Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

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Ecosystem modelling

Ecosystem modelling at NIOZ started in the1980's in the project group BOEDE (Biologisch Onderzoek Eems-Dollard Estuarium) which studied the consequences on the Ems-Dollard ecosystem of the discharge of very large amounts of waste water. The experience from this modelling project was used by NIOZ to initiate and coordinate an EU-project in the Marine Science and Technology program,1990-1995, where a consortium of marine institutes developed the European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM).

Background

How it started | In 1990 -1995 both the modelling approach and the design concept of ERSEM was very innovative in several ways. The ERSEM consortium...

NWO-ZKO programme

NWO-ZKO programme

Cooperation | From 2004, NIOZ and WMR cooperated in the NWO/ZKO-programme 'Changing carrying capacity in the Wadden Sea and North Sea coastal zone'.

Coupling models

Coupling models

The objective | An ecosystem model coupled with a sophisticated hydrodynamical model which is able to reproduce the processes in coastal regions.

Model Set-up

Modelling | To run a hydrodynamical model in the North Sea and the Wadden Sea a three dimensional grid structure is needed.

North Sea model results

North Sea model results

Results | This section shows some model results. In order to transmit a feeling for the dynamics in the whole system we present a number of movies.

GETM ERSEM BMF model

GETM ERSEM BMF model

New model | Combining a biogeochemical model with a 3D hydrodynamic model which then provides the basics for an ecosystem model.