Types of models: my
classification, according to
- mathematical structure -
algebraic, differential equations, difference equations, etc., and
combinations of these at different steps
- purpose: optimization (ag management;
evaluating evolved traits); developing justified simplifications of
process descriptions (see example below, and also my simplification of how
diffuse light is intercepted by plants); sensitivity analyses (finding out
which parameters or conditions matter the most to the results, and
therefore where we should put the most effort in making measurements);
exploring the range of results, which might be surprising (my paper on
potential biogeographic chaos at high CO2 levels); teaching
about processes; etc.
- how they are executed - as scripts vs.
compiled code, for which even the code might look trickier; in batch mode
or interactively
- usage mode: forward (know the
conditions, predict the result) or inverse (know the result, back out the
causal factors), etc.