Carbon moves through the atmosphere, through the oceans, onto land, and into and between various ecosystems. This cycling has a large effect on climate - changing geographic patterns of rainfall and the frequency of extreme weather. The impact of changes in global carbon cycling are altered as the use of fossil fuels add carbon to the cycle. This book addresses the crucial question of how to assess, evaluate, and estimate the potential impact of the additional carbon to the global carbon cycle. The contributors describe a set of models for exploring ecological questions regarding changes in carbon cycling; provide background for developing new models; employs data assimilation techniques for model improvement; and do real- or near-time ecological forecasting for decision support. This book strives to balance theoretical considerations, technical details, and applications of ecosystem modeling for research, assessment, and crucial decision making. Key Features Helps readers understand, implement and criticize carbon cycling models Does not require computer programming skills or deep knowledge of mathematics Describes a suite of modeling skills - modeling questions, building models, data assimilation Combines modeling with statistical analysis of models Introduces data assimilation, statistical analysis, Markov chain Mote Carlo methods, and decision supporting systems