Identification of Key Physical Processes and Improvements for Simulating and Predicting Net Primary Production Over the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

AbstractThere are still considerable uncertainties related to the numerical simulation and prediction of net primary production (NPP) as an important part of terrestrial carbon sources and sinks over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). To reduce the uncertainty of numerical simulations and improve the ability of predictions, the key physical processes related to the uncertainty of simulated NPP are identified at nine observational stations over the TP. A sensitivity analysis of parameter combinations based on the Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbation related to Parameters (CNOP‐P) approach, which can be used to assess the sensitivity of a parameter subset, is conducted for 28 target physical parameters in the Lund‐Potsdam‐Jena (LPJ) Wetland Hydrology and Methane Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (LPJ‐WHyMe v1.3.1). Firstly, the numerical results show that the uncertainties of physical parameters do lead to a large error in the simulated NPP over the TP, and the range of error varies from 72.4 (MS 3478) to 150.5 g C m−2 year−1 (Ngari station). Secondly, in areas of moderate precipitation over the TP, the photosynthesis is the main factor leading to high uncertainty in NPP modeling. In areas of low and high precipitation over the TP, the combined influences of hydrological processes and photosynthesis play a key role. Finally, eliminating the errors associated with the most sensitive and important parameter combinations led to the maximum benefit in terms of reducing the uncertainty of simulated NPP, when compared to that obtained with the traditional method. This study suggests that we should prioritize reducing the uncertainty of relatively sensitive parameter combinations among all physical parameters to improve the prediction or simulation ability of NPP over the TP.