Model:ERSEM

ERSEM

Also known as
Model type	Modular
Model part of larger framework
Note on status model
Date note status model

Incorporated models or components:

Spatial dimensions	1D, 2D, 3D
Spatial extent
Model domain	Marine
One-line model description	European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model
Extended model description	ERSEM (European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model) is a marine biogeochemical and lower trophic level ecosystem model that simulates carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicate, and iron cycles in both pelagic and benthic environments. It uses variable stoichiometry and includes the microbial food web, making it one of the most mechanistically detailed marine ecosystem models available. Via the FABM coupling framework, ERSEM can be run as a 0D box model or coupled to 1D–3D hydrodynamic models (GOTM, NEMO, FVCOM) for applications from coastal to global ocean scales.

Keywords:	Marine biogeochemistry, Lower trophic levels, Shelf seas, Climate change, Ecosystem modeling, Nitrogen cycle, Nutrient cycling, Pelagic-benthic coupling,

Name	Jerry Blackford
Type of contact	Project manager
Institute / Organization	Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)
Postal address 1
Postal address 2
Town / City	Plymouth
Postal code	PL1 3DH
State
Country	United Kingdom
Email address	jcb@pml.ac.uk
Phone
Fax

Supported platforms	Unix, Linux, Mac OS
Other platform
Programming language	Fortran90, Python
Other program language
Code optimized	Multiple Processors
Multiple processors implemented	Distributed memory
Nr of distributed processors
Nr of shared processors
Start year development	1990
Does model development still take place?	Yes
If above answer is no, provide end year model development
Code development status	Active
When did you indicate the 'code development status'?	2026
Model availability	As code
Source code availability (Or provide future intension)	Through web repository
Source web address	https://github.com/pmlmodelling/ersem/
Source csdms web address
Program license type	GPL v3
Program license type other
Memory requirements	--
Typical run time	--

Describe input parameters	The key forcing variables ERSEM needs are: temperature, salinity, shortwave radiation/light attenuation, and nutrient concentrations (nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, silicate, iron) at open boundaries or as initial conditions.
Input format	ASCII, Binary
Other input format
Describe output parameters	Output variables include concentrations of all modeled state variables: the 4 phytoplankton groups, 3 zooplankton groups, bacteria, benthic fauna, dissolved inorganic nutrients (N, P, Si, Fe), dissolved organic matter, particulate organic matter, oxygen, dissolved inorganic carbon, alkalinity, pH, and calcite saturation.
Output format	Binary
Other output format
Pre-processing software needed?	No
Describe pre-processing software
Post-processing software needed?	No
Describe post-processing software
Visualization software needed?	No
If above answer is yes
Other visualization software

Describe processes represented by the model	--
Describe key physical parameters and equations	--
Describe length scale and resolution constraints	--
Describe time scale and resolution constraints	--
Describe any numerical limitations and issues	--

Describe available calibration data sets
Upload calibration data sets if available:
Describe available test data sets
Upload test data sets if available:
Describe ideal data for testing

Do you have current or future plans for collaborating with other researchers?

Is there a manual available?	No
Upload manual if available:
Model website if any	https://pml.ac.uk/projects/ersem-european-regional-seas-ecosystem-model/
Model forum / discussion board	https://github.com/pmlmodelling/ersem/issues

Comments

This part will be filled out by CSDMS staff

Can be coupled with:

Model info

Authors

Jerry Blackford

Source code

DOI

Model citations

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Featured reference(s)	Open Access Status	Year	Type of Reference	Cited
Butenschön, Momme; Clark, James; Aldridge, John N.; Allen, Julian Icarus; Artioli, Yuri; Blackford, Jeremy; Bruggeman, Jorn; Cazenave, Pierre; Ciavatta, Stefano; Kay, Susan; Lessin, Gennadi; van Leeuwen, Sonja; van der Molen, Johan; de Mora, Lee; Polimene, Luca; Sailley, Sevrine; Stephens, Nicholas; Torres, Ricardo; 2016. ERSEM 15.06: a generic model for marine biogeochemistry and the ecosystem dynamics of the lower trophic levels. Geoscientific Model Development, 91293–1339. 10.5194/gmd-9-1293-2016	cc-by · publishedVersion	2016	a module overview describing a module	302