Research

We conduct pioneering interdisciplinary oceanographic research, addressing scientific problems in a comprehensive and collaborative manner.
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Research Lines
238
Publications
31
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

Ocean acidification induces distinct metabolic responses in subtropical zooplankton under oligotrophic conditions and after simulated upwelling

Science of The Total Environment | Volume 810, Article 152252

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152252March, 2022

Osma, N.Vargas, C.A.Algueró-Muñíz, M.Bach, L.T.Gómez, M.Horn, H.G...., Fernández-Urruzola, I.
A

Automatic Detection of Slow Slip Events Using the PICCA: Application to Chilean GNSS Data

Frontiers in Earth Science | Volume 9, Pages 1-12

doi:10.3389/feart.2021.788054December, 2021

Donoso, F.Moreno, M.Ortega-Culaciati, F.Bedford, J.RBenavente, R.
AT

Spatial and interannual variability in the distribution of euphausiid life stages in the permanent upwelling system off northern Chile

ICES Journal of Marine Science | Pages 1-15

doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsab241December, 2021

Díaz, M.S. Saldías, G.Letelier, J.Riquelme-Bugueño, R.
T

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Parasite Communities: Implications for Fish Stock Identification

MDPI Journal fishes | Volume 6, Issue 71, Pages 1-11

doi:10.3390/fishes6040071December, 2021

Espinola-Novelo, J.FOliva, M.E.
T

Do Differences in Latitudinal Distributions of Species and Organelle Haplotypes Reflect Thermal Reaction Norms Within the Emiliania/Gephyrocapsa Complex?

Frontiers in Marine Science | Volume 8, Issue 785763, Pages 1-21

doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.785763December, 2021

Von Dassow, P.Muñoz, P.Pinon, S.Velaco-Senovilla, E.Anguita-Salinas, S.
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