Estimation of potential natural vegetation distribution in Japan using a process model

"In this paper, potential distribution of natural vegetation in Japan is estimated using a modified model of BIOME3, which is a process-based biogeographical model. The estimation was performed using 1*1 square km mesh data of monthly climate (temperature, precipitation, solar radiation), soil class (modified from the data attached in BIOME3) and minimum temperature for the year, calculated from the AMeDAS data. The type of plant vegetation distribution in the model was modified to that of ordinary classification in Japan. In this model, NPP contributes to determine the vegetation type. Comparison with NPP calculated by the Chikugo model showed that this model could simulated NPP distribution in Japan successfully. The hitting ratio for estimated the vegetation type was similar to that estimated by other statistical models (Tsunekawa et al, 1996; Nogami, 1994) in comparison with vegetation survey data (Ministry of the Environment) and potential natural vegetation map data (Miyawaki et al., 1994)."