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Improved simulation of fire-vegetation interactions in the Land surface Processes and eXchanges dynamic global vegetation model (LPX-Mv1)

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Title: Improved simulation of fire-vegetation interactions in the Land surface Processes and eXchanges dynamic global vegetation model (LPX-Mv1)
Authors: Kelley, DI
Harrison, SP
Prentice, IC
Item Type: Journal Article
Abstract: The Land surface Processes and eXchanges (LPX) model is a fire-enabled dynamic global vegetation model that performs well globally but has problems representing fire regimes and vegetative mix in savannas. Here we focus on improving the fire module. To improve the representation of ignitions, we introduced a reatment of lightning that allows the fraction of ground strikes to vary spatially and seasonally, realistically partitions strike distribution between wet and dry days, and varies the number of dry days with strikes. Fuel availability and moisture content were improved by implementing decomposition rates specific to individual plant functional types and litter classes, and litter drying rates driven by atmospheric water content. To improve water extraction by grasses, we use realistic plant-specific treatments of deep roots. To improve fire responses, we introduced adaptive bark thickness and post-fire resprouting for tropical and temperate broadleaf trees. All improvements are based on extensive analyses of relevant observational data sets. We test model performance for Australia, first evaluating parameterisations separately and then measuring overall behaviour against standard benchmarks. Changes to the lightning parameterisation produce a more realistic simulation of fires in southeastern and central Australia. Implementation of PFT-specific decomposition rates enhances performance in central Australia. Changes in fuel drying improve fire in northern Australia, while changes in rooting depth produce a more realistic simulation of fuel availability and structure in central and northern Australia. The introduction of adaptive bark thickness and resprouting produces more realistic fire regimes in Australian savannas. We also show that the model simulates biomass recovery rates consistent with observations from several different regions of the world characterised by resprouting vegetation. The new model (LPX-Mv1) produces an improved simulation of observed vegetation composition and mean annual burnt area, by 33 and 18% respectively compared to LPX.
Issue Date: 16-Oct-2014
Date of Acceptance: 25-Jul-2014
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/69641
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-2411-2014
ISSN: 1991-959X
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
Start Page: 2411
End Page: 2433
Journal / Book Title: Geoscientific Model Development
Volume: 7
Issue: 5
Copyright Statement: © 2014 Author(s). This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Keywords: Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
DECOMPOSITION RATES
SEEDLING RECRUITMENT
EASTERN AUSTRALIA
BARK THICKNESS
PLANT TRAITS
WOODY-PLANTS
BURNED AREA
SAGE SCRUB
FOREST
CLIMATE
04 Earth Sciences
Publication Status: Published
Open Access location: https://www.geosci-model-dev.net/7/2411/2014/gmd-7-2411-2014.pdf
Online Publication Date: 2014-10-16
Appears in Collections:Department of Life Sciences
Grantham Institute for Climate Change