Report of the
U.S. GLOBEC Georges Bank
Science Meeting
18 - 20 November 2003, Rhode Island
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Report of the U.S. GLOBEC Georges Bank Science Meeting 18 - 20 November 2003, Rhode Island |
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| Cover Page Acknowledgements Introduction Narrative Presentation Abstracts Poster Presentations Appendix I: Agenda Appendix II: List of Participants Appendix III: List of Planned Publications |
Modeling Studies of the Physical-Biological Processes Controlling
Spring Bloom Dynamics on Georges Bank: 1-D and 2-D Experiments
A coupled biological-physical model has been developed for the Gulf
of Maine (GOM) /Georges Bank (GB) region. The biological model,
based on nutrient and plankton features observed on GB, consists of
9 compartments: nutrients (nitrate, ammonia and silicate),
phytoplankton (large and small size groups), zooplankton (large and
small size groups), detrital organic nitrogen and silicon. The
physical model for 1-D and 2-D experiment is ECOM-si, which is
driven with tidal forcing, wind stress and heat flux. The 1-D model
results show that the physical-biological processes controlling
spring bloom dynamics over GB varies with water depth. In the
shallow and well-mixed regions, the timing of the spring bloom is
sensitive to light intensity and the light attenuation coefficient,
while the magnitude is regulated by the initial nutrient
concentration and zooplankton grazing pressure. In the deeper
regions, the seasonal onset of stratification directly attributes to
the timing of the spring bloom. The 2-D model results indicate that
the spring bloom dynamics in the shallow and well-mixed area of GB
are very similar to the 1-D situation. A 'second' bloom can occur
near the tidal mixing front area due to the seasonal onset of
stratification. The spring bloom in the stratified region seems to
be sensitive to vertical stratification, especially at the
transition time during late spring.
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