Ecosystem model simulation in the eastern Indonesian Sea using ECOHAM: model description and validation Suliskania Nurfitri (a), Johannes Paetsch (b), Thomas Pohlmann (b)
a) Research Group of Oceanography, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jalan Ganesha 10, Bandung 40132 Indonesia
b) Institute of Oceanography, University of Hamburg, Bundesstrasse 53, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany
Abstract
The eastern Indonesian Sea comprises the Banda and Arafura Seas are subjected to monsoonal winds. Previous studies suggest upwelling in this region during the southeast monsoon from June to August, indicated by lower sea surface temperatures and elevated chlorophyll-a concentrations. We employed a three-dimensional (3D) biogeochemical model ECOHAM (ECOsystem model HAMburg) to understand upwelling mechanisms that drive high chlorophyll-a concentration in this area. ECOHAM is forced by ocean currents derived from HAMSOM (HAMburg Shelf Ocean Model), river run-off, atmospheric deposition, wind stress, and solar radiation. Since it is the first application of ECOHAM in a tropical region, particularly the Indonesian Sea, here we describe model parameterization and settings. In addition, we also present the model validation to nutrient and chlorophyll-a data from observations.
