Faculty of Science
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA | CANADA B3H 4R2 | +1 (902) 494-3540

Katja Fennel

Canada Research Chair in Marine Prediction, Tier 2
Oceanography

Highlights
Dr. Fennel's research involves developing models that will study the changes occurring in coastal marine ecosystems due to natural and human pressures.The research aims to inform policy and decision makers with information that will help them develop sound beneficial strategies with respect to coastal areas.

Background

  • 1994, Diploma, Numerical Mathematics, (University Rostock, Germany)
  • 1998, PhD Marine Biology, (University Rostock, Germany)

Published
Numerous peer-reviewed articles, reports, abstracts. See: publications list

Committees/boards

  • Member, ORION Modeling Group, Advisory Committee;
  • IMBER/LOICZ Continental Margins Task Team, Research
  • Coordination Network Denitrification
  • Co-chair of Ocean Sciences Meeting 2006 Session OS009 Advances in the Study of Carbon Cycling on Continental Margins
  • Manuscript reviewer, Progress in Oceanography, Journal of Marine Systems, Ocean Dynamics, Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans, Antarctic Science, Limnology and Oceanography, Deep-Sea Research I, Deep-Sea Research II, Ecological Modelling, Biogeosciences
  • Member, American Geophysical Society, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, The Oceanography Society

Website: Katja Fennel website

E-mail: Dr. Katja Fennel

Katja Fennel

Changes to coastal marine ecosystems

Most of us arrive at the coast and marvel at the restful, almost hypnotic lull of the ocean. For Oceanography Professor Katja Fennel, however, a trip to the coast reminds her of the challenges facing Canada’s coastal zone, especially given the changes wrought by coastal urbanization and the shifting global climate.

Through her research, Fennel hopes to mitigate the effects of these changes by helping policy-makers develop strategies that are beneficial for the coastal environment. Her models of the ocean’s biological and circulation processes in the past and present, combined with some sophisticated mathematical techniques, help her predict the future condition of our coastal marine ecosystem.

As new types of data about planet Earth are becoming available to us through the remote-controlled, sensor-equipped vehicles of Earth Observation Systems, data-driven models — like those Dr. Fennel is working on — are becoming more vital to oceanographic research.

Dr. Fennel hopes that her work will not only help make sense of what’s happening to our oceans, but also ensure that their hypnotic power is enjoyed by generations to come.

(Source: Canada Research Chairs)