S. Augustin et al., MODELING ASPECTS OF FOREST DECLINE IN GERMANY - I - THEORETICAL ASPECTS AND CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS, Chemosphere, 36(4-5), 1998, pp. 965-970
In 1993 the German Federal Environmental Agency initiated a project to
evaluate the forest decline research of the period 1982-1992 in Germa
ny. The development of the symptoms of the 'new type of forest decline
' is the effect of direct and indirect impacts on trees and ecosystems
. The cause-effect relationships concerning the soil/plant interface a
re discussed shortly. One aim of the project was the integration of qu
antitative and qualitative research results in a simulation model. Acc
ording to the manifold site conditions in Germany and possible combina
tions of direct and indirect stress factors a flexible model structure
with a modular construction was chosen. The modules can operate indiv
idually or together. This enables the user to test hypotheses, or calc
ulate scenarios. Thus, the model acts as a link between empiricism and
theory. The practical and theoretical constraints and problem solutio
ns are discussed. In a second paper the model performance and its appl
icability range are shown [1, this volume]. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science
Ltd.