Ocean modeling1

From SuperMe

Visualization of Whale Migration

Project Members

Project by: Stacey Gomm (University of Maine)
Advisors: Dr. Fei Chai (School of Marine Sciences, UMaine) and Dr. Huijie Xe (School of Marine Sciences, UMaine)

Project Summary

We have run model simulations of whale migrations and have some understanding of what goes on. We are interested now in how they find food. The next step is to put some "food" into our models in likely locations in the Gulf of Maine and come up with some algorithms for modeling how whales search for food. We will run the models and analyze the results both statistically and visually.

Background

SDC Notes
"Currently there is no bathymetry. Whales search for chlorophyl. We want to change it to search for the continental slope and swim northward and see where it ends up.

Modify Energy Meter change this according to Dan's thesis. assign coefficient based on chlorophyl density such that the total is positive by end of run. Try different coefficients to see how much energy there is after the run.

SST and Seawifs: 8-day averaged climatology

To start with we'll use Huijie's two file model and change it to work with the new scheme of following bathymetry."

Objective

REU 2009
There seems to be three parts to this project. First, create bathymetry to an already exciting two file model created by Huijie. Second, have the whales follow the continental slope and search for food. Lastly, implement an energy meter. My objective is to first create a third dimension to Huijie’s two file model. This will help us when the whales dive down. This also helps us with the second part of this project. The whales need to follow the continental slope. The second part of this project needs to have the whales follow large clusters of chlorophyll. The will help us understand where the whales end up. The third part of this project is to have an energy meter for the whales. Dan’s Thesis will help a lot with the understanding of the whales’ energy. We will try different coefficients based on chlorophyll density to see how much energy they have after the run. I only have 8 weeks to complete this project so I will take each step one at a time.

References

Tentative Schedule

Week 1 (06/1-06/07):
- SuperMe program orientation
Week 2 (06/08-06/014):
- Read background information
- Create project abstract
Week 3 (06/15-06/21):
- Continue to get familiar with MATLAB and start creating bathymetry
Week 4 (06/22-06/28):
- Finish bathymetry

Week 5 (06/29-07/05):
- Start mid-term report and review and recreate the old code
Week 6 (07/6-07/12):
- Finish mid-term and start new whale algorithm
Week 7 (07/13-07/19):
Week 8 (07/20-07/26):
- Continue analysis
- Begin to prepare report and presentation
Week 9 (07/27-08/2):
- Complete project report
- Prepare presentation
- Written report due -
Week 10 (08/3-08/07):
- Finish preparing poster and presentation
- Poster due -
- Final symposium - Friday, August 7th

Progress Reports

Week 1 (Program orientation)
Week 5 (Mid-Term)

Mid-Project Report

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