MEME - Network of Experts
MEME - Network of Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine Environment
The 'Kick-off workshop of the Network of Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine Environment: Eutrophication modelling and Descriptor 5 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive' was held on 20-21 January 2016 in Brussels, Belgium, jointly organized by DG Environment and JRC. The aim of this workshop was to learn about existing modelling work and to draw lessons for the build-up of the European modelling effort. In this context, the workshop consisted of 18 presentations on the use of marine ecosystem models to address indicators within Descriptor 5 of the MFSD in coastal zones and European regional seas, including assessment, indicator development and scenario building. Some other descriptors were also covered by the presentations and discussions. The presentations dealt with:
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The workshop also served as the inception meeting of the newly created informal network of experts on the Modelling of the European Marine Environment (MEME). The participants were invited to join the network DG Environment and DG JRC emphasizing the added value of a joint effort to further develop modelling capabilities with the objective of providing useful advice for policy makers. This was well received by the attendants. The report summarises the workshop and provides further detail on the presentations, discussion and conclusions. The series of workshops continued until 2019, but was disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020. |
The second workshop of the 'Network of Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine Environment' was held on 22-23 March 2017 in Brussels, Belgium, jointly organized by DG Environment and DG JRC (Water and Marine Resources Unit) within the framework of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD). The aim of this workshop was to continue the information exchange between the Commission and marine modelling experts. Another important objective of this initiative is to narrow the gap between modellers and decision makers in order to better exploit the full utility of models. In this context, the workshop consisted of 17 presentations covering the wide use of marine ecosystem models to address several indicators of the MFSD in coastal zones and European regional seas, including assessment, indicator development and scenario building. The presentations were comprising the following topics:
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The participants were invited to join the network informal 'Network of experts on the Modelling of the European Marine Environment (MEME)'. DG Environment and DG JRC emphasized the added value of a joint effort to further develop modelling capabilities with the objective of providing useful advice for policy makers. The respective report summarizes the workshop and provides further detail on the presentations, discussion and conclusions. |
The third workshop of the 'Network of Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine Environment' was held on 20-21 March 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, jointly organized by DG Environment and DG JRC (Water and Marine Resources Unit) within the framework of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD). The aim of this workshop was to continue the information exchange between the Commission and marine modelling experts with a particular focus this year on high trophic levels modelling. Contributions addressed innovative modelling approaches in coastal zones and European regional seas using ecosystem/food web modelling for assessment, indicator development and scenario building in support of MSFD implementation. One aim of the workshop was to learn about existing work and to draw lessons for the build-up of the European modelling effort. Another important objective of this initiative was to narrow the gap between modellers and decision makers in order to better exploit the full utility of models. Researchers from around the EU and the world provided a total of 17 presentations. The respective report summarizes the workshop and provides further detail on the presentations, discussion and conclusions. |
The fourth workshop of the 'Network of Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine Environment' was held on 19-20 November 2019 in Ispra, Italy, jointly organized by DG Environment and DG JRC (Water and Marine Resources Unit) within the framework of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD). The aim of this workshop was to continue the information exchange between the Commission and marine modelling experts with a particular focus this year on the links between land-based management options and their impact on different aspects of the marine ecosystems downstream. A multi-model ensemble approach was followed in which different marine models for the diverse EU basins were fed with common rivers' load scenarios based on a set of pre-defined pressures at continental level. Both low-trophic level models and high-trophic level models were involved in the exercise to increase confidence in the results and to assess the uncertainty associated to model structure and deficiencies. In total 19 research groups from different MS institutions provided 13 low-trophic levels models and 9 high-trophic levels models to the ENSEMBLE. General and basin specific conclusions on the impacts of the freshwater scenarios on descriptors associated to the MSFD were drawn from the different simulations. The respective report summarizes the workshop and provides further detail on the presentations, discussion and conclusions. The series of workshops was disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, but will continue in 2021 with a workshop dedicated to the modeling of litter/plastics in the marine environment. |
