A New Project -- An Earth Systems Modeling Framework for Understanding Biogeochemical Cycling in the Context of Climate Variability Joseph K. Vaughan, Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Washington State University Our Motivation: The 21st Century’s Grand Challenges include understanding how changes in the balance of nutrients -- carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus -- in soil, water, and air affect the functioning of ecosystems, atmospheric chemistry, and human health. [ from a report by the National Research Council to the National Science Foundation (2000)] Our Project Goal: to improve understanding of the interactions among carbon, nitrogen and water at the regional scale, in the context of global change, to inform decision makers’ strategies regarding natural and agricultural resource management. Our Approach: to create a regional modeling framework by integrating a suite of state- of-the-art process-based models that are currently in existence and that are undergoing continuous development. Our Rationale: by choosing among the most sophisticated models for each earth system component, and linking these models into a biosphere relevant earth system model (Bio-EaSM), the resulting integrated modeling framework can be continually improved as each contributory component develops. This 5-year, 18-investigator, six-institution project’s mission is: to integrate selected, existing earth system models, to demonstrate skill in modeling biogeochemical cycles, to explicate potentially important responses to climate variability, to understand the information needs of both resource managers and stakeholders, and to forge among them a partnership founded on a common understanding of our region’s dependence on regional biospheric health. Investigators: J. Adam, S. Chung, B. Lamb, F. Leung and J. Vaughan, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University; M. Brady and J. Yoder, School of Economic Sciences, WSU; Y. Chen, Dept. of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Oregon State University; R. D. Evans, School of Biological Sciences, WSU; J. Harrison, School of Earth and Environ. Sciences, WSU; A. Kalyanaraman, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, WSU; C. Kruger, Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Nat. Res., WSU; A. A.Perleberg, Dept. of Nat. Res. Science & Extension, WSU; C. Stöckle, Dept. of Biological Systems Engineering, WSU; C. Tague, Bren School, University of California, Santa Barbara; A. A.Guenther, Nat’l Center for Atmospheric Research; J. Stephens, Environ. Sci. & Policy Program, Clark University; L. R. Leung, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory 333 VIC : Hydrology CropSyst/RHESSys : Terrestrial Nutrient Dynamics Stream-flow Routing ColSim : Reservoir Operations & Withdrawals Unaltered Stream-flow Global NEWS : Nutrient Transport in Channels Nutrients, Sediment: Transport & Retention Altered Stream-flow, Reservoir Storage Regional Economics: Agricultural Nutrient and Water Use CCSM4: Global Climate Large-scale T, P, U, V, W, Q, R WRF : Meteorology CMAQ : Atmospheric Chemistry MEGAN : Biogenic Emissions Coupled Land-Atmosphere Meteorology (T, P, U, V, W, Q, R) Soil moisture, LAI, canopy T & R Regional-scale T, P, R, & O 3, and deposition of NO 3, NH 4 +, Hg, and S Energy fluxes, soil moisture, surface albedo, and emissions of VOC, NO X, NH 3, N 2 O, & CO 2 Runoff & Baseflow; Irrigation Withdrawals Nutrients & Sediments Terrestrial Aquatic Atmospheric Aerosol optical properties & CCN Pacific NW Domain