Project ANR ALAMOD

The increase or decrease of carbon stocks in terrestrial ecosystems (soil and biomass) will significantly impact atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and, consequently, the climate. Therefore, it is crucial to develop predictive models that can accurately simulate changes in carbon stocks. Testing and validating these models require access to long-term carbon stock measurements. Such datasets are highly valuable but difficult to produce because soil carbon stocks change slowly. Therefore sites and networks should be monitored at least ten years. The French research community maintains several networks/sites with measurements of carbon stock changes. However, these datasets are often scattered, incomplete, or difficult to access.

ALAMOD is a targeted project within the exploratory research program FairCarboN. The project aims to:

• inventory and complete datasets from French sites/networks tracking changes in carbon stocks (soil and biomass);
• develop innovative methods using infra-red spectroscopy and satellite imaging to enhance these datasets;
• create a data repository and portal to provide access to these interoperable datasets;
• compare carbon dynamics models developed by the French community based on these datasets;
• improve or develop new models to accurately simulate carbon stock changes at various spatial scales and for different vegetation covers.

ALAMOD will capitalize on the data and expertise of several research infrastructures (AnaEE-France, IN-SYLVA, ICOS, etc.), which will be involved in the project. It will also comprehensively engage the French community working on carbon dynamic models in terrestrial ecosystems. This collaborative project will provide an unprecedented model evaluation tool and high-performance models, ensuring ALAMOD has a significant impact both academically and beyond.

Coordinators:

• Bertrand Guenet (CNRS, LG-ENS),
• Pierre Barré (CNRS, LG-ENS),
• Antonio Bispo (INRAE, Info&Sols),
• Christian Pichot (INRAE, URFM),
• Tiphaine Chevallier (IRD, Eco&Sols),
• Philippe Peylin (CNRS, LSCE) et
• Antoine Versini (CIRAD, Recyclage et Risque)

Partner Institutions:

• Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS),
• Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE),
• Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA),
• Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD),
• Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD),
• Institut national des sciences et industries du vivant et de l'environnement (AgroParisTech),
• Sorbonne Université (SU),
• Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines (UVSQ),
• Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3 (UPS),
• Institut National de l'Information Géographique et Forestière (IGN),
• IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN),
• Office National des Forêts (ONF)

Beginning year: 2023

Duration: 72 months

Funding: Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR), programme France 2030, PEPR