THE PROFILE PROJECT - AN OVERVIEW

The EC MAST project PROFILE (Processes in Regions of Freshwater Influe nce, ROFIs) aims to develop process understanding and tested numerical models for ROFIs. This includes the role of physical processes contro lling water-prop erty distributions, suspended sediments controlling t he availability of light, nutrients and phytoplankton growth. The proj ect comprises: (1) construction of a 3D nearshore model, with high res olution (1 h and one km approx.) and a framework coupling modules for hydrodynamics (tides, effects of winds and waves, currents, temperatur e, salinity, turbulence and diffusivity), sediments, plankton, nutrien ts and oxygen, (2) investigation of methods to include ROFI model deta il in coarser shelf-wide models, (3) specific tests of model component s against measurements, (4) tests of model calculations against measur ements in contrasted ROFIs, (5) systematic observations suitable for t hese model tests (time-series over a seasonal cycle for dynamics and i ntermittency, good vertical resolution and spatial surveys) of the con trasted Rhine, Clyde and Thermaikos Bay ROFIs, complementing earlier m easurements in the ROFI areas of the Rhine, German Eight and Po, (6) i nterpretation and comparison of the contrasted ROFLs' behaviour, (7) a defined set of observations, model code and output suitable for subse quent integration and promulgation as test data and a nearshore model for wider use. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.