A model for predicting continental-scale vegetation distribution and water balance

A Mapped Atmosphere-Plant-Soil System (MAPSS) has been constructed for simulating the potential biosphere impacts and biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks from climatic change. The system calculates the potential vegetation type and leaf area that could be supported at a site, within the constraints of th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecological applications 1995-05, Vol.5 (2), p.362-385
Main Author: Neilson, Ronald P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BALANCE HIDRICO
BILAN HYDRIQUE
BIOGEOGRAFIA
BIOGEOGRAPHIE
BIOGEOGRAPHY
BOSQUES
CAMBIO CLIMATICO
CLIMA
CLIMAT
CLIMATE
Climate change
Climate models
CLIMATIC CHANGE
Deciduous forests
EAU DE RUISSELLEMENT
ESCORRENTIA
FORECASTING
Forest fires
FORESTS
FORET
Grasses
GRASSLANDS
HERBAGE
LEAF AREA
LEAF AREA INDEX
LEAF CONDUCTANCE
LLUVIA
mapped atmosphere plant soil system
MATORRAL
MODELE DE SIMULATION
MODELOS DE SIMULACION
PLUIE
POTENCIAL HIDRICO DEL SUELO
POTENTIEL HYDRIQUE DU SOL
PRADERAS
RAIN
RUNOFF
SCRUB
Shrubs
SIMULATION MODELS
Soil infiltration
Soil water
SOIL WATER POTENTIAL
SUPERFICIE FOLIAR
SURFACE FOLIAIRE
TECHNIQUE DE PREVISION
TECNICAS DE PREDICCION
TRANSPIRACION
TRANSPIRATION
VARIATION DU CLIMAT
VEGETACION
VEGETATION
WATER BALANCE
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A Mapped Atmosphere-Plant-Soil System (MAPSS) has been constructed for simulating the potential biosphere impacts and biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks from climatic change. The system calculates the potential vegetation type and leaf area that could be supported at a site, within the constraints of the abiotic climate. Both woody vegetation and grass are supported and compete for light and water. The woody vegetation can be either trees or shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, and needleleaved or broadleaved. A complete site water balance is calculated and integrates the vegetation leaf area and stomatal conductance in canopy transpiration and soil hydrology. The MAPSS model accurately simulates the distributions of forests, grasslands, and deserts and reproduces observed monthly runoff. The model can be used for predictions of new vegetation distribution patterns, soil moisture, and runoff patterns in alternative climates.
ISSN:1051-0761
1939-5582
DOI:10.2307/1942028