ecosystem Modelling And Scaling InfrasTructurePresentation by

Colin Prentice (Macquarie University)

Organizations and Chief Investigators

• Macquarie University (Colin Prentice)• The Australian National University (Brendan Mackey)• National Computational Infrastructure (Lindsay Botten)• CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (Helen Cleugh)• University of Queensland (Damian Barrett)

Purpose of Facility

• integrating multiple data streams (TERN plus)• testing and optimizing process-based ecosystem models• using data at one scale to answer questions at another• incorporation of topographic effects on climate• capability to assess land-use trade-offs and climate impacts• continent-wide re-analysis products for key properties• improved basis for land-surface modelling in climate models

Key Questions being Addressed

• How far can model skill be improved? • How can observations help with strategic questions?• What land-use conflicts and trade-offs can we expect?• How can land-use planning address these?• How will global change affect ecosystems and their function?• How will ecosystem changes influence regional climates?

Infrastructure to be Delivered in Phase 1

• TERN plus model-data interface• Ecophysiology, experiments, fire, hydrograph, [CO2] data

• Topoclimate, river routing, climate-change downscaling• 3D-var data assimilation system for CABLE• Re-analyses: production, C storage, water use, runoff

Ecophysiological data: respiration predicted by N concentration

Ecophysiological data: embolism risk predicted by vessel size

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High [CO2] increases water use efficiencyWarming and drying now tested also

The Hawkesbury Forest Experiment (UWS)

Our (evolving) plan for community engagement

Downscaling of observations using models

Our (evolving) plan for community engagement

• Open-access portal for data streams and modelling tools• Annual presentations at ESA• Model mapping workshop at ACEAS• Data assimilation training workshop at UQ• Collaboration in ACCESS development (with BoM)• Contribution to AWAP (with CSIRO Land and Water)• Phase 2 partners: CSIRO-CES, JCU, U Adelaide, U Melb.• Extension to community composition and biodiversity

Perspective

• A unique opportunity to demolish a very tall barrier!• Real-world applications of models• Models adding value to observations• Integration across scales: hillslope to continent• Demonstrating the value of long-term observations

Facility Contact Details

• colin.prentice@mq.edu.au (Director)• samantha.newton@mq.edu.au (Co-ordinator)• ben.evans@anu.edu.au (IIDG)