The 3D physical-biological model study in the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal sea

Abstract

The ecosystem of the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal area between longitudes 29°45′ E and 33°45′ E was seasonally investigated. The obtained data sets for a variety of environmental variables were previously interpolated over the studied area, and used in the coupled physical-biological model Fin-Est. Here, the model has been implemented to solve the central problems in case of modeling local areas and the handling of open boundaries and initial conditions, which almost have significant influence on the results, of both the hydrodynamic and the ecosystem models calculation. In the present study, a multi-step calculations procedure was used in applying the 3 D coupled model at first for the entire Egyptian Mediterranean coastal area. Then, it runs for local areas obtaining the initial conditions and the open boundary ones from larger area calculations. In particular, the zoom-in approach was used for the detailed study of the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria city-Egypt (model grid step = 50 m.) selected from the larger Alexandria Sea (model grid step = 1.25 Km), which in turn was chosen from the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal area (model grid step = 12.5 km). The sensitivity of the model simulations to both physical and biological main factors of the studied areas is tested. Both climatic conditions and land sources effects are considered among the model forcing factors. The resultant simulations are compared with the actual measured values of the parameters. The model sensitivity test results are discussed in the context of the model's capabilities and limitations, and with reference to the available knowledge of the ecosystems of the study areas.