A roadmap for improving the representation of photosynthesis in Earth system models

Alistair Rogers; Belinda E. Medlyn; Jeffrey S. Dukes; Gordon Bonan; Susanne von Caemmerer; Michael C. Dietze; Jens Kattge; Andrew D.B. Leakey; Lina M. Mercado; Ülo Niinemets; I. Colin Prentice; Shawn P. Serbin; Stephen Sitch; Danielle A. Way; Sönke Zaehle

doi:10.1111/nph.14283

A roadmap for improving the representation of photosynthesis in Earth system models

Alistair Rogers^*, Belinda E. Medlyn, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Gordon Bonan, Susanne von Caemmerer, Michael C. Dietze, Jens Kattge, Andrew D.B. Leakey, Lina M. Mercado, Ülo Niinemets, I. Colin Prentice, Shawn P. Serbin, Stephen Sitch, Danielle A. Way, Sönke Zaehle

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

338 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Accurate representation of photosynthesis in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) is essential for robust projections of global change. However, current representations vary markedly between TBMs, contributing uncertainty to projections of global carbon fluxes. Here we compared the representation of photosynthesis in seven TBMs by examining leaf and canopy level responses of photosynthetic CO₂ assimilation (A) to key environmental variables: light, temperature, CO₂ concentration, vapor pressure deficit and soil water content. We identified research areas where limited process knowledge prevents inclusion of physiological phenomena in current TBMs and research areas where data are urgently needed for model parameterization or evaluation. We provide a roadmap for new science needed to improve the representation of photosynthesis in the next generation of terrestrial biosphere and Earth system models.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	22-42
Number of pages	21
Journal	New Phytologist
Volume	213
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14283
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2017

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Rogers, A., Medlyn, B. E., Dukes, J. S., Bonan, G., von Caemmerer, S., Dietze, M. C., Kattge, J., Leakey, A. D. B., Mercado, L. M., Niinemets, Ü., Prentice, I. C., Serbin, S. P., Sitch, S., Way, D. A., & Zaehle, S. (2017). A roadmap for improving the representation of photosynthesis in Earth system models. New Phytologist, 213(1), 22-42. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14283

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abstract = "Accurate representation of photosynthesis in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) is essential for robust projections of global change. However, current representations vary markedly between TBMs, contributing uncertainty to projections of global carbon fluxes. Here we compared the representation of photosynthesis in seven TBMs by examining leaf and canopy level responses of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation (A) to key environmental variables: light, temperature, CO2 concentration, vapor pressure deficit and soil water content. We identified research areas where limited process knowledge prevents inclusion of physiological phenomena in current TBMs and research areas where data are urgently needed for model parameterization or evaluation. We provide a roadmap for new science needed to improve the representation of photosynthesis in the next generation of terrestrial biosphere and Earth system models.",

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note = "Publisher Copyright: No claim to original US Government works New Phytologist {\textcopyright} 2016 New Phytologist Trust",

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AU - Dietze, Michael C.

AU - Kattge, Jens

AU - Leakey, Andrew D.B.

AU - Mercado, Lina M.

AU - Niinemets, Ülo

AU - Prentice, I. Colin

AU - Serbin, Shawn P.

AU - Sitch, Stephen

AU - Way, Danielle A.

AU - Zaehle, Sönke

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AB - Accurate representation of photosynthesis in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) is essential for robust projections of global change. However, current representations vary markedly between TBMs, contributing uncertainty to projections of global carbon fluxes. Here we compared the representation of photosynthesis in seven TBMs by examining leaf and canopy level responses of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation (A) to key environmental variables: light, temperature, CO2 concentration, vapor pressure deficit and soil water content. We identified research areas where limited process knowledge prevents inclusion of physiological phenomena in current TBMs and research areas where data are urgently needed for model parameterization or evaluation. We provide a roadmap for new science needed to improve the representation of photosynthesis in the next generation of terrestrial biosphere and Earth system models.

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KW - soil water content

KW - stomatal conductance

KW - temperature

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JO - New Phytologist

JF - New Phytologist

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A roadmap for improving the representation of photosynthesis in Earth system models

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