PAL-LTER

Project Overview

The Palmer Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research program has been studying the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) ecosystem since 1990, documenting responses to rapid regional climate change. My PhD research within PAL-LTER focused on understanding how physical oceanographic processes control phytoplankton dynamics in coastal Antarctic waters.

I deployed underwater gliders equipped with biogeochemical sensors to capture high-resolution observations of mixed layer depth, light availability, nutrient delivery, and phytoplankton physiology. This work revealed how bathymetric features like canyons create localized productivity hotspots that support penguin foraging.

The research demonstrated how physical-biological coupling shapes ecosystem structure along the WAP, providing insights into how ongoing climate change may affect this critical polar marine system. I also spent a full field season (5 months) at Palmer Station conducting weekly oceanographic sampling.