Process-based modelling of GHG fluxes

EYE-CLIMA will employ three state-of-the-art process-based ecosystem models to further the understanding of the impacts of specific land management practices (e.g. fertilizer application, fallow periods between crop rotations, grazing intensity, forest age structure and thinning intensity) on GHG fluxes from agro-systems.

Factorial experiments will be used to assess the contribution of different management practices on fluxes across Europe. In addition, in-situ flux and satellite land biosphere observations will be used to calibrate key model parameters related to the transfers of carbon and nitrogen in the different soil-plant-atmosphere reservoirs, following a Bayesian multi-data assimilation procedure.

Data assimilation is a promising approach to combine ecosystem observations with mechanistic models to improve knowledge of ecosystem interactions and GHG fluxes.