Dr. James Kremer, Professor of Marine Science at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point gave a presentation of models that are used to monitor and manage shallow coastal embayments bordering Long Island Sound. The lecture was divided into three parts: a general background of Long Island Sound, description of some models, and the results of the models.

Worldwide use of nitrogen fertilizer has seen an increase from 25% to 75% in just a few decades, which has lead to tremendous changes in the environment. Since fertilizer is largely used in the production of agricultural products that can be transported regionally, we have seen major fluxes of nitrogen transferred into urban areas. Since coastal urban areas have grown more rapidly than other areas, coastal zones have seen nitrogen and phosphorous loading rates of 50 to 100 times greater than the rate at which we apply fertilizer to intensive agricultural systems. Eutrophication in coastal estuaries can lead to development of high biomass, reduction of water clarity, loss of vascular plants, and hypoxia or anoxia.

Dr. Kremer's talk provides a new view on how models are generated and interpreted, and an informed perspective on the challenges of finding the most appropriate model for a particular research area.