TASMANIAN BRANCH
School of
Mathematics and Physics
Interactions between
physical and biological
processes in the ocean
Dr Pete Strutton
Institute for Marine and
Antarctic Studies, UTAS
28, May 2013, 8:00 P.M.
Physics Lecture Theatre 1, Sandy Bay Campus, University of Tasmania
ABSTRACT:
Ocean phytoplankton form the base of the marine food chain and produce half of
Earth's oxygen. Like terrestrial plants, they require light and nutrients to grow. In the
ocean, these two resources often don't co-occur, so physical processes such as mixing
and advection are required to bring the two together. In this presentation Dr Strutton
will talk about the ways in which physical processes such as upwelling and internal
waves can lead to spatial and temporal variability in ocean productivity. Dr Strutton
will also explain the less frequently discussed phenomena of biological feedbacks on
oceanic and atmospheric physics.
SPEAKER PROFILE:
Pete Strutton grew up in Adelaide and has a BSc Hons and PhD in marine science
from Flinders University. From 1997 to 2010 he worked in the US at the Monterey Bay
Aquarium Research Institute, Stony Brook University and Oregon State University. In
2010 he returned to Australia to take up an ARC Future Fellowship at UTAS. He is
currently working on projects spanning decadal change in the Southern Ocean and
coastal processes around Ningaloo reef.
FREE PUBLIC LECTURE - ALL WELCOME