Yuri M. Svirezhev and Werner von Bloh
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
Telegrafenberg, P.O. Box 601203, D-14412 Potsdam
Germany
Ecological Modelling 92, 89-99 (1996)
A so-called ``Minimal model'' is presented for the qualitative description of the interaction between climate and vegetation. Such conceptual simple models are important to give a better understanding of the fundamental feedback mechanisms acting between geo- and biosphere. This spatially one-dimensional model is analyzed in respect to the uniform biosphere and the existence of possible diffusive instabilities. It is proved that there do not exist any non-uniform equilibrium solutions, but the evolution of non-uniform initial perturbations is quite interesting: Depending on the spatial form of the perturbations propagating non-linear waves are observed.
Keywords: Minimal model, diffusive instability, nonlinear waves