Marine Ecosystem Dynamics Modeling Laboratory
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About MEDML
The Marine Ecosystem Dynamics Modeling Laboratory (MEDML) at the School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth houses an active research team with focus on coastal and estuarine circulation, frontal dynamics, bio-physical interaction, suspended sediment processes, and ecosystem modeling. The University of Massachusetts School of Marine Science is also a graduate education center providing both M.S. and Ph.D. degreee training in the MEDML. We have successfully developed an unstructured grid, Finite-Volume, primitive equation Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) that is well suited for simulating the circulation and ecosystem dynamics from global to estuarine scales, particularly for regions characterized by irregular complex coastlines, islands, inlets, creeks, and inter-tidal zones.

In collaboration with scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), we are building an integrated high-resolution model system that is capable of hindcasts, nowcasts, and forecasts of circulation and key ecosystem processes in coastal oceans and estuaries.

The major components of this system include: 1) a meso-scale meteorological model, 2) FVCOM, 3) a sediment model based on the Community Sediment Transport Model, 4) a generalized lower trophic level food web model, 5) multi-stage zooplankton models, and 6) the EPA-standard water quality model. A GUI has been developed for system operation and post-processing. In collaboration with scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), we have implemented both ensemble and reduced Kalman filters into FVCOM to build a model-based observing and prediction coastal ocean system.

MEDML is a high-performance computational center for ocean modeling equipped with a super performance Linux cluster. This multiprocessing computing facility has extended the research interests of MEDML to the global ocean. A FVCOM-based high resolution Atlantic Ocean Model,with full coupling between global and coastal systems, is being developed at MEDML.

MEDML welcomes applications for graduate study from talented students in the fields of physical oceanography, biology, and fishery science. Students will receive solid training in both physical and ecosystem dynamics and an opportunity to participate in state of the art research in ocean sciences.