The COHERENS model

[COupled Hydrodynamical Ecological model for REgioNal Shelf seas]

COHERENS is a three-dimensional hydrodynamic multi-purpose model for coastal and shelf seas, which is coupled to biological, resuspension and contaminant models, and resolves mesoscale to seasonal scale processes. The program has been developed over the period of 1990-1998 by a multinational European group, as part of the MAST projects PROFILE, NOMADS and COHERENS funded by the European Union.

The main features of COHERENS are:

1. a physical component with modules for currents, salinity and temperature;
2. a module for simulating biological cycling processes,
3. a sediment module describing the deposition and erosion of suspended organic and inorganic material;
4. Eulerian and Lagrangian modules to simulate the advective-diffusive transport of contaminants.

The COHERENS model is now freely available for the scientific community and management authorities. The program can be considered as a tool for a better understanding of the physical and ecological processes and for the prediction, monitoring of waste material in shelf seas and coastal areas. Its ease of implementation across a range of computing platforms (multiprocessor systems, UNIX workstations, PCs under LINUX/DOS) means that it will be attractive to groups with a sufficient expertise in modelling, who have need of sophisticated model products. Important advantages of the model are its transparency due to its modular structure and its flexibility because of the possibility of selecting different processes, specific schemes or different types of forcing for a particular application. This allows its use for process studies as well as for predictive or operational purposes without prior knowledge of its detailed structure. Future developments can be implemented without affecting the core of the program.

The COHERENS FORTRAN source code and an extensive documentation will be made available to you after completing the registration form. Interested users are requested to read first the License Agreement in the registration form, and the conditions for User Support. For further information contact P.Luyten@mumm.ac.be.