IMOGEN: An intermediate complexity model to evaluate terrestrial impacts of a changing climate

Abstract

We present a computationally efficient modelling system, IMOGEN, designed toundertake global and regional assessment of climate change impacts on thephysical and biogeochemical behaviour of the land surface. A pattern-scalingapproach to climate change drives a gridded land surface and vegetationmodel MOSES/TRIFFID. The structure allows extrapolation of GeneralCirculation Model (GCM) simulations to different future pathways ofgreenhouse gases, including rapid first-order assessments of how the landsurface and associated biogeochemical cycles might change. Evaluation of hownew terrestrial process understanding influences such predictions can alsobe made with relative ease. © 2010 Author(s).