Advancing research on ocean dynamics for climate and marine conservation

 

Summary and general objective

The overarching goal of my recent and future research is to advance the understanding of ocean dynamics and their implications for climate regulation, extreme events, and marine conservation. While my previous work focused on mesoscale and submesoscale dynamics using in situ and satellite observations, with a strong emphasis on vertical velocities and SWOT validation, I am now expanding my research to address three interconnected themes:

1. The influence of mesoscale dynamics on large-scale ocean circulation and climate.
2. The study of extreme oceanic events, with a focus on marine heatwaves.
3. The role of ocean dynamics in biodiversity conservation.

 

Specific objectives

(i) Evaluate the impact of mesoscale dynamics on large-scale circulation and climate:
I am building upon my EKE study in the Gulf Stream, extending the analysis to evaluate the impact of mesoscale dynamics on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This objective is in line with my contribution as a core member of an ISSI/ISSI-BJ International Team, selected through a competitive international call, which brings together experts in ocean observations, modelling, and theory to investigate the links between the AMOC, mesoscale variability, and sea-level change.

 

(ii) Investigate marine heatwaves (MHWs):
I am supervising the PhD thesis of Blanca Fernández-Álvarez, focused on studying MHWs in the Mediterranean Sea. A major component of this research is the MonSubHeat project, for which I am the Principal Investigator. I was granted 45 days of access to SOCIB’s glider fleet for the project MonSubHeat: Monitoring the Subsurface Signature of Marine Heatwaves in the Balearic Sea through the Glider Fleet Competitive Open Access (SOCIB 2024 N.2 AAC). This pioneering in situ experiment took place in summer 2025 to observe the subsurface signature and evolution of MHWs. This work contributes to the ObsSea4Clim project. A relevant publication on this topic is available here.

 

(iii) Evaluate the impact of ocean dynamics on the distribution of marine organisms:
This is the research I am conducting under my 3-year contract funded by the Balearic Government Vicenç Mut program. I apply Lagrangian techniques to simulate the distribution of eggs and larvae of different fish species in the Balearic Sea. This interdisciplinary research is based on my expertise in ocean currents and Lagrangian simulations in conjunction with the expertise of the fish ecology group at IMEDEA. Our final goal is to identify recruitment areas and evaluate the suitability of the current Marine Protected Areas for the protection and conservation of the studied species. This work contributes to the METARAOR project.