TDE Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project Data Archive

This web site provides and documents data from a project whose purpose is to compare the output of various ecosystem models when they are run with the data from the Throughfall Displacement Experiment (TDE) at Walker Branch Watershed, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The project is not designed to determine which models are "best" for diagnosis (i.e., explaining the current functioning of the system) or prognosis (i.e., predicting the response of the system to future conditions), but, rather, to clarify similarities and differences among the models and their components, so that all models can be improved. The intercomparison is described in Hanson, P.J., et al., 2004. Carbon and water cycle simulations for an upland oak forest using 13 stand-level models: Intermodel comparisons and evaluations against independent measurements. Ecological Monographs (4[3]:443-489, 2004).

Project Coordinator:

Participating Models:

• BGC++ (contact: E. Raymond Hunt Jr., Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
  
  
• BIOME BGC (contact: John S. Kimball, Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, School of Forestry, University of Montana; and Peter E. Thornton, Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research)
  
  
• CANOAK (contact: Kell B. Wilson, Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce; and Dennis D. Baldocchi, Division of Ecosystem Sciences, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley)
  
  
• EALCO (contact: Shusen Wang, Geomatics Canada - Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada)
  
  
• ecosys (contact: Robert F. Grant, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Canada)
  
  
• INTRASTAND (contact: Paul J. Hanson, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
  
  
• LaRS (contact: Jeffrey S. Amthor, Climate Change Research Division, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy)
  
  
• LINKAGES V2.1(contact: Stanley D. Wullschleger, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
  
  
• LoTEC (contact: Anthony W. King, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
  
  
• MAESTRA (contact: Yiqi Luo and Dafeng Hui, Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma)
  
  
• NuCM (contact: Dale W. Johnson, Department of Environmental and Resource Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno)
  
  
• PnET II (contact: Ge Sun, Department of Forestry, North Carolina State University; and Steven G. McNulty, Southern Global Change Program, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
  
  
• SPA (contact: Anne E. Hartley, Department of Environmental Studies, Florida International University; and Mathew Williams, Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
  

Model descriptions

Model intercomparisons:

• data documentation file
• annual model predictions
• daily evapotranspiration (ET) model predictions
• daily net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) model predictions
• daily soil respiration (SResp) model predictions
• hourly net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) model predictions
• hourly transpiration (T) model predictions

Relevant publications