LTRANS

Project homepage @ HPL: http://northweb.hpl.umces.edu/LTRANS.htm

Overview

The Larval TRANSport Lagrangian model (LTRANS) is an off-line particle-tracking model that runs with the stored predictions of a 3D hydrodynamic model, specifically the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). LTRANS has also been implemented for a finite element hydrodynamic model (QUODDY) but the code is not ready for release. Although LTRANS was built to simulate oyster larvae, it can easily be adapted to simulate passive particles and other plantonic organisms.

LTRANS is written in Fortran 90. It includes a 4th order Runge-Kutta scheme for particle advection and a random displacement model for vertical turbulent particle motion. Reflective boundary conditions, larval behavior, and settlement routines are also included. LTRANS was built by Elizabeth North and Zachary Schlag of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Horn Point Laboratory.

Funding was provided by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, National Science Foundation Biological Oceanography Program, and NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. Open-source model code and Users Guide will be released on July 17-18, 2008. Relevant publications include North et al. 2006a, North et al. 2006b, and North et al. in press.

For more information, see LTRANS Model Description PDF by Elizabeth North (April 18 2008)

Model Description

A brief description of the LTRANS particle-tracking model can be found here (68 KB .pdf). Here is a citation for a peer-reviewed paper that describes the application of the LTRANS model to oyster larvae transport:

A web page with summary information and model animations about this application can be found here. The code for the graphics program that created the animated images will also released in mid-July.

LTRANS Publications