The circulation model is coupled wiht an 'individual-based' biological model of egg and larval growth resulting in coupled model tracks of large numbers of representative eggs and larvae as they migrate vertically and in the ocean current. The supercomputer circulation model is based on a semispectral primitive equation model modified by Hermann and others. About 250,000 grid points span the model domain, and a typical simulation of spring and summer months involves approximately 100,000 time steps. All this computation requires supercomputing resources. Hermann runs this model on the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center's CRAY Y-MP M98 supercomputer.
Biophysical simulations show how ocean currents affect the survival of pollock eggs and larvae.
This knowledge may someday be used by resource managers to increase production of this valuable resource. Hermann's research is one example of collaboration between PMEL and the University of Alaska that has been ongoing for the past 20 years.