MOdel Shopping Tool ( MOST )

PISCES v1 - Model description

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Model Name

PISCES v1 - A Biogeochemical component coupled to OPA v9 hydrodynamics and PISCES v1 biogeochemistry

Summary

PISCES is a 24 compartment biogeochemical model which simulates the marine biological productivity and describes the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and of the main nutrients (P, N, Si, Fe). Constant Redfield ratio is assumed but the nitrogen pool undergoes nitrogen fixation and denitrfication. The elemental ratios of Fe, Si and Chl are prognostically predicted based on the external concentrations of the limiting nutrients like in the quota approach, and phytoplankton growth depends on the external concentration in nutrients.

Currently PISCES is coupled online to OPA for hydrodynamics (www.lodyc.jussieu.fr/opa) but ROMS coupled version is also available (olivier.aumont@ird.fr).

There are four living compartments represented (two phytoplankton size-classes/groups corresponding to nanophytoplankton and diatoms, and two zooplankton size classes which are microzooplankton and mesozooplankton), and three non-living compartments (semi-labile dissolved organic matter, small and big sinking particles).

The bacterial pool is not yet explicitly modeled and the sinking speed of the particles is not altered by their content in calcite and biogenic silicate. PISCES also simulates dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity and dissolved oxygen.

Developer contact

AUMONT Olivier - IRD

Model Focus

CO2 fluxes () Carbon Storage () N2O cycle (A N2O module does exist but not currently in an official release) Sulphure cycle (Both prognostic and diagnostic DMS modules do exist) Mesopelagic remin. () Organic Production. ()

References