A process-oriented model of pelagic biogeochemistry for marine systems. Part I: Model description

Several models for marine biogeochemistry have been developed over the last decades. One of the most complex models currently available, the European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM), has been pointed out as the reference in terms of modeled processes, complexity and modeling philosophy. Its representation of marine trophic interactions and biogeochemical cycles has been widely accepted and recurrently visited and improved. Here we present a set of equations of a marine biogeochemical deterministic model that uses ERSEM as reference. The model is process-oriented and aims to be used in numerical simulations of different types of marine systems. Our formulation is based on the Living Functional Group (LFG) concept (Baretta and Ruardij, 1987 and Vichi et al., 2007), but instead of defining distinct organism types for each LFG, it is conceptualized to work with a Generic Type Model (GTM). GTM is a modeling strategy that allows us to define the number of types inside each LFG, according to specific modeling needs. Our model was developed without parametrization of physical transport processes, but as a component of an integral modeling system — the MOHID Water Modelling System. Inside the MOHID system our model is sufficiently generic to be used to model distinct marine ecosystems.