Articles | Volume 9, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-4405-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-4405-2016
Model description paper
 | 
07 Dec 2016
Model description paper |  | 07 Dec 2016

Terrestrial ecosystem process model Biome-BGCMuSo v4.0: summary of improvements and new modeling possibilities

Dóra Hidy, Zoltán Barcza, Hrvoje Marjanović, Maša Zorana Ostrogović Sever, Laura Dobor, Györgyi Gelybó, Nándor Fodor, Krisztina Pintér, Galina Churkina, Steven Running, Peter Thornton, Gianni Bellocchi, László Haszpra, Ferenc Horváth, Andrew Suyker, and Zoltán Nagy

Abstract. The process-based biogeochemical model Biome-BGC was enhanced to improve its ability to simulate carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles of various terrestrial ecosystems under contrasting management activities. Biome-BGC version 4.1.1 was used as a base model. Improvements included addition of new modules such as the multilayer soil module, implementation of processes related to soil moisture and nitrogen balance, soil-moisture-related plant senescence, and phenological development. Vegetation management modules with annually varying options were also implemented to simulate management practices of grasslands (mowing, grazing), croplands (ploughing, fertilizer application, planting, harvesting), and forests (thinning). New carbon and nitrogen pools have been defined to simulate yield and soft stem development of herbaceous ecosystems. The model version containing all developments is referred to as Biome-BGCMuSo (Biome-BGC with multilayer soil module; in this paper, Biome-BGCMuSo v4.0 is documented). Case studies on a managed forest, cropland, and grassland are presented to demonstrate the effect of model developments on the simulation of plant growth as well as on carbon and water balance.

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Short summary
This paper provides detailed documentation on the changes implemented in the widely used biogeochemical model Biome-BGC. The version containing all improvements is referred to as Biome-BGCMuSo (Biome-BGC with multilayer soil module). Case studies on forest, cropland, and grassland are presented to demonstrate the effect of developments on the simulation. By using Biome-BGCMuSo, it became possible to analyze the effects of different environmental conditions and human activities on the ecosystems.