Presentation Abstract
Salish Sea Model Ecosystem - Lower Trophic (SMELT) is a three-dimensional biogeochemical model coupled to a NEMO-based physical model of the Salish Sea, run operationally at UBC as part of the SalishSeaCast system. In this presentation, we will first establish the model's skill at reproducing nitrate concentrations by comparison with data from the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s citizen science program and Institute of Ocean Sciences repeat surveys. We will then discuss episodic nitrate supply to the surface waters of the northwest Strait of Georgia. This phenomenon is evident as a region of elevated mean (March-November) and standard deviation (April-September) of surface nitrate stretching from Discovery Passage to Baynes Sound in a monthly climatology based on simulations from fall 2014 to present. We will analyze the relative contributions of southward advection of nitrate supplied through tidally-enhanced mixing in Discovery Passage and of local upwelling. This assessment will be based on analysis of SalishSeaCast simulations as well as additional numerical tracer experiments. We will discuss the importance of the phenomenon as a source of nutrients to the euphotic zone, fueling primary production in the northern Strait of Georgia.
Session Title
Modeling Change in the Transboundary Salish Sea
Keywords
Modelling, Phytoplankton, Nitrate
Conference Track
SSE15: Data and Information Management
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE15-650
Start Date
5-4-2018 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2018 1:45 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Ecosystem management--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Nitrates--Environmental aspects--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Salish Sea model ecosystem - lower trophic: episodic nutrient supply in the northern Strait of Georgia
Salish Sea Model Ecosystem - Lower Trophic (SMELT) is a three-dimensional biogeochemical model coupled to a NEMO-based physical model of the Salish Sea, run operationally at UBC as part of the SalishSeaCast system. In this presentation, we will first establish the model's skill at reproducing nitrate concentrations by comparison with data from the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s citizen science program and Institute of Ocean Sciences repeat surveys. We will then discuss episodic nitrate supply to the surface waters of the northwest Strait of Georgia. This phenomenon is evident as a region of elevated mean (March-November) and standard deviation (April-September) of surface nitrate stretching from Discovery Passage to Baynes Sound in a monthly climatology based on simulations from fall 2014 to present. We will analyze the relative contributions of southward advection of nitrate supplied through tidally-enhanced mixing in Discovery Passage and of local upwelling. This assessment will be based on analysis of SalishSeaCast simulations as well as additional numerical tracer experiments. We will discuss the importance of the phenomenon as a source of nutrients to the euphotic zone, fueling primary production in the northern Strait of Georgia.
