The accurate representation of subgrid scale effects in climate models has been an issue of great controversy. In attempt to resolve this controversy, a model-independent technique was developed in this study to upscale land surface parameters through inverse-SVAT modeling. Upscaling laws are derived, that map the distributed land surface parameters of a heterogeneous land surface to their corresponding effective parameter. Simpler averaging methods of comparable performance are derived from the inverse modeling results, which drastically reduce the computational effort. The proposed method shows better performance than most well known methods. More importantly, the method is applicable in many fields.

An integrated textbook on the atmosphere-vegetation-soil continuum for students, researchers and professionals in meteorology, hydrology, soil science and environmental science.

Solanum quitoense (Lulo) from the northern Andes is a fruit with an attractive taste. It has a high export potential but its production is hampered by insufficient pollination. Studies on the reproductive system of Lulo revealed that, due to their poricidal anthers, the flowers need pollinators for self- and cross-pollination. Pollination by native bumblebees significantly increases fruit set and quality. Experiments show that colonies of Bombus atratus can be reared in captivity and used in Lulo fields for providing increased pollination services. Modeling based on data on colony development reveal larva/workers ratio and the supply of pollen as main parameters for improving the rearing method.