A. Crise et al., A seasonal three-dimensional study of the nitrogen cycle in the Mediterranean Sea - Part I. Model implementation and numerical results, J MAR SYST, 18(1-3), 1998, pp. 287-312
The influence of the general circulation on the lower trophic level variabi
lity in the Mediterranean is investigated by means of a three-dimensional c
oupled hydrodynamical ecological model. While the hydrodynamical forcing is
obtained by a primitive equation seasonal model, the trophic dynamics are
described using an aggregated model based on inorganic nitrogen, phytoplank
ton and detritus. The model results exhibit a quasi-repeating seasonal cycl
e and the calculated fluxes through the principal straits are of the same o
rder as those estimated from literature data. The climatological influence
of the general circulation on the nutrient distribution is evident in perma
nent cyclonic areas, while the anticyclonic circulation does not give a det
ectable signal, due to the high oligotrophy of the upper layer. The seasona
l cycle shows marked spatial differences according to the different regimes
induced by the surface circulation, leading to the tentative conclusion th
at, in the upper layer, the circulation directly or indirectly determines t
he distribution of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration. (C) 1998
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