The use of thermodynamics and optimality theory for modelling soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer (SVAT) processes at different scales

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The proposed project will investigate the use of optimality principles to better describe and predict the effects of spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of the structural soil and vegetation properties that modulate soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer (SVAT). In particular, it will compare biologically motivated principles (e.g. the maximum net carbon profit hypothesis) with thermodynamic principles (e.g. the maximum entropy production (MEP) hypothesis). The project will also analyse the relationship between free energy dissipation, work and entropy production in the context of heat, water and carbon exchange to put the applicability of the MEP principle into perspective with the use of free energy for self-maintenance of living systems.As part of the means to achieve these aims, a soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer (SVAT) model will be developed that (a) simulates a range of observable and hydrologically relevant vegetation properties, (b) integrates with the overall model of the CAOS research unit, (c) allows the calculation of all the relevant thermodynamic properties of the system and (d) optimises different thermodynamically and biologically motivated goal functions. An efficient implementation of optimisation and thermodynamic diagnosis in the model will be a major part of the model and methodology development.Finally, the model results will be compared with a range of available observations to test the utility of the different proposed organising principles for hydrological prediction.