understand the information needs of both resource managers and stakeholders, and

• to forge among them a partnership founded on a common understanding of our region’s dependence on regional biospheric health.

Investigators: J. Adam, S. Chung, B. Lamb, F. Leung and J. Vaughan,

Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University;

M. Brady and J. Yoder, School of Economic Sciences, WSU;

Y. Chen, Dept. of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Oregon State University;

R. D. Evans, School of Biological Sciences, WSU; J. Harrison, School of Earth and Environ. Sciences, WSU; A. Kalyanaraman, School of Electrical Engineering and

Computer Science, WSU; C. Kruger, Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Nat. Res.,

WSU; A.Perleberg, Dept. of Nat. Res. Science & Extension, WSU;

C. Stöckle, Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering, WSU;

C. Tague, Bren School, University of California , Santa

Barbara; A.Guenther, Nat’l Center for Atmospheric Research; J. Stephens, Environ. Sci. & Policy Program, Clark

University; L. R. Leung, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory

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VIC: HydrologyCropSyst/RHESSys: Terrestrial Nutrient

Dynamics

Stream-flowRouting

ColSim: Reservoir Operations & Withdrawals

Unaltered Stream-flow

Global NEWS: Nutrient Transport

in Channels

Nutrients, Sediment:Transport & RetentionAltered

Stream-flow, Reservoir Storage

Regional Economics: Agricultural Nutrient and Water Use

CCSM4: Global Climate

Large-scale T, P, U, V, W, Q, R

WRF: Meteorology

CMAQ: Atmospheric Chemistry

MEGAN: Biogenic Emissions

Coupled Land-Atmosphere

Meteorology (T, P, U, V, W, Q, R)

Soil moisture, LAI, canopy T & R

Regional-scale T, P, R, & O3,

and deposition of NO3, NH4

+, Hg, and S

Energy fluxes, soil moisture, surface

albedo, and emissions of VOC, NOX, NH3,

N2O, & CO2

Runoff & Baseflow; Irrigation Withdrawals Nutrients & Sediments

Terr

est

rial

Aq

uati

cA

tmosp

heri

c

Aerosol optical properties & CCN

Paci

fic

NW

Dom

ain

Paci

fic

NW

Dom

ain