MC was originally conceived as a follow-up of
VEMAP phase 1
and was used in VEMAP phase 2.
The objective was to link R.P. Neilson's biogeography model MAPSS with W.J. Parton's biogeochemistry model CENTURY to generate a dynamic vegetation model.
However, the development of MC required significant changes to the parameterization of CENTURY
and the creation of new biogeography rules.
None of the bydrology that was included in MAPSS is present in MC
which uses CENTURY simplified water balance budget.
Moreover a new dynamic fire model that did not exist in MAPSS
nor in CENTURY was created and included in MC.
