From April 14th to 16th, nestled in the historic grounds of the medieval Dartington Hall just outside Dartmoor National Park, 18 leading scientists gathered to take on one of the most complex and pressing challenges in Earth system science: how to make Land Surface Models (LSMs) more accurate, simpler and more robust. The unifying thread? Eco-Evolutionary Optimality (EEO) theory. This three-day workshop, hosted by the LEMONTREE project, was an opportunity to share ideas, experiences, and visions for the future of modelling Earth’s land systems.
Just a week earlier, the UK had basked in unseasonably warm weather and endless blue skies—but true to form, the famously fickle British spring brought a swift return of rain. Still, the group managed to capture a sunny team photo and enjoy the beautiful Dartington grounds during breaks.
Back row: Peter Cox (University of Exeter and Schmidt Sciences), Stefano Manzoni (Stockholm University), Marc Peaucelle (INRAE), Simon Jones (University of Exeter), Elsa Abs (LSCE). Second row: Ensheng Weng (Columbia University), Andrea Alessandri (CNR ISAC), Colin Prentice (Imperial College London), Wenjia (Shirley) Cai (Imperial College London), Martin Best (MET Office). Front row: Yingping Wang (CSIRO), Emilie Joetzjer (INRAE), Sandy Harrison (University of Reading), Jaideep Joshi (Indian Institute of Technology Bombay), Giulia Mengoli (CMCC), Philippe Ciais (LSCE), Sophia Cain (University of Reading). We were also joined by Elena Shevliakova online.
What is EEO and Why Does it Matter?
EEO theory provides a framework for understanding how vegetation and soil processes are shaped by evolutionary and ecological constraints. By incorporating these principles into LSMs—critical components of climate models—we hope to reduce empirical tuning and create models that are more predictive, not just descriptive.
The workshop brought together researchers from institutions including Imperial College London, Reading University, CSIRO, NOAA, INRAE, Stockholm University, and more, each bringing their unique insight into modelling plant and ecosystem function, climate feedbacks, and biogeochemical cycles. Here’s a quick recap of what was covered.
Day One: Setting a Common Ground
The workshop opened with a series of presentations by members of the LEMONTREE and CALIPSO teams, highlighting the progress and potential of integrating EEO into modelling frameworks.
Colin Prentice began by highlighting the successes of EEO applications in LEMONTREE. Cai Wenjia delved into recent work on aboveground phenology modelling, a testament to EEO’s power in capturing plant dynamics. Stefano Manzoni and Elsa Abs (CALIPSO) expanded the conversation below ground, presenting compelling insights into soil microbial activity and carbon cycling. Jaideep Joshi’s presentation on P-Hydro and PlantFATE added a dynamic dimension, showcasing how EEO can model competition and ecosystem structure. Finally, Giulia Mengoli presented exciting developments implementing the P model into major LSMs like NOAH-MP and JULES.
The afternoon session shifted to perspectives from key land surface modelling groups. Peter Cox, in his dual role as VESRI liaison and long-time modelling expert, offered a candid look at the challenges facing LSMs today. We then heard from Elena Shevliakova on GFDL, Ensheng Weng on GISS, and Andrea Alessandri on EC-Land—all underscoring the complexity and diversity of current modelling approaches.
Day Two: Tackling the Challenges Head-On
Day two began by completing the inventory of challenges. Yingping Wang outlined issues in CABLE, Australia’s flagship LSM, and Philippe Ciais brought an observational lens, discussing carbon sink discrepancies and the performance of ORCHIDEE, JULES, and LPG-GUESS. Martin Best then provided a deep dive into JULES’ development hurdles. Emilie Joetzjer wrapped up this segment by discussing ISBA, the land component of France’s SURFEX system.
The afternoon saw a shift from challenges to solutions through 2 breakout sessions.
- Identifying priority areas and technical fixes for LSMs, led by Yingping and Martin
- Exploring the theoretical underpinnings still needed for EEO integration, and how to reconcile EEO’s functional approaches with traditional physics-based modelling, led by Stefano and Elsa.
By the end of day 2, the group had clarified key challenges and opportunities, and agreed to co-author a perspectives paper to guide future work.
Day Three: Perspective Paper in Progress
On day three, the group focused in on the themes of the perspectives paper. We hope that we will now be able to cover exciting topics such as above- and below-ground linkages, and how to incorporate process that function over multiple timescales. The challenge now lies in how best to articulate the value of EEO while addressing the realities of LSM development. Further, how to make the case that simplifying models through theory doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing realism but enhancing it.
There is still much work to be done, but we are so grateful to the researchers who took time out of their busy schedule to attend and contribute to this workshop. We can’t wait to share the perspective paper soon!
