FABM-PCLake – linking aquatic ecology with hydrodynamics

Abstract

Abstract. This study presents FABM-PCLake, a redesigned structure of the PCLake aquatic ecosystem model, which we implemented in the Framework for Aquatic Biogeochemical Models (FABM). In contrast to the original model, which was designed for temperate, fully mixed freshwater lakes, the new FABM-PCLake represents an integrated aquatic ecosystem model that can be linked with different hydrodynamic models and allows simulations of hydrodynamic and biogeochemical processes for zero-dimensional, one-dimensional as well as three-dimensional environments. FABM-PCLake describes interactions between multiple trophic levels, including piscivorous, zooplanktivorous and benthivorous fish, zooplankton, zoobenthos, three groups of phytoplankton and rooted macrophytes. The model also accounts for oxygen dynamics and nutrient cycling for nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon, both within the pelagic and benthic domains. FABM-PCLake includes a two-way communication between the biogeochemical processes and the physics, where some biogeochemical state variables (e.g., phytoplankton) influence light attenuation and thereby the spatial and temporal distributions of light and heat. At the same time, the physical environment, including water currents, light and temperature influence a wide range of biogeochemical processes. The model enables studies on ecosystem dynamics in physically heterogeneous environments (e.g., stratifying water bodies, and water bodies with horizontal gradients in physical and biogeochemical properties), and through FABM also enables data assimilation and multi-model ensemble simulations. Examples of potential new model applications include climate change impact studies and environmental impact assessment scenarios for temperate, sub-tropical and tropical lakes and reservoirs.

Climate Change Will Make Recovery from Eutrophication More Difficult in Shallow Danish Lake Søbygaard

“…Therefore, PCLake may to some extent underestimate the future dominance of cyanobacteria. However, a new development by [83], which can resolve PCLake in a physically explicit structure (e.g., vertically), may allow more realistic predictions by PCLake in future studies. Our results are evidently of a magnitude that indicates strong effects of a future temperature increase and should therefore be considered when planning long-term management of lakes.…”

Coupling Water Column and Sediment Biogeochemical Dynamics: Modeling Internal Phosphorus Loading, Climate Change Responses, and Mitigation Measures in Lake Vansjø, Norway

“…Popular approaches to couple sediment processes to lake water column models have included the incorporation of an empirical bottom flux boundary (Schmid et al, 2017) and vertically integrated submodules (e.g., oxic and anoxic layers; Janssen et al, 2015;Matzinger et al, 2010;Mooij et al, 2011;Schmid et al, 2017). Several well-established lake models, such as FABM-PCLake (Hu et al, 2016), DYRESM-CAEDYM (Trolle et al, 2008), CE-QUAL-W2 (Zhang et al, 2015), GLM (Hipsey et al, 2017), and DELWAQ (Smits & van Beek, 2013), were built on variations of those approaches in order to represent sediment-water interactions.…”

Modular System for Shelves and Coasts (MOSSCO v1.0) – a flexible and multi-component framework for coupled coastal ocean ecosystem modelling

“…Many well known biogeochemical process models have been coded in the FABM standard by various institutes, such as the European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM, Butenschön et al, 2016), ERGOM (Hinners et al, 2015), PCLake (Hu et al, 2016) and the Bottom RedOx Model (BROM, Yakushev et al, 2017). All biogeochemical models complying with the FABM standard can equally be used in MOSSCO, while retaining their functionality.…”