Alina Chen ’24, Computer Science

Alina Chen ’24

Major

Computer Science

Project Title

Drivers of Opposing Seasonal Cycles of Mixed Layer Oxygen in the Southern Ocean Sea-Ice Zone

Certificate(s): Neuroscience

I studied the factors driving spatial and temporal variations in primary production and ocean biogeochemistry in the high-latitude Southern Ocean. Phytoplankton growth supports vast marine ecosystems and plays a critical role in regulating the global ocean carbon cycle. Due to the harsh conditions around Antarctica, there have been sparse historical observations of the Southern Ocean and little is known about the processes that drive primary production. I analyzed data from cutting-edge robotic floats deployed in the past five to 10 years in the Ross Sea to understand regional biogeochemistry and its evolution as global warming progresses. Using the programming language Python to perform my analyses, I identified opposing oxygen seasonal cycles in the ocean’s mixed layer that vary spatially across the Ross Sea. I then created plots to dissect the drivers of this variability. I learned through this internship how to analyze and visualize data using computational software, and I became familiar with the literature on Southern Ocean water masses, circulation and biogeochemistry. I also was encouraged to explore more environmental research opportunities and take additional classes in data analysis/visualization and geosciences.