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

拟议的项目将研究使用最优性原则，以更好地描述和预测结构性土壤和植被特性的空间模式和时间动态的影响，这些特性调节土壤-植被-大气传输（SVAT）。特别是，它将比较生物动机的原则（如最大净碳利润假说）与热力学原则（如最大熵产生（MEP）假说）。该项目还将分析在热、水和碳交换的背景下，自由能耗散、功和熵产生之间的关系，以将MEP原则的适用性与使用自由能进行生命系统的自我维护相结合。作为实现这些目标的手段的一部分，将开发一个土壤-植被-大气传输（SVAT）模型，该模型（a）模拟一系列可观测的和水文相关的植被特性，（B）与CAOS研究单元的总体模型相结合，（c）允许计算系统的所有相关热力学性质，以及（d）优化不同的生物学和生物学动机的目标函数。在模型中有效地实施优化和热力学诊断将是模型和方法开发的主要部分。最后，模型结果将与一系列可用的观测结果进行比较，以测试不同的水文预测组织原则的实用性。

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.