An 1-D vertically resolved modelling study of the ecosystem dynamics of the middle and southern Adriatic Sea

Abstract

In order to investigate the regional variations in the physical controls upon the Adriatic Sea ecosystem the European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM) has been coupled to an 1-D vertically resolved water column model. It has been set-up and run to simulate climatological seasonal cycles at two sites, in the open waters of the middle and southern Adriatic Sea. Climatological seasonal cycles of temperature and salinity have been simulated and validated for these sites. On a qualitative level, the response of the biochemical submodels to physical forcing of the type observed in this region is good. They reproduce the deep chlorophyll maxima (DCM) during the summer and show phosphate to be the limiting nutrient for primary production. The comparison of seasonal cycles of chlorophyll, oxygen and nutrients with data shows that the climatological seasonal cycle in the Adriatic Sea can be reproduced.