Overview of the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazônia Data Model Intercomparison Project (LBA-DMIP)

The sensitivity of key terrestrial biomes to climatic variability and change is a fundamental question connecting terrestrial ecology and global climate change. The Amazon region is such a key biome: it contains unparalleled biological diversity, a globally significant store of organic carbon, and it is a potent engine driving global cycles of water and energy. The importance of understanding the response of land surface dynamics of Amazonia to climatic variability and change is widely appreciated, but despite significant recent advances, large gaps in our understanding remain. Understanding of energy and carbon exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere can be improved through direct observations and experiments, as well as through modeling activities. Land surface/ecosystem models have become important tools for extrapolating local observations and understanding to much larger terrestrial regions. They are also valuable tools to test hypotheses on ecosystem functioning. Funded by NASA under the auspices of the LBA (the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia), the LBA Data Model Intercomparison Project (LBA-DMIP) aims to understand Amazon forest function by employing a comprehensive dataset from an observational network of flux towers across the Amazon, and an ecosystem modeling community engaged in ongoing studies using a suite of different land surface and terrestrial ecosystem models. Here, an overview of this project is presented accompanied by a description of the measurement sites, data, models and protocol.