Preparing for a Century Simulation

Preparing a Century simulation requires you to select or edit these sets of simulation parameters and data files:

Site Parameters. These can be read from either Century5 NetCDF files, or Century4 site.100 files.
Management of the Site. Site management, or land-use, can be read from either a Century5 NetCDF management file, or a Century4 schedule file (.sch file).
Site Weather. This is specified when the management blocks are used ("block instances").
Model Parameters (optional). Model parameters are collections of values for various types of plants, land-use management, and internal equation parameters.
¹⁴C Data File. This is specified in the management simulation information.

You may be able to use the predefined site, management, and model parameters that are provided with CMI, with only mimimal modifications to the site characteristics and management necessary. Optionally, a fourth set of parameters describing the site’s weather may be needed. If you are working with ¹⁴C isotope labeling, then a ¹⁴C data file will be required.

The current version of CMI provides editors for the site characteristics and for site management. These editors are available under the menu bar item “Simulation”. The model parameters , the weather data file, and the ¹⁴C data file currently need to be edited in a text editor of your choice.

You should store all the files for a simulation in their own folder (or directory), along with the results of the simulation. Hence, for each simulation you should create a new folder. The location of these folders can be stored in your user preferences available under the menu bar item “Tools”.

Preparing for a Century Simulation

See Also