Research

We conduct pioneering interdisciplinary oceanographic research, addressing scientific problems in a comprehensive and collaborative manner.
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Research Lines
191
Publications
38
Researchers

What is our main area of concern?

The eastern South Pacific Ocean is IMO’s main object of study because it has sharp hydrographic, biochemical and ecological gradients, ranging from extremely productive waters in the Humboldt Current to highly oligotrophic waters in the Subtropical Gyre.

Additionally, in the last decade, the scientific community has acquired an important understanding of the structure and functioning of the Humboldt Current. However, little is known about the vast region of oceanic waters and about the mesoscale activity connecting contrasting environments. At IMO we want to focus part of our research on this oceanic zone.

What is the impact of research in the eastern South Pacific?

It is clear that the dynamics of the eastern South Pacific have a global impact because it is a region where important Antarctic Intermediate Waters are formed. It has strong atmospheric-oceanic connections and coastal-ocean exchanges with the equatorial ocean and contains one of the world’s largest oxygen minimum zones (OMZs).

The peculiarities of the ecosystems in the eastern South Pacific make them natural laboratories for the study of the functioning of the ocean and for the prediction of the way in which ecosystems could react to future global changes. These studies will provide the basis for the management and conservation of the unique ecosystems in this oceanic region.

Research lines

The Deep Ocean

What are the community structures and the biogeochemical characteristics of deep and abyssal waters in the eastern South Pacific?

Adapting to a Changing Ocean

How do key functional groups of plankton adapt to chemical changes in oceans and how does this affect biochemical cycles?

Oceanic Variability

How do large-scale perturbations affect water transport, physical-chemical gradients and dynamics in the eastern South Pacific?

The Deep Ocean

What are the physical and biogeochemical characteristics of deep and ultra-deep waters of the eastern South Pacific, and which of those determine the diversity and functional structure of their pelagic communities?

Mesoscale Processes

What is the role of mesoscale activity in the regulation of energy-matter transfer and ecosystem dynamics in oceanic waters?

A Variable and Changing Ocean

Associate researchers

Osvaldo Ulloa, PhD.

Professor @ UDEC

Rubén Escribano, PhD.

Professor @ UDEC

Oscar Pizarro, PhD.

Professor @ UDEC

Wolfgang Schneider, PhD.

Professor @ UDEC

Cristian Vargas, PhD.

Associate Professor @ UDEC

Peter von Dassow, PhD.

Associate Professor @ PUC
Meet our researchers

Latest publications

A comparison of marine Fe and Mn cycling: U.S. GEOTRACES GN01 Western Arctic case study

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta | Volume 288, Pages 138-160

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2020.08.006November, 2020

Jensen, L. TMorton, P.Twining, B.SHeller, M.Hatta, M........, Fitzsimmons, J.N
AT

Intra‐seasonal hydrographic variations and nearshore carbonates system off northern Chile during the 2015 El Niño event

Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences

doi:10.1029/2020JG005704October, 2020

Vargas, C.A.Aguilera, V.M.Dewitte, B.
AT

Distinct oxygen environments shape picoeukaryote assemblages thriving oxygen minimum zone waters off central Chile

Journal of Plankton Research | Volume 42, Pages 514-529

doi:10.1093/plankt/fbaa036October, 2020

De la Iglesia, R.Echenique-Subiabre, I.Rodríguez-Marconi, S.Espinoza, J.PVon Dassow, P.Ulloa, O.Trefault, N.
T

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Key Pelagic Microbes in a Seasonal Oxygen-Deficient Coastal Upwelling System of the Eastern South Pacific Ocean

Frontiers in Marine Science | Volume 7, Pages 1-17

doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.561597September, 2020

Molina, V.Belmar, L.Levipan, H.ARamírez-Flandes, S.Anguita, C.Galán, A.Montes, I.Ulloa, O.
TA

Tidally Forced Saltwater Intrusions might Impact the Quality of Drinking Water, the Valdivia River (40◦ S), Chile Estuary Case

Water | Pages 1-18

doi:10.3390/w12092387August, 2020

Garcés-Vargas, J.Schneider, W.Pinochet, A.Piñones, A.Olguín, F.Briera, D.Wan, Y.
TA
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