Antarctic ecosystems: From microscopic plants to penguins
Kristen Krumhardt
7:00 – 8:30 pm MST
The Antarctic is undergoing rapid systemic change, marked by significant reductions in frozen water, including glaciers, ice shelves and sheets, and sea ice. This unprecedented transformation will have profound impacts on polar ecosystems, affecting life from phytoplankton to penguins and, ultimately, people.
In this NSF NCAR Explorer Series lecture, Dr. Kristen Krumhardt and Dr. Alice DuVivier explore how Earth System Models (ESMs) are used to investigate polar ecosystem change. They also discuss possible implications for people and animals in these regions and policy considerations to help protect vulnerable ecosystems.
Lecture Preview
Kristen Krumhardt
Kristen Krumhardt is a Project Scientist in the Oceanography section of CGD at NSF NCAR. She works on modeling biology in the ocean, specifically phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics, and contributes to development of the ocean ecosystem model in the Community Earth System Model (CESM). Her research is mainly focused on analyzing how variability in climate systems influence phytoplankton communities and how this may impact higher trophic levels. Kristen also enjoys doing scientific art and illustrations.
Alice DuVivier
Alice DuVivier is a Project Scientist in the Paleo-Polar Climate section of CGD at NSF NCAR. Her work focuses on the polar regions and changes in these ecosystems. She uses the Community Earth System Model (CESM) to investigate physical processes and changes in the Arctic and Antarctic. Her interests include understanding exchanges of energy and moisture between the sea ice, atmosphere, and ocean. She also investigates how the changing polar regions will affect natural ecosystems and the people living and working in these regions. Alice enjoys getting outside and enjoying nature.