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Work Package 6

Work package 6: Improved representation of permafrost-related processes in global land-surface models



Building on data and expertise delivered by WPs 2-5 and collected by WP8, this Work Package will focus on improving permafrost-related processes in global land-surface models (e.g. peatland formation,   thermokarst formation, cryoturbation, more detailed description of tundra vegetation types, snow-vegetation interactions, etc,).

The land -surface models used in this project are the land-surface modules of three major European global coupled climate models used in the CMIP5 intercomparison project designed to inform the IPCC 5th Assessment Report, these being JULES (included in the HadGEM coupled climate model), JSBach (part of ECHAM6), and ORCHIDEE (coupled to IPSL-CM5).

These three land-surface models are, at present, the most advanced models of their kind in Europe in terms of their representation of the continental carbon cycle, which is a necessary condition for their usefulness for this project. The developments will be carried out in a modular manner such that they can ultimately be implemented in each of the models. The initial and improved models will be evaluated against standard site and pan-Arctic validation data, using standard meteorological forcing data and model setups. As far as possible, use will be made of new forcing and validation data obtained during the course of this project.

The main task of this WP will be to deliver the improved land surface models to WP7. In addition, this WP will deliver an  assessment of uncertainties in present arctic carbon stocks and fluxes, based on the intercomparison of the improved landsurface models.

WP Coordinator:

Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble

Principal Investigator:

Gerhard Krinner

Collaborators:

  • University of Exeter
  • Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
  • Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies alternatives
  • Met Office, UK

This Work Package will include three sub-work packages.



WP6.1 Preparation of climate forcing and validation data

coordinator:

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.

Principal Investigator:

Stefan Hagemann

WP6.2 Model development

coordinator:

Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble

WP6.3 Pan-Arctic model intercomparison, assessment of uncertainty on present-day arctic stocks and fluxes

coordinator:

Met Office, UK

Principal Investigator:

Eleanor Burke

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