Objective
To contribute to marine Global Change research.
This will include:
- Study of the variability in time and space of Sea Surface Temperature and biological activity in a testsite (North-east Atlantic).
- Developing and application of hydrodynamic models of a test site using remote sensing data
Progress to end 1990
1990 has been a transition year for defining the Global Change Studies: Monitoring of the Marine Environment.
Sea modelling at the JRC started from scratch quite recently (1988) and at the beginning of 1990 was still at the stage of hydrodynamic numerical exercises aimed at familiarising with the available models and at testing their behaviour. This type of activity is a basic need also for any further applications, therefore most of 1990 was dedicated to the accomplishment of hydrodynamic excercices [1] which had been started previously. In addition, a model describing the Adriatic Sea phytoplankton dynamics habeen completed in collaboration with the University of Hamburg [2]. Towards the end of 1990 work on the North-west African Upwelling area has been started.
The AVHRR/GAC archive for 1981 to 1984 has been processed to Sea Surface Temperature as a basic tool for the study of multiannual variability and for the development and calibration of a hydrodynamic model.
First results have been achieved using new fluorescence techniques to estimate photosynthetic rates in phytoplankton cultures.
A study has been carried out at the request of IRSA by Prof. Grassl of the Max-Planck-Institut for Meteorology, Hamburg, on Marine Remote Sensing of Global Change: The potential role of the Institute for Remote Sensing Applications. The results of this study will contribute to the formulation of the future Marine Global Change studies.
IRSA has become a member of the EUREKA/EUROMAR/VISIMAR project.
[1] W. Schrimpf, W. Eifler, T. Kupusovic, "Barotropic simulation of circulation in the Northern Adriatic during BURA-wind episode by three different numerical models. Accepted for: Computer Methods and Water Ressources Conference, February 1991, Marrakesh (Marocco).
[2] J.W. Dippner, "A Lagrangian Model of phytoplankton growth dynamics for the Northern Adriatic Sea." Submitted to Continental Shelf Research, Jonsmod '90 issue.
Detailed description of work foreseen in 1991 (expected results)
For the testsite North-East Atlantic
- a hydrodynamic model will be developed for typical idealized shelf geometries to evaluate the relative importance of wind stress, shelf geometry and latitude on upwelling and productivity;
- the variability of multiannual timeseries of sea surface temperature will be analyzed in relation to meteorological data and climat variability.
- the application of ocean colour data (CZCS) for modelling biological productivity will be evaluated;
- an attempt will be made to further integrate these studies in international Global Change programmes (IGBP, IGOFS, WOCE);
- new in-situ methods for fast productivity measurements will be further developed.
Short description of evolution of work in 1992
- Extension of hydrodynamic models to larger areas and biological parameters
- Use of new satellite data (ERS-1)
- Verification of remote sensing data and modelling through field campaigns. 2
Topic(s)
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21020 Ispra
Italy