I conducted master’s work at the University of Delaware with Matt Oliver in the ORB Lab. While at UD, my research investigated sea surface kinetic energy as a proxy for phytoplankton light limitation in the Southern Ocean through the use of SOCCOM floats as well as satellite and modeled parameters. Our JGR: Oceans’ publication showed that low surface kinetic energy behaves like a necessary but not sufficient condition for high chlorophyll concentrations. In high kinetic energy conditions, high chlorophyll concentrations are rare. Conversely, both high and low chlorophyll concentrations were observed under low kinetic energy conditions. We showed that higher kinetic energy conditions are related to deeper mixed layers, likely a proxy for local light conditions.

Mean surface kinetic energy and mean surface chlorophyll concentration relationship derived in the Southern Ocean from 2003 to 2017.