Processes in regions of freshwater influence-PROFILE

This EC MAST project aims to develop process understanding and tested numerical models for regions of freshwater influence (ROFI). This includes the role of physical processes controlling water-property distributions, suspended sediments controlling the availability of light, nutrients and phytoplankton growth. The project comprises: construction of a 3D nearshore model, with high resolution (one hour and one kilometre approximately) and a framework coupling modules for hydrodynamics (tides, effects of winds and waves, currents, temperature, salinity, turbulence and diffusivity), sediments, plankton, nutrients and oxygen; specific tests of model components against measurements; tests of model calculations against measurements in contrasted ROFIs; systematic observations of the contrasted Rhine, Clyde and Thermaikos Bay ROFIs complementing earlier measurements in the ROFI areas of the Rhine, German Bight and Po