A Coupled Epipelagic-Meso/Bathypelagic Particle Flux Model for the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Station (BATS)/Oceanic Flux Program (OFP) Site

David M. Glover, Maureen H. Conte and Bettina A. Fach
Dept. of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, MA 02543
dglover@whoi.edu
mconte@whoi.edu
bfach@whoi.edu

The overarching goal of this project is to mechanistically connect euphotic zone processes with meso- and bathypelagic zone processes. It is our long term goal to accomplish this by means of a prognostic model that can be used to further our understanding of an unparalleled time-series of deep-water sediment traps (21+ years) at the Oceanic Flux Program (OFP), euphotic zone measurements (10+ years) at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Site (BATS). In order to realize this goal we will derive a meso/bathypelagic ecosystem structure and use it to model the flux of biogeochemically active constituents (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silica and iron) through the water column.

This modeling effort will be developed in phases. In the initial phase, we present the kernel of the mesopelagic ecosystem in a zero-dimensional, nitrogen only form. The equations and initial parameters are presented along with insight as to how this kernel fits into the over all scheme. In the second phase, we present the model in a one-dimensional framework coupled to an intermediately complex, euphotic zone ecosystem. This is the first attempt to model carbon containing particles, in a process oriented ecosystem model, over the entire water column. In the third and final phase, We present this model as a fully integrated (epipelagic/mesopelagic) model over the entire water column at the OFP site and all elements (C, N, P, Si, and Fe) resolved. At this point there is no distinction between epipelagic and mesopelagic, it is all one ecosystem with each component responding to the local water column conditions.

Phase 1, the Ecosystem Kernel

Presentation to the U.S. JGOFS Synthesis and Modeling meeting, Woods Hole, MA, 22-26 July 2002.

AGU Fall Meeting

Presentation to the AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA, 6-10 December 2002.

Phase 2, the One-dimensional Framework to 4000 meters

Presentation to the U.S. JGOFS Synthesis and Modeling meeting, Woods Hole, MA, 21-25 July 2003.

Phase 3, the Initial Results:

Presentation to the AGU Ocean Sciences meeting, Portland, OR, 26-30 January 2004

Presentation to the TOS/ASLO meeting, Honolulu, HI, 16-20 February 2004

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no. OCE--0097288.

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