Model benchmarks for coastal lagoons

To promote reliable, real-time management of coastal lagoons, increasingly sophisticated numerical models have been developed within the DITTY project. While models are diverse in design and scope, i.e. watershed, fluid-dynamics, biogeochemical, all have the same fundamental goal, i.e. to account realistically for the processes that drive the dynamic behaviour in coastal lagoons so that their status may ultimately be predicted and the effects of mitigation actions be properly evaluated, resulting on a series of good management practices that increase the sustainability of these fragile ecosystems. The intent of the Intercomparison analysis work package is to establish a standard set of input parameters and numerical “experiments” to be performed by various existing models so that independent results could be meaningfully compared and evaluated, having in mind the diversity of approach and systems (watershed, lagoon, adjacent coastal area). Furthermore, though comparison, conceptual weakness could be identified and targeted for further exploration by the DITTY partners as a whole. In this report (D16), that follows D15 in which we described summarised and analysed the employed models in the DITTY community, we have carried out several intercomparison exercises taking into account the diversity of the model employed. The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policymaking process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.