1. General Model Information

Name: grassland and agroecosystem dynamics model

Acronym: CENTURY

Contact:

Author(s):

Abstract:

Century is a simulation and process model used to understand grassland and agroecosystem dynamics. Other versions exist for savannas and forests. The purpose of the model is to analyze soil organic matter dynamics in response to changes in management and climate. The model uses monthly time steps for simulations of up to several thousand years to examine the flows of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Data required for input are:

• monthly mean maximum and minimum temperatures;
• mean precipitation;
• soil texture and soils depth;
• vegetation types and CO2 levels.

The output contains information on carbon and nitrogen fluxes, net primary production and soil organic matter. The spatial extent of the model is regional with most executions at the 1m2 resolution.

Global change implications: The model has been used extensively for global change research. The model has been executed in over 22 different areas in the world (Bill Parton, personal communication). It can be used to assess the impacts of regional climate change on a variety of important grassland ecosystems. It has also been coupled to vegetation growth models (Laurenroth et al., 1993) such as STEPPE.

II. Technical Information

II.1 Executables:

II.2 Source-code:

II.3 Manuals:

II.4 Data:

III. Mathematical Information

III.1 Mathematics

III.2 Quantities

III.2.1 Input

• weather data input requirements in comparison to other SOM models
• soil data input requirements in comparison to other SOM models:
• animal and plant data input requirements in comparison to other SOM models:
• landuse and management data input requirements in comparison to other SOM models:

III.2.2 Output

• soil output data in comparison to other SOM models
• plant output data in comparison to other SOM models
• animal and other output data in comparison to other SOM models

IV. References