Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system

Data assimilation methods provide a rigorous statistical framework for constraining parametric uncertainty in land surface models (LSMs), which in turn helps to improve their predictive capability and to identify areas in which the representation of physical processes is inadequate. The increase in...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: N. MacBean, P. Peylin, F. Chevallier, M. Scholze, G. Schürmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2016-10-01
Series:Geoscientific Model Development
Online Access:http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/9/3569/2016/gmd-9-3569-2016.pdf
_version_ 1818989277277585408
author N. MacBean
P. Peylin
F. Chevallier
M. Scholze
G. Schürmann
author_facet N. MacBean
P. Peylin
F. Chevallier
M. Scholze
G. Schürmann
author_sort N. MacBean
collection DOAJ
description Data assimilation methods provide a rigorous statistical framework for constraining parametric uncertainty in land surface models (LSMs), which in turn helps to improve their predictive capability and to identify areas in which the representation of physical processes is inadequate. The increase in the number of available datasets in recent years allows us to address different aspects of the model at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. However, combining data streams in a DA system is not a trivial task. In this study we highlight some of the challenges surrounding multiple data stream assimilation for the carbon cycle component of LSMs. We give particular consideration to the assumptions associated with the type of inversion algorithm that are typically used when optimising global LSMs – namely, Gaussian error distributions and linearity in the model dynamics. We explore the effect of biases and inconsistencies between the observations and the model (resulting in non-Gaussian error distributions), and we examine the difference between a simultaneous assimilation (in which all data streams are included in one optimisation) and a step-wise approach (in which each data stream is assimilated sequentially) in the presence of non-linear model dynamics. In addition, we perform a preliminary investigation into the impact of correlated errors between two data streams for two cases, both when the correlated observation errors are included in the prior observation error covariance matrix, and when the correlated errors are ignored. We demonstrate these challenges by assimilating synthetic observations into two simple models: the first a simplified version of the carbon cycle processes represented in many LSMs and the second a non-linear toy model. Finally, we provide some perspectives and advice to other land surface modellers wishing to use multiple data streams to constrain their model parameters.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T19:35:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1705cc018c6841b79536056395626fd7
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1991-959X
1991-9603
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T19:35:55Z
publishDate 2016-10-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Geoscientific Model Development
spelling doaj.art-1705cc018c6841b79536056395626fd72022-12-21T19:28:38ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeoscientific Model Development1991-959X1991-96032016-10-019103569358810.5194/gmd-9-3569-2016Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation systemN. MacBean0P. Peylin1F. Chevallier2M. Scholze3G. Schürmann4Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceLaboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, FranceDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, SwedenMax Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, GermanyData assimilation methods provide a rigorous statistical framework for constraining parametric uncertainty in land surface models (LSMs), which in turn helps to improve their predictive capability and to identify areas in which the representation of physical processes is inadequate. The increase in the number of available datasets in recent years allows us to address different aspects of the model at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. However, combining data streams in a DA system is not a trivial task. In this study we highlight some of the challenges surrounding multiple data stream assimilation for the carbon cycle component of LSMs. We give particular consideration to the assumptions associated with the type of inversion algorithm that are typically used when optimising global LSMs – namely, Gaussian error distributions and linearity in the model dynamics. We explore the effect of biases and inconsistencies between the observations and the model (resulting in non-Gaussian error distributions), and we examine the difference between a simultaneous assimilation (in which all data streams are included in one optimisation) and a step-wise approach (in which each data stream is assimilated sequentially) in the presence of non-linear model dynamics. In addition, we perform a preliminary investigation into the impact of correlated errors between two data streams for two cases, both when the correlated observation errors are included in the prior observation error covariance matrix, and when the correlated errors are ignored. We demonstrate these challenges by assimilating synthetic observations into two simple models: the first a simplified version of the carbon cycle processes represented in many LSMs and the second a non-linear toy model. Finally, we provide some perspectives and advice to other land surface modellers wishing to use multiple data streams to constrain their model parameters.http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/9/3569/2016/gmd-9-3569-2016.pdf
spellingShingle N. MacBean
P. Peylin
F. Chevallier
M. Scholze
G. Schürmann
Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system
Geoscientific Model Development
title Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system
title_full Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system
title_fullStr Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system
title_full_unstemmed Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system
title_short Consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system
title_sort consistent assimilation of multiple data streams in a carbon cycle data assimilation system
url http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/9/3569/2016/gmd-9-3569-2016.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT nmacbean consistentassimilationofmultipledatastreamsinacarboncycledataassimilationsystem
AT ppeylin consistentassimilationofmultipledatastreamsinacarboncycledataassimilationsystem
AT fchevallier consistentassimilationofmultipledatastreamsinacarboncycledataassimilationsystem
AT mscholze consistentassimilationofmultipledatastreamsinacarboncycledataassimilationsystem
AT gschurmann consistentassimilationofmultipledatastreamsinacarboncycledataassimilationsystem