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@sunt05 sunt05 commented Jul 25, 2025

Summary

This PR adds comprehensive documentation to help users understand and troubleshoot near-zero FcPhoto (photosynthesis flux) values that can occur in summer when using SMD method 0.

Background

Issue #290 reported that FcPhoto values were unexpectedly close to 0 during summer months (May-September) when they should be at their highest. The user discovered that switching from SMD method 0 to method 1 (with observed soil moisture data) resolved the issue.

Changes Made

1. Enhanced Troubleshooting Guide

Added a new section "FcPhoto (Photosynthesis Flux) Near Zero in Summer" in docs/source/troubleshooting.rst that includes:

  • Clear problem description and symptoms
  • Root cause explanation (soil moisture stress shutting down photosynthesis)
  • Detailed background on how environmental stress factors affect FcPhoto
  • Multiple solution approaches for both SMD method 0 and methods 1/2
  • Step-by-step diagnostic procedures
  • Prevention strategies for new simulations

2. Improved SMD Method Documentation

Updated docs/source/inputs/tables/RunControl/csv-table/SMDMethod.csv to:

  • Add warnings about potential FcPhoto issues with method 0
  • Emphasise the importance of proper soil moisture initialisation
  • Highlight method 1 as a recommended solution for sites with soil moisture observations
  • Provide detailed considerations and advantages for each method

Technical Details

The issue occurs because SMD method 0 uses an internal soil water balance model. When soil moisture becomes too low (due to poor initialisation or high evapotranspiration), the soil moisture stress factor (g_smd) approaches 0, which causes FcPhoto to approach 0 through the equation:

FcPhoto = -Fc_Photo * gfunc
where gfunc = g_dq * g_ta * g_smd * g_kdown

Testing

Documentation changes only - no code modifications. The enhanced documentation provides:

  • Clear guidance for users experiencing this issue
  • Preventive measures for new users setting up simulations
  • Better understanding of the relationship between soil moisture and biogenic CO2 fluxes

Checklist

  • Documentation follows the project style
  • Addresses the specific issue reported in SUEWS FcPhoto output in summer close to 0 #290
  • Provides both immediate solutions and long-term prevention strategies
  • Cross-references between configuration and troubleshooting sections
  • Uses British English as per project guidelines

Fixes #290

- Add detailed troubleshooting section for near-zero FcPhoto in summer
- Enhance SMD method documentation with warnings and recommendations
- Explain relationship between soil moisture stress and photosynthesis
- Provide solutions for both modelled (method 0) and observed (method 1/2) approaches
- Include diagnostic steps and prevention strategies

Fixes #290

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
@sunt05 sunt05 marked this pull request as draft July 25, 2025 15:22
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SUEWS FcPhoto output in summer close to 0

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