WP2: Advancing Ecosystem Modelling

WP2 furthers the existing tools necessary for predicting the response of ecosystems to changes in climate patterns, ocean circulation, ocean acidification, over fishing, invasion of alien species and pollution (including eutrophication).

Activities in this WP will be focused on the development of model modules to be coupled to existing coupled hydrodynamic ecosystem models thereby allowing these pre-existing tools to incorporate and predict the effects of:
a) acidification
b) contaminants
c) fisheries on dynamics of marine ecosystems

These modules will be employed to assess the impacts of drivers in the MEECE systems in WP3 to 5 as implemented via a system of 2-way couplers, 1-way coupling will be used as a first step.

Objectives:

The overall object to WP 2 is to create library of plug and play type models which can be coupled to existing coupled hydrodynamic and intermediate and complex NPZD type models and thereby provide the integrated End to End modelling tools necessary to assess how ecosystems are impacted by global change via drivers such as ocean circulation, ocean climate, ocean acidification, pollution, over fishing and invasive species. In order to accomplish these objectives will be:

To identify system specific and generic key feedbacks and forcing for focused modelling activities
To assemble a library of biogeochemical, ecosystem, higher trophic level, alien invasive species and ecotoxicology modules necessary to assess the impacts of MEECE drivers on ecosystem dynamics
To develop a modular modelling structure to enable the flexible coupling of biogeochemical, ecosystem, higher trophic level, alien invasive species and ecotoxicology sub models modules to existing ocean atmosphere models
To develop trophic couplers to enable the implementation of feedback loops into end to end modelling frameworks
To contribute to knowledge transfer activities in WP6
To publish advances in technical and scientific knowledge

Workpackage Leader: Mike St. John (UHAM)

Documents and Reports relevant to WP2:

EUR-OCEANS Consortium Foresight Workshop Call 2009:
Coordinating priorities of MEECE and MESOAQUA for period 2010-2013

Based on WP2 D2.1 Report on system key species, WP2 proposed a joint workshop between MEECE and FP7 Infrastructures program MESOAQUA. The proposal is in the process of evaluation by the EUR-OCEANS Consortium but is in need of a PI who would be keen and capable of handling the scientific issues and delivering a roadmap for better coordination between future mesocosm and large scale experiments, and ecosystem end-to-end model needs for parameterization and validation. Nominations can be sent to Mike St John and ivo_grigorov@hotmail.com

Download proposal here

Workshop Outputs

Copenhagen Workshop: Model Parameterisation and Model Coupling, January 2011
Herkalion Workshop Report: Model Parameterisation and Model Coupling, Feb 2010
Resolving System specific key species, feedbacks and forcing workshop report. Plymouth, February 2009. Click here for further reports and presentations from this workshop.