GREENCYCLESII

Work Package 1

Data and Benchmarking

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Leader : Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (Dr Soenke Zaehle)

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The overall objecting of WP1 is to develop novel datasets and methodologies for the rigorous evaluation of Earth system models (ESMs) with respect to their projections of future states. Specific methodological objectives include:

• Compilation and harmonisation of existing in situ measurements, atmospheric observations , and remote sensing data.
• Development of novel techniques to combine knowledge from models and data to improve understanding and prediction of Earth system processes.

Specific activities will focus on filling critical data gaps concerning:

• Fire dynamics during the recent past (1981-2008) and on centennial timescales
• Net sea-air carbon fluxes in the Atlantic Ocean
• Rapid shifts in the carbon-climate system during glacial-interglacial cycles
• Contemporary global surface temperature and hydrology

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Science Projects:

1.1 - Benchmarking of Global Biosphere Models

1.2 - A long-term burned area map database

1.3 - Evaluation of vegetation and fire simulations using paleodata

1.4 - The changing uptake and transport of carbon in the Atlantic Ocean

1.5 - Constraints using carbon isotopes in ice cores

1.6 - Constraints on surface temperature and terrestrial hydrology using remote sensing