NATALIE M. FREEMAN

In my research and collaborative work, I use a combination of observations and models to investigate the unique relationships between physical and biogeochemical oceanography. I'm excited by questions like, 'How do physical processes (e.g., winds, fronts, upwelling, warming) impact local biogeochemistry (e.g., nutrient availability, phytoplankton communities, air-sea carbon flux)?' I'm currently involved in projects focused in the California Current System along the US west coast, where ecosystems are increasingly inundated by multiple stressors, such as the co-occurrence of a marine heatwave and ocean acidification. I'm also leading an effort to better understand how large-scale climate variability uniquely impacts the five National Marine Sanctuaries along the US west coast, including identifying the key physical and biogeochemical ocean processes that are predictable on seasonal-to-decadal timescales. The ultimate goal of my research is to help marine resource managers prepare for climate change impacts on the marine ecosystems they strive to conserve and protect.