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A dynamic mass balance model for phosphorus fluxes and concentrations in coastal areas

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

This paper presents a general, process-based mass balance model (CoastMab) for total phosphorus (TP) in defined coastal areas (at the ecosystem scale). The model is based on ordinary differential equations and calculates inflow, outflow and internal fluxes on a monthly basis. It consists of four compartments: surface water, deep water, erosion/transportation areas for fine sediments and accumulation areas for fine sediments. The separation between surface water and deep water is not done based on water temperature, but on sedimentological criteria instead (from the theoretical wave base). There are algorithms for all major internal TP fluxes (sedimentation, resuspension, diffusion, mixing and burial). Validations were performed using data from 21 different Baltic coastal areas. The results show that the model predicts monthly TP in water and chlorophyll a very well (generally within the uncertainty bands of the empirical data). The model has also been put through sensitivity tests, which show that the most important factor regulating the predictions of the model is generally the TP concentration in the sea beyond the coast. The model is simple to apply, since all driving variables may be accessed from maps or monitoring programs. The driving variables include coastal area, section area (between the defined coastal area and the adjacent sea), mean and maximum depths, latitude (used to predict water temperatures, stratification and mixing), salinity and TP concentration in the sea. Many of the model structures are general and could be used for areas other than those included in this study, e.g., for open coasts, estuaries or tidal coasts, as well as for other substances than phosphorus.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been carried out within the framework of the Thresholds projects and integrated EU project coordinated by Prof. Carlos M. Duarte, CSIC University Illes Balears, Spain, and the author would like to acknowledge the financial support from the EU and the constructive cooperation that occurred within the project. We would also like to specifically thank Magnus Karlsson not just for supplying data from two coastal areas (Gävle and Gårdfjäden), but also for providing valuable contributions at earlier stages of model development. The data from Åland (Finland) emanate from the monitoring program performed by the Environmental Department (The Local Government) in The City of Mariehamn, which is acknowledged here for sharing data with us.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden

    Lars Håkanson & Jenny M. Eklund

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  1. Lars Håkanson
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  2. Jenny M. Eklund
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Correspondence to Lars Håkanson.

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Håkanson, L., Eklund, J.M. A dynamic mass balance model for phosphorus fluxes and concentrations in coastal areas. Ecol Res 22, 296–320 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-006-0045-5

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