The land surface parameterization scheme SWAP: description and partial validation

A full description of the latest version of the land surface parameterization scheme SWAP (Soil Water-Atmosphere-Plants) describing the interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere and being oriented on the coupling with atmospheric models is presented. The results of scheme validation on the long term at the local scale for the two sites (Cabauw, the Netherlands, and Petrinka, Russia) with different climatic and land-surface conditions are given. Analysis of the results shows that SWAP functions well under non-water-stress conditions, but less well during water stress. The possible reasons for discrepancies between the calculated and observed values are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.