Scheme options

Tip

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Warning

DEPRECATED: This table-based input format is deprecated as of 2025. Please use the modern YAML format instead. See our transition guide for migration help.

4.7.3.2.1. Scheme options#

CBLUse#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines whether a CBL slab model is used to calculate temperature and humidity.

Configuration:

SnowUse#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines whether the snow part of the model runs.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

Snow calculations are not performed.

1

Snow calculations are performed.

NetRadiationMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines method for calculation of radiation fluxes.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

Uses observed values of Q* supplied in meteorological forcing file.

1

Q* modelled with L↓ observations supplied in meteorological forcing file. Zenith angle not accounted for in albedo calculation.

2

Q* modelled with L↓ modelled using cloud cover fraction supplied in meteorological forcing file [Loridan et al., 2011]. Zenith angle not accounted for in albedo calculation.

3

Q* modelled with L↓ modelled using air temperature and relative humidity supplied in meteorological forcing file [Loridan et al., 2011]. Zenith angle not accounted for in albedo calculation.

11

Same as 1 but with L↑ modelled using surface temperature Not recommended in this version.

12

Same as 2 but with L↑ modelled using surface temperature Not recommended in this version.

13

Same as 3 but with L↑ modelled using surface temperature Not recommended in this version.

100

Q* modelled with L↓ observations supplied in meteorological forcing file. Zenith angle accounted for in albedo calculation. SSss_YYYY_NARPOut.txt file produced. Not recommended in this version.

200

Q* modelled with L↓ modelled using cloud cover fraction supplied in meteorological forcing file [Loridan et al., 2011]. Zenith angle accounted for in albedo calculation. SSss_YYYY_NARPOut.txt file produced. Not recommended in this version.

300

Q* modelled with L↓ modelled using air temperature and relative humidity supplied in meteorological forcing file [Loridan et al., 2011]. Zenith angle accounted for in albedo calculation. SSss_YYYY_NARPOut.txt file produced. Not recommended in this version.

1001

Q* modelled with SPARTACUS-Surface (SS) but with L↓ modelled as in 1. Experimental in this version.

1002

Q* modelled with SPARTACUS-Surface (SS) but with L↓ modelled as in 2. Experimental in this version.

1003

Q* modelled with SPARTACUS-Surface (SS) but with L↓ modelled as in 3. Experimental in this version.

BaseTMethod#

Deprecated since version v2025a: This option has been removed. The model now always uses weekday/weekend-specific base temperatures (BaseT_Heating and BaseT_Cooling) for HDD/CDD calculations. If present in legacy input files, this parameter is ignored.

Requirement:

Optional (ignored)

Description:

Previously determined method for base temperature used in HDD/CDD calculations. Now deprecated in favour of always using weekday/weekend-specific base temperatures.

EmissionsMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines method for QF calculation.

Note

Methods 11-45 include biogenic CO2 calculations and are experimental. While scientifically validated against established photosynthesis models, users should verify results for their specific applications. See SUEWS_BiogenCO2.txt for required parameters.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

Uses values provided in the meteorological forcing file (SSss_YYYY_data_tt.txt) to calculate QF. If you do not want to include QF to the calculation of surface energy balance, you should set values in the meteorological forcing file to zero to prevent calculation of QF. UMEP provides two methods to calculate QF LQF which is simpler GQF which is more complete but requires more data inputs

1

Not recommended in this version. QF calculated according to Loridan et al. [2011] using coefficients specified in SUEWS_AnthropogenicEmission.txt. Modelled values will be used even if QF is provided in the meteorological forcing file. CO2 emission is not calculated.

2

Recommended in this version. QF calculated according to Järvi et al. [2011] using coefficients specified in SUEWS_AnthropogenicEmission.txt and diurnal patterns specified in SUEWS_Profiles.txt. Modelled values will be used even if QF is provided in the meteorological forcing file. CO2 emission is not calculated.

3

Updated Loridan et al. [2011] method using daily (not instantaneous) air temperature (HDD(id-1,3)) using coefficients specified in SUEWS_AnthropogenicEmission.txt. CO2 emission is not calculated.

4

Järvi et al. [2019] method, in addition to anthropogenic heat due to building energy use calculated by Järvi et al. [2011], that due to metabolism and traffic is also calculated using coefficients specified in SUEWS_AnthropogenicEmission.txt and diurnal patterns specified in SUEWS_Profiles.txt. Modelled values will be used even if QF is provided in the meteorological forcing file. CO2 emission is not calculated.

11-16

Experimental in this version. Rectangular hyperbola photosynthesis model with biogenic CO2. QF calculated using EmissionsMethod = 1. Biogenic CO2 fluxes (FcPhoto, FcRespi) calculated using rectangular hyperbola light response. Parameters from SUEWS_BiogenCO2.txt. Total Fc = Fc_anthro + Fc_biogen.

21-26

Experimental in this version. Non-rectangular hyperbola photosynthesis model following Bellucco et al. [2017]. QF calculated using EmissionsMethod = 2. Biogenic CO2 using Helsinki model for urban ecosystems. Parameters from SUEWS_BiogenCO2.txt. Total Fc = Fc_anthro + Fc_biogen.

41-44

Experimental in this version. Conductance-based photosynthesis model following Järvi et al. [2019]. QF calculated using EmissionsMethod = 4. Biogenic CO2 scaled by stomatal conductance (gfunc). Parameters from SUEWS_BiogenCO2.txt. Total Fc = Fc_anthro + Fc_biogen.

