Testing the Sensitivity of the Noah-MP Parameters

Project Objectives

•How does perturbing the Noah-MP parameters change the surface energy and hydrologic fluxes?

•Better understanding the parameters lead to better understanding of model and model improvement

Data and Results

• Using Noah-MP model (land surface model)

• Ran 148 “one at a time” experiments for 123 AmeriFlux sites

• Graphs show the top 5 most sensitive parameters for a given site

• The circles on the graphs help give an idea of the relationship between the parameter and the output

Significance

• Sensitivity tests are the first step in model calibration

• Will help lead to the model more accurately representing real world processes 

Publication or Conference

106th Annual AMS Meeting in Houston, January 2026

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Center for Geological and Climate Hazards

Interdisciplinary Research Experience for Undergraduates in Atmospheric and Geological Hazards