IGN 3

Ecology in Earth System Models: What’s Missing and Why Is It Important?

Earth System Models are sophisticated simulation tools that capture our understanding of ecology and its role in determining critical ecosystem feedbacks to climate. This understanding is, unfortunately, often incomplete. Uncertainties can arise from insufficient knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological mechanisms involved in the climate system and from poor or inadequate representation of ecosystem structure and function. If our predictive capabilities are to improve, we must ask what ecology is missing from Earth System Models and, more importantly, we must be prepared to evaluate the benefits that might be derived through the inclusion of new processes into future models. We propose to host a dynamic and engaging exchange of ideas among members of the ecological and modeling communities to share ideas for improved integration of empirical data and knowledge into models. The session will be aimed at flora and fauna with the goal of advancing a systems understanding of terrestrial ecosystems and their role in global environmental change.