United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Research and Development
Atmospheric Research and
Exposure Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
EPA/600/S3-90/089 Feb. 1991
EPA Project Summary
An Overview of Climate
Information Needs for Ecological
Effects Models
Rebecca L. Peer
Atmospheric scientists engaged in
climate change research require a basic
understanding of how ecological effects
models incorporate climate. This report
provides an overview of existing eco-
logical models that might be used to
model climate change effects on vegeta-
tion. Some agricultural models and sta-
tistical methods are also discussed. The
weather inputdata requirements, weather
simulation methods, and other model
characteristics relevant to climate
change research are described for a se-
lected number of models. The ecological
models are classified as biome, eco-
system, or tree models; the ecosystem
models are further subdivided into spe-
cies dynamics or process models. In
general, ecological modelers have had
to rely on readily available meteorologi-
cal data such as temperature and rainfall.
Although models are becoming more
sophisticated in their treatment of
weather and require more kinds of data
(such as wind, solar radiation, or poten-
tial evapotranspiration), modelers are
still hampered by a lack of data for many
applications. Future directions of eco-
logical effects models and the climate
variables that will be required by the
models are discussed.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Atmospheric Research and
Exposure Assessment Laboratory, Re-
search Triangle Park, NC, to announce
key findings of the research project that
is fully documented in a separate report
of the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Introduction
Atmospheric chemistry and climate are
intermediate links between the emissions of
trace gases and ecosystem impacts. Atmo-
spheric researchers must have a basic un-
derstanding of the climate information re-
quired by ecological models. The report
includes ecological models which are cur-
rently being used in research on effects as
well as ecological models which could be
adapted.
Methods
The information was obtained by a lit-
erature review and personal contact with
many of the modelers. The report defines
and summarizes climate needs for biome
models, ecosystem (process) models, tree
models, and agricultural models. Omitted
from the report are aquatic ecosystems,
animal models, and insect population mod-
els. Climate classification of ecosystems is
addressed. Most attention is given to the
process models.
Results
The report provides specific information
regarding many ecological models and their
requirements for climate information. It is
not an exhaustive review but covers a wide
variety of models and methods available.
The report discusses why the present cli-
mate requirements exist, as well as future
direction for climate information. Climate
inputs for the various models are presented
in tables.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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Rebecca Peer Is whh Radian Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Sharon LeDuc is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Overview of Climate Information Needs for Ecological
Effects Models," (Order No. PB91-125898/AS; Cost: $17.00, (subject to change) will
be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield,VA22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
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EPA/600/S3-90/089
•fcU. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1991/548-028/20160
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