Raquel Avelina

Life Sciences

Oceanographer Raquel Avelina da Conceição dos Santos defies the Carioca stereotype and embraces Antarctica’s cloudy, cold days. With four scientific expeditions to the Southern Ocean under her belt, her research examines the effects of climate change on carbon and nutrient cycles by analyzing the composition of dissolved organic matter in the ocean.

She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in oceanography from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), and a sandwich Ph.D. from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany enhances her expertise. Her passion for oceanography was ignited at eight and solidified during her undergraduate studies through hands-on boat experiences. On land, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and listening to the sounds of 80s pop and rock. 

Projects

What effects do climate changes have on the composition of dissolved organic matter in the Southern Ocean and on carbon and nutrient cycles?
Science / Life Sciences

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) represents many compounds critical for maintaining carbon and nutrient cycling in marine environments. However, global climate change may drastically alter these dynamics, particularly in the Southern Ocean. This research will investigate whether the increased input of terrestrial organic matter into the marine environment, resulting from accelerated moss growth and melting glaciers, can explain the effects of climate change on the composition of DOM in the Southern Ocean and its impact on carbon and nutrient cycling. To achieve this, we will collect surface seawater samples from different sectors of the northern Antarctic Peninsula during the summer. Chemical analysis of these samples will allow us to classify the major organic compounds present in the seawater, verify which areas of the northern Antarctic Peninsula are most susceptible to terrestrial DOM inputs over time, and determine the bioavailability of these compounds for uptake and use in carbon and nutrient cycling.

Amount invested

Grant Serrapilheira: R$ 105.000,00
  • Topics
  • Ocean