About me
I am a physical oceanographer in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Gothenburg, where I study how storms, eddies, and other fine-scale ocean–atmosphere interactions move heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere, ocean surface, and deep ocean. I completed my PhD in physical oceanography at the University of Cape Town and Southern Ocean Carbon Climate Observatory, followed by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship in Sweden that focused on autonomous observations and air–sea exchange in the Southern Ocean. Now, I lead a research group supported by a Swedish Research Council Establishment Grant and an ERC Starting Grant (SOFIA), combining autonomous ocean robotics, satellite observations, and high-resolution coupled models to reveal how fine-scale processes shape Southern Ocean heat and CO₂ uptake.
My Approach
I combine data collected by autonomous ocean robotics, satellite observations and numerical ocean–atmosphere models, my team and I investigate how short-term weather patterns influence climate variations over years to decades.
In situ ocean and atmosphere observations
Much of my research uses measurements of ocean and atmosphere properies obtained from autonomous ocean platforms such as profiling gliders, surface uncrewed vehicles, and profiling floats. These platforms, developed and deployed over the last few decades, have shown to be highly useful in revealing the high-frequency nature of ocean and atmospheric variability, and their interactions and implicitons for air-sea exchange.
The pictures above show several of the autonomous platforms that I use in my research. The Seaglider (top left), Wave Glider (top right), and Sailbuoy (bottom left) are the three I work mostly with, from sensor integration, deployment/retrieval and piloting experience. A fundamnetally important tool used for ocean research is the CTD. The bottom right photo is from one of our deployments in the Southern Ocean during the SO-CHIC field campaign. Photo credits: Louise Biddle (Seaglider) and Pedro Monteiro (Wave Glider), Timo Hecken (Sailbuoy).
I have been fortunate to be able to deploy these autonomous platforms far out into the ocean on several research expiditions, with my first experience to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica during my honours year at the University of Cape Town. To date I have participated in seven research expeditions on several world class vessels. I am hugely grateful to those who have provided the opportunity for me to build my career as a sea going oceanographer.
3D Modelling
For my ERC SOFIA project, I will bring new expertise in 3D modelling capabilities by analysing the Global, Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Simulation with Kilometer-Scale Resolution run and hosted by JPL-NASA. This is a unique, first-of-its-kind simulation in its resolution that will be used to reveal the role of high-frequency processes in shaping ocean heat uptake.
A visualization of strong polar winds interacting with a highly dynamic and energetic ocean surface. Source: Hector Torres @ JPL-NASA
Recent Updates
- Blog on storms and autonomous ocean robotics
2025-12-12
Behind the Paper blog post for Springer Nature Research Communities: “Southern Ocean Warming: Storms and the Importance of Robotic Observations”.
- Publication on submesoscale-driven ventilation
2025-12-10
Renske Koets, a masters student of ours has had her first publication accepted in Ocean Sciences journal “Observations of tracer ventilation in the Cape Basin, Agulhas Current Retroflection”.
- Publication on Southern Ocean warming
2025-12-03
New first author publication in Nature Geosciences - “Southern Ocean summer warming is regulated by storm-driven mixing”.
Research interests
Air-sea interactions; Submesoscale dynamics; Mid-latitude cylones; Ocean heat and CO2 uptake; Autonomous ocean observations