Perspectives on the Future of Land Surface Models and the Challenges of Representing Complex Terrestrial Systems

Abstract Land surface models (LSMs) are a vital tool for understanding, projecting, and predicting the dynamics of the land surface and its role within the Earth system, under global change. Driven by the need to address a set of key questions, LSMs have grown in complexity from simplified representations of land surface biophysics to encompass a broad set of interrelated processes spanning the disciplines of biophysics, biogeochemistry, hydrology, ecosystem ecology, community ecology, human management, and societal impacts. This vast scope and complexity, while warranted by the problems LSMs are designed to solve, has led to enormous challenges in understanding and attributing differences between LSM…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1852977, DE-AC02-05CH11231, Agreement 1852977
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: -AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, 1852977, Contract DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02-
• NC
  National Center for Atmospheric Research

  Award: 1852977
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: Contract DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, -AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02
• BA
  Biological and Environmental Research

  Awards: 05CH11231, 1852977, DE-AC02-05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231
• LB
  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, 05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231