Objective The project's overall aim is to develop process understanding and tested numerical models for Regions of Freshwater Influence (ROFI). It encompasses the study of the role of physical processes controlling water- property distribution and that of suspended sediments controlling the availability of light and nutrients for phytoplankton growth. The project comprises the construction of a fully coupled 3-D nearshore model. It will have high resolution (1 hour, 1 kilometre approximately) and extend offshore to any vertically-mixed region outside the ROFI. It will comprise a framework with modules describing: - the influence of tidal cycles and variable weather conditions including waves; - currents, temperature, salinity, turbulence, and diffusivity including stratification effects; - sediments including deposition, erosion, and flocculation; - plankton, nutrients, oxygen. The effects of boundary forcing by measurements or a wider-area model will be compared with those of focusing. Specific tests of model components against measurements will be performed. Model calculations will be tested for prognostic quality and robustness by comparisons with measured constituents in contrasted ROFIs. The following measurements to extend the data basis for ROFI process understanding and modelling will be performed: contrasted ROFI regimes; longer duration to cover variability over a seasonal cycle; more continuous salinity and fluorescence records; good vertical resolution suitable for testing the nearshore model; time series to determine ROFI dynamics and intermittency; time-series of near-bottom sediment transports. Systematic observations of the contrasted Rhine, Clyde, and Thermaikos Bay ROFIs will complement earlier measurements in the ROFI areas of the Rhine, German Bight and Po. Behaviour of the contrasting ROFIs will be inter-compared and interpreted using models. The outcome will be a defined set of observations, model code and model output on electronic media, and model-data comparison, suitable for subsequent integration and promulgation as test data, as well as a nearshore model for wider use. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologysedimentology Programme(s) FP3-MAST 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of marine science and technology, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 0101 - Circulation and exchange of water masses Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL Address Bidston observatory L43 7RA Birkenhead United Kingdom See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ALFRED WEGENER INSTITUTE FOR POLAR AND MARINE RESEARCH Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Columbusstrasse 27568 Bremerhaven See on map Links Website Opens in new window Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Greece EU contribution € 0,00 Address University campus 54006 Thessaloniki See on map Institut d'Hygiène et d'Epidémiologie Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 100,gulledelle 1200 Bruxelles See on map MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER MANAGEMENT Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address Kortenaerkade 1 2500 EX Den haag ('s-gravenhage) See on map NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ITALY Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address San polo 1364 30125 Venezia See on map UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Troplowitzstrasse 7 22529 Hamburg See on map UNIVERSITY OF WALES - BANGOR United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Askew street LL59 5EY Gwynedd See on map UTRECHT UNIVERSITY Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address 5,princetonplein 5 3584 CC Utrecht See on map
