A process-based model to simulate growth in forests with complex structure: Evaluation and use of 3D-CMCC Forest Ecosystem Model in a deciduous forest in Central Italy.

Highlights: [•] We developed a model able to simulate the growth of a mixed oak forest in Italy. [•] We examined the contribute of each layer and cohorts on GPP, NPP and ET. [•] We compared the models’ results for LAI against the MODIS LAI-NDVI data. [•] We validated a series of models’ results against measured independent data. [•] We showed the effects on models’ results of a series of simplified model runs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]