A comparison of the spatial heterogeneities of surface fluxes simulated by INLAND model with observations at a valley and a nearby plateau stations in Central Amazon Forest

Abstract

An improved version of the Integrated Land Surface Model (INLAND), incorporating the physical, ecological and hydrological parameters and processes pertaining to two subclasses of tropical forest in the central Amazon basin, a poorly drained flat plateau and a well-drained adjacent broad valley, is used to simulate the hydrological, energy and CO2 fluxes. The model is forced with observed meteorological data. The experimental output data from the model runs are compared with observational data at the two locations. The seasonal variabilities of water table depth at the valley site and the soil moisture at the plateau site are satisfactorily simulated. The two locations exhibit large differences in energy, carbon and water fluxes, both in the simulations and in the observations. Results validate the INLAND model and indicate the need for incorporating sub-grid scale variability in the relief, soil type and vegetation type attributes to improve the representation of the Amazonian ecosystems in land-surface models.