From sustag@BETA.TRICITY.WSU.EDUFri Nov 25 00:27:52 1994 Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 14:24:44 -0800 From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" To: Multiple recipients of list SUSTAG-L Subject: SOMNET - A Global network of soil organic matter models and long term experiments (fwd) [I have invited SOMNET, centered at Rothamsted Experiment Station to use sustag-l, at least to get started. Soil organic matter is a basic component of sustainable agriculture. Anyway we will see how things go. Let me know if this seems appropriate or not. TH, moderator] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 11:19:05 +0000 From: JOSMITH To: Non Receipt Notification Requested Subject: SOMNET - A Global network of soil organic matter models and long term experiments SOMNET: A GLOBAL NETWORK OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER MODELS AND LONG-TERM EXPERIMENT DATASETS SOMNET is a global network of soil organic matter models and long-term experiments and will be established during 1995. Soil organic matter (SOM) represents a major pool of carbon within the biosphere, acting as both a source and sink. When organic material decomposes, CO2 is released, but a fraction may become stable, withdrawing it from the active carbon cycle. Changes in climate are likely to influence the rates of accumulation and decomposition of SOM through changes in temperature, moisture and the rate of return of plant residues to the soil. Other changes, especially in land use and management, may have even greater effects. The ability to predict the effects of climate, atmospheric composition and land use change on SOM dynamics is essential in formulating environmental, agricultural and social/economic policies. Mathematical models of SOM dynamics are needed to predict the effects of environmental change, to test specific scenarios and to develop strategies to manage the effects of environmental change. Most models have been developed using data from a single land use type. The ability of models developed for use in one system (e.g. arable agriculture) to simulate SOM changes in another (e.g. grassland) is a major limitation when simulating the impact of land use change. There is a pressing need to systematically evaluate the suitability of SOM models in predicting the effects of environmental change. SOMNET will establish a network of researchers investigating the impacts of environmental change on SOM with particular relevance to the validation of mathematical models that can be used to evaluate management and policy options. Questionnaires will be sent to holders of datasets to establish nature of sites, type of measurements, quality control measures and the availability of data. Similarly, questionnaires will be sent to developers of models to establish type of models, nature of model inputs and outputs, quality control measures and the availability of the model. The collated information will be published as a directory and electronic database to provide information about the source and nature of experimental datasets and SOM models. A NATO Advanced Research Workshop will initate a comparison of model performance to evaluate representative SOM models using representative long-term experimental data sets. Holders of representative experimental datasets and developers of representative models will be invited to participate in the workshop to be held May 22-26, 1995, at Rothamsted, UK. This will establish robustness of simulations over a wide range of environments and expose deficiencies in understanding and/or available experimental data. Questionnaires will be sent out before the end of 1994. If you would like to participate in SOMNET, please contact... Pete Smith, Soil Science Department, IACR Rothamsted, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ UK. Telephone: (+44) 582 763133 Fax: (+44) 582 760981 Email: PESMITH@BBSRC.AC.UK To be considered for invitation to the NATO Workshop to be held May 22-26, 1995 on "Evaluation of Soil Organic Matter Models using Long Term Experimental Datasets", questionnaires must be returned by 1 February, 1995. For information about experimental datasets or models to be included in a directory to be compiled at the end of 1995, questionnaires must be returned by 1 September 1995. For information about experimental datasets or models to be included in SOMNET, questionnaires can be returned at any time.