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During the second phase (2003-2006) of the Mediterranean ocean Forecasting System Project (MFS) named Toward Environmental Predictions (MFSTEP) one of the three major aims was the development of numerical forecasting systems. In this context a generic Biogeochemical Flux Model (BFM) was developed and coupled with hydrodynamic models already operating at basin scale as well as in regional areas. In the Eastern Mediterranean basin the BFM was coupled with the Aegean Levantine Eddy Resolving MOdel (ALERMO). The BFM is a generic highly complex model based on ERSEM and although a detailed description of the model and its components is beyond the scope of this work, a short overview of the main processes, laying emphasis on the parameter values used is presented. In addition the performance of the model is evaluated with some preliminary results being qualitatively compared against field observations. The model in its present form is rather promising and reproduces all important major features although there are some slight inefficiencies mostly related to primary and bacterial productivity rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of atmospheric deposition on the marine ecosystem of the East Mediterranean Sea. Atmospheric deposition has been suggested to be more important than land inputs of nutrients to the East Mediterranean Sea. For the first time, atmospheric deposition measurements of dissolved inorganic phosphorous and nitrogen over Crete are used together with marine ecosystem observations in the Cretan Sea and a one-dimension physical/biogeochemical marine model. The adopted model configuration successfully reproduces observations of production rates and biomasses of phytoplankton and bacteria in the region. The atmospheric deposition of N and P to the East Mediterranean is shown to increase the primary production by 1–35% depending on season with the maximum impact calculated for summer and fall. Biomasses subsequently increase by 2–26% for phytoplankton and up to 7% for bacteria. The total organic carbon integrated year-around in the first 200m of the water column increases by about 30%. The results also show the importance of the rate of P preferential to N remineralization in the upper sea water layer for the marine productivity. Simulations indicate that continuous atmospheric inputs of nutrients over several decades can maintain the anomalously high N-to-P ratio observed in the East Mediterranean seawater. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]