Initializing a model stand for process-based projection

Abstract

A stand generation (or initialization) procedure is designed to furnish morphologically plausible model trees for process-based projection. The steps of the initialization are: (i) the generation of the locations of model trees and the tessellation of tree areas; (ii) the sampling of diameters from a target distribution and assignments of those diameters to model-tree locations; (iii) the calculation of the height of each model tree from its assigned diameter and the distances to its neighbors; (iv) the calculation of the crown length of each model tree from its height and distances to its neighbors; and (v) the recalculation of diameter from height and crown length. Components of dry matter are calculated from the model-tree dimensions and pipe-model theory. Process-based projection with the AMORPHYS model is discussed.