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Ann. Geophys., 21, 377-388, 2003
www.ann-geophys.net/21/377/2003/
© European Geosciences Union 2003
Surface heat fluxes and ecosystem function in the Cretan Sea (eastern Mediterranean): a modelling study
J. R. Siddorn and J. I. Allen
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK
Abstract. As a component of the
Mediterranean Forecast System Pilot Project, a data buoy was deployed in the
Cretan Sea. A 1-D ecosystem model of the site has been used to investigate the
role of surface heat fluxes in determining modelled ecosystem behaviour. The
method of calculation of these fluxes, the quality of the data used, and the
temporal resolution of the data all had an impact upon the modelled ecosystem
function. The effects of the changes in heat flux formulation were substantial,
with both annually averaged properties of the system and the seasonal evolution
of the biology being affected. It was also found that the ecosystem model was
extremely sensitive to the accuracy of the meteorological forcing data used,
with substantial changes in biology found when offsets in the forcing data were
imposed. The frequency of forcing data was relatively unimportant in
determining the biological function, although lower frequency forcing damped
high frequency variability in the biology. During periods of mixing the biology
showed an amplified response to changes in physical dynamics, but during
periods of stratification the variations in the physics were found to be less
important. Zooplankton showed more sensitivity to physical variability than
either phytoplankton or bacteria. The consequences for ecosystem modelling are
discussed.
Key words. Oceanography: physical
(air-sea interactions; turbulence, diffusion, and mixing processes) –
Oceanography: biological and chemical (plankton)
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