Virtual laboratory for understanding impact of heterogeneity on ecohydrologic processes across scales

Hyper-resolution land surface models can explicitly represent landscape scale heterogeneity, but the complexity of representing finer scale processes and meeting computational needs makes them inaccessible to the general scientific community and limits their adoption. In this work, we present the Multi-layer Canopy and 3D Soil (MLCan3D) model, which is a high resolution, high fidelity, physical ecohydrologic model that aims to maintain accessibility. MLCan3D implements detailed physical process representations, is accessible through graphical user interface, and is tested using comparisons with other models and field data. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using MLCan3D to produce simulations close to real systems and the potential of the model to perform virtual experiments to explore model results. Our goal is for MLCan3D to serve as a virtual laboratory that enables virtual experiments from the broader scientific community and contribute to our understanding of ecohydrologic process heterogeneity, dynamics, and interactions across scales.

Automated summary

This work presents the MLCan3D model, a high-resolution and high-fidelity physical ecohydrologic model. MLCan3D implements detailed physical process representations and is accessible through a graphical user interface. The model has been tested and shown potential in producing simulations close to real systems and performing virtual experiments. The goal is for MLCan3D to serve as a virtual laboratory for the scientific community to explore ecohydrologic processes.