Numerical modeling of physical processes in the North Sea and Wadden Sea with GETM/GOTM

At the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), several research projects are carried out on the concentration and transport of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in the Southern North Sea and Wadden Sea. So far the focus has been on field data collection and analysis, but in recent years a numerical modeling capacity has been set up, using the GETM/GOTM model. The underlying purpose is twofold. Firstly, a numerical model can provide insight into the hydrodynamics and SPM transport, complementing field observations, helping to interpret and identify the key physical mechanisms. Secondly, it provides a much-needed tool in ecological studies, forming the basic physical core on which the transport of for instance nutrients and larvae depends; thus, these kinds of numerical models provide a valuable bridge in interdisciplinary studies. First steps in the use of the model are reported here, offering a synopsis of its potential.