45

Experimental in this version. Full biogenic CO2 model following Järvi et al. [2019]. QF calculated using EmissionsMethod = 4. Fc (both biogenic and anthropogenic) components calculated following Järvi et al. [2019]. Emissions from traffic and human metabolism calculated as a bottom up approach using coefficients specified in SUEWS_AnthropogenicEmission.txt and diurnal patterns specified in SUEWS_Profiles.txt. Building emissions are calculated with the aid of heating and cooling degree days. Biogenic emissions and sinks are calculated using coefficients specified in SUEWS_BiogenCO2.txt.

StorageHeatMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines method for calculating storage heat flux ΔQS.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

Uses observed values of ΔQS supplied in meteorological forcing file.

1

ΔQS modelled using the objective hysteresis model (OHM) [Grimmond et al., 1991] using parameters specified for each surface type.

3

ΔQS modelled using AnOHM [Sun et al., 2017]. Not recommended in this version.

4

ΔQS modelled using the Element Surface Temperature Method (ESTM) [Offerle et al., 2005]. Not recommended in this version.

OHMIncQF#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines whether the storage heat flux calculation uses Q\ * or ( Q\ * +QF).

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

ΔQS modelled Q* only.

1

ΔQS modelled using Q*+QF.

StabilityMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Defines which atmospheric stability functions are used.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

Not used.

1

Not used.

2

  • Momentum:

    • unstable: Dyer [1974] modified by Högström [1988]

    • stable: Van Ulden and Holtslag [1985]

  • Heat: Dyer [1974] modified by Högström [1988]

Not recommended in this version.

3

  • Momentum: Campbell and Norman [1998] (Eq 7.27, Pg97)

  • Heat

    • unstable: Campbell and Norman [1998]

    • stable: Campbell and Norman [1998]

Recommended in this version.

4

  • Momentum: Businger et al. [1971] modified by Högström [1988]

  • Heat: Businger et al. [1971] modified by Högström [1988]

Not recommended in this version.

RoughLenHeatMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines method for calculating roughness length for heat.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

1

Uses value of 0.1*z0m.

2

Calculated according to Kawai et al. [2009].

3

Calculated according to Voogt and Grimmond [2000].

4

Calculated according to Kanda et al. [2007].

5

Adaptively using z0m based on pervious coverage: if fully pervious, use method 1; otherwise, use method 2.

Recommended in this version.

RoughLenMomMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines how aerodynamic roughness length (z0m) and zero displacement height (zdm) are calculated.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

1

Values specified in SUEWS_SiteSelect.txt are used.

Tip

Note that UMEP provides tools to calculate these. See Kent et al. [2017] for recommendations on methods. Kent et al. [2017] have developed a method to include vegetation which is also avaialble within UMEP.

2

z0m and zd are calculated using ‘rule of thumb’ [Grimmond and Oke, 1999] using mean building and tree height specified in SUEWS_SiteSelect.txt. z0m and zd are adjusted with time to account for seasonal variation in porosity of deciduous trees.

3

z0m and zd are calculated based on the Macdonald et al. [1998] method using mean building and tree heights, plan area fraction and frontal areal index specified in SUEWS_SiteSelect.txt. z0m and zd are adjusted with time to account for seasonal variation in porosity of deciduous trees.

SMDMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines method for calculating soil moisture deficit (SMD).

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

SMD modelled using water balance and parameters specified in SUEWS_Soil.txt. The model calculates soil moisture deficit based on precipitation, evapotranspiration, and runoff. Recommended in this version. for sites without soil moisture observations.

Important considerations: - Requires proper initialization of soil moisture states (soilstore_id values) - Initial values that are too low can lead to severe water stress - May cause FcPhoto to approach zero in summer if not properly configured - Consider enabling irrigation (WaterUseMethod) for urban areas - See troubleshooting guide if FcPhoto values are unexpectedly low

1

Observed SM provided in the meteorological forcing file is used. Data are provided as volumetric soil moisture content [m3 m-3]. Metadata must be provided in SUEWS_Soil.txt.

Advantages: - Bypasses internal soil water balance calculations - More reliable for sites with good soil moisture measurements - Recommended solution if FcPhoto issues occur with method 0

2

Observed SM provided in the meteorological forcing file is used. Data are provided as gravimetric soil moisture content [kg kg-1]. Metadata must be provided in SUEWS_Soil.txt.

Note: The model will convert gravimetric to volumetric content using soil bulk density.

SOLWEIGUse#

Deprecated since version v2020a.

Requirement:

Required

Description:

Determines whether SOLWEIG is used to calculate detailed radiation balance of all facets.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

SOLWEIG calculations are not performed.

1

SOLWEIG calculations are performed. A grid of mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) is calculated based on high resolution digital surface models.

WaterUseMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Defines how external water use is calculated.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

External water use modelled using parameters specified in SUEWS_Irrigation.txt.

1

Observations of external water use provided in the meteorological forcing file are used.

DiagMethod#
Requirement:

Required

Description:

Defines how near surface diagnostics are calculated.

Configuration:

Value

Comments

0

Use MOST to calculate near surface diagnostics.

1

Use RST to calculate near surface diagnostics.

2

Use a set of criteria based on plan area index, frontal area index and heights of roughness elements to determine if RSL or MOST should be used.