Abstract The multicriteria methodology, which provides a means to estimate optimal ranges for land surface model parameter values via calibration, is evaluated. Following calibration, differences between schemes resulting from effective parameter values can be isolated from differences resulting from scheme structure or scheme parameterizations. The method is applied to the Project for the Intercomparison of Land Surface Parameterization Schemes (PILPS) phase-2a data from the Cabauw site in the Netherlands using the Chameleon Surface Model (CHASM) as the surrogate for a range of land surface schemes. Simulations are performed calibrating six modes of CHASM, representing a range of land surface complexity, against observed net radiation and latent and sensible heat fluxes. The six modes range from a simple bucket model to a complex mosaic-type structure with separate energy balances for each mosaic tile and explicit treatment of transpiration, canopy interception, and bare-ground evaporation. Results demon...