Ecosystem and Earth-system modelling

The ecosystem modelling group encompasses about 35 scientists investigating questions around the interactions between the terrestrial biosphere, climate and society. Our work addresses processes and outcomes on scales from tens of meters to the globe and from the pre-industrial period going into the far future.

Our work utilises three main tools:

• Dynamic global vegetation modelling using LPJ-GUESS. LPJ-GUESS was originally developed in our group and we continue to play a leading role in the development and application of the model as part of a large global community.
• Earth system modelling using EC-Earth. We lead the coupling of LPJ-GUESS into EC-Earth, providing one of the few ESMs with both dynamic vegetation and forest demography.
• Regional Earth system modelling using RCA-GUESS. Together with SMHI, we developed and operate this regional Earth system model allowing to investigate vegetation-climate interactions at relatively high resolution.
  
  Some examples of the range of topics covered:
• Ecological questions on plant competition and coexistence
• Regional and global terrestrial carbon cycle assessments
• The impact of land surface processes within the climate system
• Permafrost carbon-climate feedbacks (including methane)
• Assessments of forest dynamics and the impact of management on forest ecosystem services.
• Impact of climate and management on forest disturbances

More information and a fuller range of activities can be found on our projects page.