title: Strategies for transforming fine scale knowledge to management usability.
abstract: Simulation tools used for management purposes should fulfill several conditions by being computationally fast, user-friendly, realistic, generic and reliable. These traits are often counteracting since they simultaneously demand for model complexity as well as simplicity. Here we develop a strategy to overcome this general problem of environmental modelling for management use. Major ingredients are model analysis and reduction as new core components of the modelling process. In detail, a set of combined methods is proposed. Within a large class of models the set allows for automatically exploring model behaviour and for aggregating fine scale process knowledge together with spatio temporal resolution. Applications to a huge aquatic European regional seas ecosystem model (ERSEM), a complex photosynthesis model (PGEN) as well as a simple diagenetic model are presented. The analysis and aggregation methods provide first steps towards a new generation of decision support tools able to cope with an increase in scientific knowledge as well as management demands.
authors.affiliation: System Analysis and Modelling Group, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Germany. wirtz@icbm.de
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Wirtz
mesh_terms: D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D017753:Ecosystem; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011050:Policy Making; D011640:Public Policy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants