Research
My research focuses on the interactions between marine plankton ecosystems, biogeochemistry, the carbon cycle and climate. I primarily develop and use numerical models of ocean biogeochemistry and the Earth system.
The role of plankton in the marine carbon cycle - The Biological Carbon Pump
I am a Working Group Leader for an initiative to benchmark the Biological Carbon Pump organised by the Ocean Decade's Joint Exploration of the Twilight Zone Network (JETZON). (Watch the latest findings presented at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
Implications of processes affecting organic carbon fluxes in the twilight zone (mesopelagic) for future changes in carbon fluxes and NPP (AXA Research Fund Fellowship 2019 - 2021). (Wilson et al., 2012; Wilson et al., 2019; Wilson et al., 2022; AXA Research Fund Profile)
Dynamics of plankton ecosystems, biogeochemistry and climate in past climates, e.g., impact of mass extinction events on biogeochemistry, plankton ecosystems in warm climates, evolution of plankton through time. (Wilson et al., 2018 - publicly available lecture) (Gibbs et al., 2020 - Featured on SciShow on YouTube)
Developing numerical models of marine biogeochemistry and plankton ecosystems
Developing and using the EcoGEnIE model - a trait-based ecosystem model coupled with an Earth system model. (Wilson et al., 2018; Ward et al., 2018)
Developing and using biogeochemical models based on the Transport Matrix Method (a method of diagnosing offline ocean circulation that can be used to run fast models of marine biogeochemistry). (Wilson et al., 2019)
The role of dissolved organic carbon in the marine carbon cycle
The role of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in marine biogeochemistry and the carbon cycle. (Wilson & Arndt 2017)
Research grants
Predicting Biological Carbon in the Ocean Globally (PRECOG)
UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
November 2024 - October 2028
Research collaborations
AtlantECO
The EU-funded AtlantECO project aims to develop and apply a novel, unifying framework that provides knowledge-based resources for a better understanding and management of the Atlantic Ocean and its ecosystem services (https://www.atlanteco.eu)