MODELING THE PRIMARY PRODUCTION IN THE NORTH-SEA USING A COUPLED 3-DIMENSIONAL PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL-BIOLOGICAL OCEAN MODEL

A coupled three-dimensional physical-chemical-biological model system has been implemented, and applied to study mass and volume transports and primary production throughout the North Sea. The model was run twi ce for the year 1985 with specified (for the North Sea Task Force) tim e series of riverine and atmospheric inputs of nutrients, and also wit h these nutrient inputs reduced by 40 and 50%, respectively. In partic ular, the evolution of the chemical and biological variables in the tw o situations was studied. The model output agreed quite well with the general quantitative and qualitative knowledge of the total yearly pro duction. The intercomparison with some salinity profiles also indicate d that the model handles the large-scale circulation and vertical mixi ng fairly well. Estimates for the transport of excess nutrients to Ska gerrak and Kattegat in the highly pulsating Jutland coastal current ar e given. The estimates demonstrate the need for such models for calcul ating transport of matter from one area to another. Significant reduct ions in both primary production and transport of matter were seen from comparisons between the two runs. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited