“Marie Tharp Lecture for Ocean Research” Held at GEOMAR in Germany

Dr. Véronique Garçon gave “Marie Tharp Lecture for Ocean Research” at GEOMAR. The presentation by Dr. Garçon was the third contribution to the “Marie Tharp Lecture Series” organized by the GEOMAR Women’s Executive Board (WEB).

The WEB invites internationally renowned scientists to present their scientific work in Kiel, and also to serve as a role model for young female scientists.

Observations of ocean currents and eddies, winds and water temperatures is one of the classic working areas of physical oceanography. Typically the participating researchers use their findings to better understand the interactions between ocean and climate. But ocean currents near the surface also have an impact on marine ecosystems. Currents can serve as an energy-saving transportation mode to marine organisms, or they may represent an obstacle on the way to spawning or feeding grounds.

The French biogeochemist Dr. Véronique Garçon from the Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS) in Toulouse presented at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel her studies on the influence of ocean currents and smaller eddies around Madagascar on the navigation of sea turtles and frigate birds.

The Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and the African continent is particularly exciting for such studies because it is characterized by high biological diversity and complex flow patterns. In her presentation, Dr. Garçon emphatically stressed the interdisciplinary collaboration in the investigation which involved satellite data, oceanographic measurements in the field and biological studies. This included the monitoring of individual turtles and birds with the help of GPS transmitters.

Similar to the previous lectures, this public presentation is followed by a get-together for women only. It allows the exchange of experiences and discussion of possible career paths between young scientists and more experienced colleagues.

Press Release, February 21, 2014