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Sensitivity of shelf sea marine ecosystems to temporal resolution of meteorological forcing
Phytoplankton phenology and the length of the growing season have implications that cascade through trophic levels and ultimately impact the global carbon flux to the seafloor. Coupled hydrodynamicâecosystem models must accurately predict timing and duration of phytoplankton blooms in order to predict the impact of environmental change on ecosystem dynamics. Meteorological conditions, such as solar irradiance, air temperature and windâspeed are known to strongly impact the timing of phytoplankton blooms. Here, we investigate the impact of degrading the temporal resolution of meteorological forcing (wind, surface pressure, air and dew point temperatures) from 1â24 hours using a 1D coupled hydrodynamicâecosystem model at two contrasting shelfâsea sites: one coastal intermediately stratified site (L4) and one offshore site with constant summer stratification (CCS). Higher temporal resolutions of meteorological forcing resulted in greater wind stress acting on the sea surface increasing water column turbulent kinetic energy. Consequently, the water column was stratified for a smaller proportion of the year producing a delayed onset of the spring phytoplankton bloom by up to 6 days, often earlier cessation of the autumn bloom, and shortened growing season of up to 23 days. Despite opposing trends in gross primary production between sites, a weakened microbial loop occurred with higher meteorological resolution due to reduced dissolved organic carbon production by phytoplankton caused by differences in resource limitation: light at CCS and nitrate at L4. Caution should be taken when comparing model runs with differing meteorological forcing resolutions. Recalibration of hydrodynamicâecosystem models may be required if meteorological resolution is upgraded
Environmental effects of SPS: The middle atmosphere
The heavy lift launch vehicle associated with the solar power satellite (SPS) would deposit in the upper atmosphere exhaust and reentry products which could modify the composition of the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower ionosphere. In order to assess such effects, atmospheric model simulations were performed, especially considering a geographic zone centered at the launch and reentry latitudes
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