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Emergent features due to grid-cell biology: synchronisation in biophysical models
E J Guirey1, M A Bees, A P Martin
1National Oceanography Centre Southampton, European Way, Southampton, UK. ejg@noc.soton.ac.uk
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
|March 16, 2007
Summary
The choice of plankton ecosystem model significantly impacts coupled biophysical ocean models. Model resolution and biological model selection critically affect simulated ocean dynamics and emergent features.
Area of Science:
- Oceanography
- Ecological Modelling
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Coupled biophysical models are standard for simulating upper ocean phenomena like plankton patchiness.
- The influence of selecting different plankton ecosystem models within grid cells has been largely overlooked.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the choice of plankton ecosystem model affects the dynamics of coupled biophysical ocean models.
- To assess the impact of model resolution (number of grid cells) on emergent oceanographic features.
Main Methods:
- Utilized synchronization theory, focusing on ensembles of interacting oscillators.
- Applied methods to a simplified system: a chain of identical, interacting plankton grid cells.
Main Results:
- The system's ability to achieve stable, synchronized dynamics is highly dependent on the chosen biological model and the number of grid cells.
- A critical threshold in mixing strength between grid cells dramatically alters system dynamics.
- Model resolution significantly impacts emergent features in oceanographic simulations.
Conclusions:
- The selection of plankton ecosystem models and model resolution are crucial factors in coupled biophysical ocean modeling.
- Chaotic ecosystem dynamics in such models require careful consideration and validation due to potential sensitivity to model parameters and resolution.
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