Assimilation of surface data in a one-dimensional physical-biogeochemical model of the surface ocean: 1. Method and preliminary results
- Laboratoire CNES-CNRS, Toulouse (France)
- Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris (France)
This paper describes a method to estimate parameters of complex ocean carbon cycle models and to estimate carbon fluxes other than primary production from satellite data. A one-dimensional vertical model, which couples the physics of the ocean mixed layer and biogeochemical processes, was used to simulate the carbon cycle. Variational assimilation was applied to globally adjust the model solution. Consistent results were found for the grazing rate, the phytoplankton mortality rate, and the minimum concentration of zooplankton in winter. Some carbon fluxes appeared to be robustly constrained; however, primary production is apparently underestimated. The study results suggest that a simplified biological model would adequately the seasonal evolution of surface chlorophyll concentration, and would be more adapted to transform satellite data into carbon fluxes. Analysis of model behavior during assimilation experiments also provided information for other possible simplifications of the trophic model. 49 refs., 17 figs., 5 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 244056
- Journal Information:
- Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Vol. 10, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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