You are here: Home → Data & Models → Models → BFM Model
 

Biogeochemical Flux Model

The Biogeochemical Flux Model (BFM) is a generalized biogeochemistry model based on a biomass-based continuum description of lower trophic levels in the marine environment. The major chemical and biological components are described in terms of functional groups by means of the theoretical concepts of Chemical Functional Families and Living Functional Groups (CFF and LFG, Vichi et al., 2007a). The model extends the original philosophy of ERSEM (European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model) and it was fully rewritten during the MFSTEP project taking into account both pelagic and benthic dynamics and the coupling between them in terms of the significant biogeochemical and ecological processes.

The global ocean implementation is called PELAGOS (Vichi et al., 2007a,b), which is a coupling with the OGCM OPA and the BFM. PELAGOS is one of the components of the CMCC Earth System Model.

From a biological point of view, the biota is subdivided in three major LFGs: producers (phytoplankton), decomposers (pelagic and benthic bacteria) and consumers (zooplankton and zoobenthos). These broad functional classifications are further partitioned into functional subgroups to create a food web (e.g. diatoms, picophytoplankton, microzooplankton, etc.). These groups interact with inorganic and organic non-living CFFs to develop the biogeochemical cycles of major elements (C, N, P, Si, O, etc.).

From a mathematical point of view, the BFM is written in terms of a set of ordinary differential equations. Its formulation goes beyond the classical population dynamics models due to a functional approach to marine ecosystems. The model equations allow a direct coupling with hydrodynamic models in the form of partial differential equations of Advection-Diffusion-Reaction (ADR).

The BFM is a research non-commercial product. It is written in FORTRAN90 (UNIX systems) and made available to the scientific community. The coding is highly modular and allows changes in the food web configuration and easy integration of new functional groups.

Document Actions
  • Send this
  • Print this