Vegetation effects are included by allowing for twelve plant types that differ in leaf and stem areas, root profile, height, leaf dimension, optical properties, stomatal physiology, roughness length, displacement height, and biomass. These 12 plant types are combined to form 28 different vegetated surfaces, each comprised of multiple plant types and bare ground so that, for example, a mixed broadleaf deciduous and needleleaf evergreen forest consists of patches of broadleaf deciduous trees, needleleaf evergreen trees, and bare ground. Lakes and wetland, if present, form additional patches.
Soils also differ in color, which affects soil albedos.
A complete description of the model is provided in the documentation and user's guide .