Our research focuses on understanding the interactions between biogeochemical systems, freshwater, and ice in the coastal and open ocean
Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecology
The ocean has absorbed roughly 40% of fossil fuel CO2 emissions since the beginning of the industrial era. The ocean uptake of CO2 changes the chemistry of seawater, which causes ocean acidification and can negatively impact marine ecosystems. We are developing a NASA-funded global-ocean, data-assimilative ocean biogeochemistry state estimate (ECCO-Darwin) to understand how interactions between physical, chemical, and ecological processes influence ocean-land-atmosphere carbon exchange on regional-to-global scales.
Image credit: MIT Darwin Project
Ocean-ice Interactions
Melting of ice due to warming ocean waters drives the retreat and destabilization of sea ice and marine-terminating glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctica. We combine shipboard and mooring observations, theory, and high-resolution numerical ocean modeling to understand the complex interactions between coastal ocean physics and glaciers, terrestrial runoff, and sea ice and icebergs.
Ocean-ice Interactions
Melting of ice due to warming ocean waters drives the retreat and destabilization of sea ice and marine-terminating glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. We combine shipboard and mooring observations, theory, and high-resolution numerical ocean modeling to understand the complex interactions between the coastal ocean and glaciers, terrestrial freshwater, and sea ice and icebergs.
Estuarine and Fjord Processes
High-latitude estuaries and fjords act as mixing zones, regulating the outflow of freshwater to the coastal ocean and inflow of ocean waters that melt sea-ice and glaciers. We are focused on understanding the physical and biogeochemical processes that occur within these special regions, which are critical for predicting future changes in cryosphere behavior, ocean chemistry, ecosystems, and global sea-level rise.