WHOI’s Biology & Physical Oceanography Departments are seeking a PDI to develop ecosystem models assessing the impacts of offshore wind development on the Northeast U.S. continental shelf.
This project will develop new ecosystem models for the Northeast U.S. continental shelf and couple them with existing high-resolution physical circulation models. Using the ROMS framework, the models will incorporate trait- and size-based representations of plankton communities and biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and iron. The project will examine how offshore wind–driven changes in circulation and mixing affect nutrient supply and ecosystem responses, especially zooplankton food resources for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Model development will be supported by autonomous vehicle–based field sampling across turbine, wind farm, and regional scales for calibration and validation. The project also offers opportunities to engage with ecological managers and regional stakeholders.
Please see more information below for details and application