Dr Jonathan Lauderdale MSci, PhD

I investigate the role of the Southern Ocean in the global carbon cycle and atmospheric carbon dioxide changes by examining the extent to which processes in the Southern Ocean govern atmosphere-ocean partitioning of CO2 in an ocean model, focusing on links between circulation, nutrient distributions and biological productivity during glacial-interglacial cycles. I am also interested in the cycling of dissolved iron and its effect on nitrogen fixation in the tropical Atlantic, as well as the impact of dust supply to the Southern Ocean (again relating to the glacial-interglacial cycles).

A key methodology that I use explores the application of composite biogeochemical tracers and integral numerical frameworks, for example using dissolved oxygen concentration to provide more detail about the carbon cycle and global efficiency of biological production. With climate and Earth system models becoming more and more complex, such diagnostics provide a robust and simplifying framework in which to interpret and compare their results.

I have previously investigated turbulent mixing in the western boundary current system off Cape Farewell at the southern tip of Greenland.

Recently, I have started collaborating with colleagues in the Department of Geography integrating data from climate modelling, atmospheric reanalysis products and disease forecasting systems to predict the likelihood of epidemics of vector-borne diseases such as malaria in Africa and India as part of the "Quantifying Weather and Climate Impacts on Health in Developing Countries" (QWeCI) and "Healthy Futures" projects.