API reference for abiotic modules

The abiotic module is one of the component models of the Virtual Ecosystem. It is comprised of several submodules that calculate the microclimate for the Virtual Ecosystem.

Each of the abiotic sub-modules has its own API reference page:

• The abiotic_model submodule instantiates the AbioticModel class which consolidates the functionality of the abiotic model into a single class, which the high level functions of the Virtual Ecosystem can then use.

• The constants submodule provides a set of dataclasses containing the constants required by the broader abiotic model.

• The abiotic_tools submodule contains a set of general functions that are shared across submodules in the abiotic model.

• The wind submodule calculates the above- and within-canopy wind profiles for the Virtual Ecosystem. These profiles will determine the exchange of heat, water, and \(\ce{CO_{2}}\) between soil and atmosphere below the canopy as well as the exchange with the atmsophere above the canopy.

• The energy_balance submodule calculates the energy balance of the Virtual Ecosystem. The module returns vertical profiles of air temperature, relative humidity, and vapour pressure deficit as well as the partitioned energy and radiation fluxes at the leaf surface.

• The soil_energy_balance submodule calculates the soil energy balance of the Virtual Ecosystem. The module returns vertical profiles of soil temperature and the partitioned energy and radiation fluxes at the surface.

• The conductivities submodule calculates the conductivities for the energy balance of the Virtual Ecosystem. Conductivities describe how well heat or vapour are transferred by a medium such as air, water, or leaves in mol m-2 s-1. We consider heat conductivity by turbulent convection in air, leaf-air heat conductivity, and leaf-air vapour conductivity.