As part of the project, an advanced modelling framework has been developed. This framework combines two established scientific models, providing a more comprehensive representation of agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystems under changing environmental conditions. By linking these models, it becomes possible to better predict ecosystem responses to extreme climate events and support more informed, region-specific decision-making.
The framework builds on:
- STEMMUS‑SCOPE: a soil plant atmosphere continuum (SPAC) model which integrates soil heat and water dynamics in the unsaturated zone with canopy radiative transfer and photosynthesis.
- MODFLOW 6: an integrated hydrological model, widely used for understanding groundwater flow and its interactions with surface water systems.
Their integration is enabled through a flexible interface, which allows the two models to exchange information at each simulation step without altering their original structure. This combined approach enables the simulation of the full water pathway, both below and above the ground surface, and makes it possible to capture how groundwater dynamics influence soil conditions and plant behaviour—an interaction often overlooked when models are applied separately.
As a result, water, energy, and carbon processes can be analysed in a more consistent and interconnected way. This provides a stronger scientific basis for understanding ecosystem responses to climate variability, including drought and extreme weather conditions.
Overall, this modelling framework addresses the need for integrated tools capable of capturing complex environmental processes. It supports more accurate predictions of landscape responses to drought, irrigation, and climate variability.
Click on the figures below and take a look at the references!
