RD2 holds a unique position in the international climate impact modelling community, as it employs a range of biophysical and socio-economic models from global to local scales. Its researchers co-lead model inter-comparison projects such as ISIMIP and AgMIP.
On the global scale, the open-source land biosphere model LPJmL and land-use model MAgPIE, developed in close cooperation with RD1 and RD3, are core components of the Potsdam Integrated Assessment Modelling Framework (PIAM), and LPJmL also contributes to the Potsdam Earth Model (POEM).
On the regional scale, researcher apply process-based regional models to translate global climate change into regional impacts on land, water and vegetation and to explore adaptation strategies. Econometric and epidemiological methods are also used at the regional to local scale to analyze data from household panel surveys, field experiments, and randomized controlled trials. Simulation modelers directly interact with empirical researchers for conducting comprehensive climate impact assessments.
GLOBAL MODELS in RD2
- LPJmL - Lund-Potsdam-Jena managed Land Dynamic Global Vegetation, Agriculture and Water Balance Model is a dynamic global simulation model of vegetation biogeography, vegetation/soil biogeochemistry and agricultural production systems. Taking climate, soil and atmospheric information as input, it dynamically computes spatially explicit transient vegetation composition in terms of plant functional groups, and their associated carbon and water budgets.
- MAgPIE - Model of Agricultural Production and its Impact on the Environment is a global land and water use model. It provides, in connection with the dynamic global vegetation and hydrology model LPJmL, a consistent link between economic development, food and energy demand in different world regions with spatially explicit patterns of production, land use change and water constraints. As an economic optimisation model, MAgPIE is applied to derive economic values (rents) of land and water resources used in agricultural production.
REGIONAL MODELS in RD2
- SWIM - Soil and Water Integrated Model investigates climate and land use change impacts at the regional scale, where the impacts are manifested and adaptation measures take place. The model simulates interlinked processes at the mesoscale such as runoff generation, plant and crop growth, nutrient and carbon cycling, and erosion. It provides numerous model outputs such as river discharge, crop yield, and nutrient concentrations and loads.
- 4C - FORESEE - FORESt Ecosystems in a Changing Environment is a forest dynamics model which allows to analyse forest behaviour under climate change. It describes carbon and water balance of forest stands and includes management and submodels for wood product (WPM) and socio-economic analyses (SEA).
- Statistical crop yield models are used to simulate and predict yields at the regional to continental scale. A distinction can be made between weather effects and agricultural management as well as other socioeconomic influences.
