FVCOM contains a generalized biological module (GBM) that could allow users to select either a pre-built biological model, such as NPZ, NPZD, etc. or construct their biological model using the pre-defined pool of biological variables and parameterization functions. We named it “FVCOM_GBM.” This module could be run simultaneously together with FVCOM with parallel execution (so-called “online” mode) or driven separately by FVCOM output (“offline” mode). This module would act as a platform allowing users to examine the relative importance of different physical and biological processes under well-calibrated physical fields.
The FVCOM development team has a productive record in ecosystem research, especially in developing coupled physical and biological models, exploring physical-biological interaction processes, and promoting interdisciplinary collaborations.
The U.S. GLOBEC Georges Bank Program started in the early 90s of the last century with the goal of examining the impacts of global warming on physical and ecosystem responses in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Dr. Peter Frank and Dr. Changsheng Chen were scientists who promoted the collaboration of physical and biological oceanographers. Coupling a simple nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton model with a primitive equation, turbulence-closure hydrodynamical model, they successfully simulated the biophysical processes to drive pronounced phytoplankton patch at tidal mixing front over Georges Bank (Frank and Chen, 1996). This work provided us insights into the roles of tidal-induced mixing in nutrient pumping toward the density front. It illustrated the detail of physical-biological interaction through easily understandable, informative animations. It was a milestone to demonstrate how biological and physical oceanographers could collaborate to explore the marine ecosystem’s nature, especially during the early time when geoscience started directing interdisciplinary research.
The FVCOM development team demonstrated the FVCOM’s capability of simulating the complex ecosystem processes in the ocean and estuaries, including the plankton variability due to the high-frequency non-hydrostatic internal waves (Lai et al., 2010), tidal and shelf-break fronts (Frank and Chen, 1996, 2001, Lewis et al., 2011, Ji et al., 2006a, 2006b, Tian and Chen, 2006), tidal mixing and coastal currents (Ji et al., 2007; Ji et al., 2009; Runge et al., 2010; Tian et al., 2014; Runge et al., 2010; Ji et al., 2017), low-salinity plumes (Chen et al., 1997), sediment-resuspension plumes (Chen et al., 2002, Ji et al., 2002, Chen et al., 2004a; Chen et al., 2004b. Vanderploeg et al., 2007), estuaries (Chen et al., 1999; Chen et al., 2003, Ge et al., 2020), and, ice-sea interactions (Ji et al., 2011, Elliott et al., 2017).
Block 1
The animation displays the temperature change across Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 2D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation displays the nutrient change across Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 2D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation displays the phytoplankton change across Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 2D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation provides an enlarged view of the temperature change on the northern flank of Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 2D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation provides an enlarged view of the nutrient change on the northern flank of Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 2D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation provides an enlarged view of the phytoplankton change on the northern flank of Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 2D coupled physical and NPZ model.
Block 2
The animation displays the changes in the near-surface temperature and phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a simple 3D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation displays the changes in the near-surface zooplankton and nutrients in the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a simple 3D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation displays the temperature and phytoplankton changes across Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 3D coupled physical and NPZ model.
The animation displays the zooplankton and nutrient changes across Georges Bank. The simulation was made by a simple 3D coupled physical and NPZ model.
Block 3
The animation displays the changes in the near-surface nutrient concentrations in the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a 3D coupled physical and NPZ model with an initial condition specified by the climatological data.
The animation displays the changes in the near-surface phytoplankton biomass in the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a 3D coupled physical and NPZ model with an initial condition specified by the climatological data.
The animation displays the changes in nutrient concentration across the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a 3D coupled physical and NPZ model with an initial condition specified by the climatological data.
The animation displays the changes in the phytoplankton biomass across the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a 3D coupled physical and NPZ model with an initial condition specified by the climatological data.
The animation displays the formation of the phytoplankton patch over Georges Bank. The simulation was done using the individual-based NPZ model in the given physical field.
The animation illustrates the phytoplankton variability across Stellwagen Bank in Massachusetts Bay, driven by high-frequency interval waves. The simulation was done using a coupled nonhydrostatic FVCOM and NPZ model (Lai et al., 2010).
Block4
The animation displays the larval fish movement across the tidal mixing front over Georges Bank. The simulation was done for the cases with only tidal and tidal plus mean wind forcings, respectively.
The animation displays the changes in the near-surface phytoplankton biomass in the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a 3D coupled physical and NPZ model with an initial condition specified by the climatological data.
The animation displays the changes in nutrient concentration across the Gulf of Maine. The simulation was made by a 3D coupled physical and NPZ model with an initial condition specified by the climatological data.
Block5
The animation illustrates the dispersion and settlement of scallop larvae in the U.S. Northeast over 40 days after spawning (Chen et al., 2021).
The animation illustrates the dispersion and movement of chub mackerel (Scomber Japonicus) larvae in the East China Sea (Li et al., 2014).
