Objective The ERSEM-II project has the objective of testing and improving our understanding of the long-term, large-scale dynamic functioning of regional seas and their coastal margins. ERSEM-II is the natural follow-up of ERSEM-I, which has focused on the development of a model which dynamically simulates the large-scale cycling of organic carbon and macronutrients plus silicate over the seasonal cycle in the North Sea. This model consists of an interlinked set of modules describing the biological and chemical processes in the stratified or non-stratified water column and in the benthic system. Physical transport is included by driving the model with the output of physical circulation and dispersion models. From this starting point, ERSEM-II will further extend and develop the formulation of those biological and chemical processes that control long- term trends in the composition and the productivity of shelf sea ecosystems. These processes must be included to study the effects of interannual variability on long-term trends and to model the life-cycle dynamics of higher trophic levels as influenced by the varying state of their environment. The other area of development is to spatially resolve key areas which will allow to examine the impact of river run-off on the marine ecosystem at the required level of detail in time and space. Testing of the model will be performed by comparing model results with available field data from large scale projects and data from mesocosm experiments. Additionally, a parallel development of modelling software tools, which is an essential requirement for successful model development and application, will be carried out. The results of this project will strengthen the scientific basis for making sound decisions in environmental quality management and will provide the opportunity to involve decision makers in weighing the available alternatives by simulating the consequences of different scenarios. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivitynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems Programme(s) FP3-MAST 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of marine science and technology, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 0104 - Biological processes Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Netherlands Institute for Sea Research EU contribution No data Address 1790 AB Texel, Den Burg Netherlands See on map Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all NERC Centre of Coastal and Marine Sciences United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Prospect Place West Hoe PL1 3DH Plymouth See on map Total cost No data Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Victoria Road AB11 9DB Aberdeen See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG Germany EU contribution No data Address Troplowitzstrasse 7 22529 HAMBURG See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF OLDENBURG Germany EU contribution No data Address Ammerlaender Heerstrasse 114/118 26129 OLDENBURG See on map Total cost No data University of Aberdeen United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address 2 Tillydrone Avenue AB9 2TN Aberdeen See on map Total cost No data University of Strathclyde United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Livingstone Tower 26 Richmond Street G1 1XH Glasgow See on map Total cost No data Water Quality Institute Denmark EU contribution No data Address 11,Agern Allé 2970 Hørsholm See on map Total cost No data
