PRESCIENT
PRESCIENT supports long-term, strategically important measurements and capabilities for the wider science community.
Sally Thorpe
Ecological Modeller
I joined BAS as an ecological modeller following a NERC CASE PhD studentship in physical oceanography of the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean, between the University of East Anglia and BAS.
Research interests
My current research focuses on the interactions of marine species with their environment. I investigate how these interactions affect the distribution of the species and how variability in the environment affects the ecosystem dynamics, with the aim of understanding how the ecosystem may respond to environmental change. To do this, I develop coupled physical-biological models that link biological models of key species to the environment using environmental datasets ranging from global ocean model output to remotely-sensed and ship-board data. I have taken part in eight cruises to the Southern Ocean as a physical oceanographer.
Abrahamsen, P., Tarling, G., Firing, Y., King, B., Marzocchi, A., Burson, A., Hendry, K., Henley, S., Liszka, C., Manno, C., Ward, F., Woodward, M., Wootton, M., Brunetta, M., Song, Y., & Thorpe, S. (2024). Dissolved nutrient and particulate material concentrations and phytoplankton abundance and community composition from cruise JC211 to South Georgia, Southern Ocean, February 2021 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/eef71670-f6dc-46f6-9143-7569599854e5
Whitehouse, M., Hendry, K., Tarling, G., Thorpe, S., & ten Hoopen, P. (2022). Macronutrient, temperature and salinity measurements made around the island of South Georgia and the wider Scotia Sea, the Antarctic Peninsula, and in the Bellingshausen Sea between 1980 and 2009 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/4014370f-8eb2-492b-a5f3-6dc68bf12c1e
Thorpe, S., Heywood, K., Brandon, M., & Stevens, D. (2017). Mean position of the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Polar Data Centre; British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council; Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.. https://doi.org/10.5285/833dc1aa-5774-48c2-8d3c-1a1dc0a9858c
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Read more of: PRESCIENT
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Conservation and leadership in Southern Ocean ecosystems
Read more of: Conservation and leadership in Southern Ocean ecosystemsCONSEC explores how climate change and human activity are transforming the Southern Ocean, guiding global science and conservation.
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Evaluating climate change risks to Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish
Read more of: Evaluating climate change risks to Patagonian and Antarctic toothfishThis project assesses how climate change affects Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish populations in the South Atlantic. Led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), it focuses on the UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.
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Biogeochemical processes in polar ecosystems
Read more of: Biogeochemical processes in polar ecosystemsBIOPOLE studies how climate change is affecting the release of nutrients from the polar regions, and their redistribution around the world’s oceans.
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Modelling Movement of Antarctic Krill
Read more of: Modelling Movement of Antarctic KrillThe MMAK project is using state-of-the-art ocean-sea ice models to improve our understanding of processes that influence the distribution of krill in the South Orkney Islands region.
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Impact of Plastic in the Polar Regions
Read more of: Impact of Plastic in the Polar RegionsThis project investigated plastic pollution across Arctic and Antarctic environments. Scientists collected water, ice, and sediment samples to quantify macro and microplastic pollution, track its sources, and assess its impact on polar wildlife.
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New South Sandwich Islands research
Read more of: New South Sandwich Islands researchA special issue of the journal Deep-Sea Research which includes contributions from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists features a range of new research which increases our understanding of the understudied South Sandwich Islands.
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Plastic pollution and ocean acidification reduce Antarctic krill development
Read more of: Plastic pollution and ocean acidification reduce Antarctic krill developmentPlastic pollution combined with ocean acidification hinders the development of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean, research published today (4 August 2021) in Marine Frontiers reveals. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) […]
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Krill provide a highway for ocean carbon storage
Read more of: Krill provide a highway for ocean carbon storageLarge krill swarms in the Southern Ocean could help remove additional carbon from the atmosphere, in a way that is currently ‘hidden’ in global models. Scientists knew that the carbon-rich […]
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Research priorities for effective krill management
Read more of: Research priorities for effective krill managementAn international ‘Krill Action Group’, including experts from the British Antarctic Survey, has identified several research priorities to advance the understanding of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and improve the management […]
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Krill swarms responsible for ‘hidden’ carbon storage
Read more of: Krill swarms responsible for ‘hidden’ carbon storageLarge krill swarms in the Southern Ocean could help remove additional carbon from the atmosphere, in a way that is currently ‘hidden’ in global models. The new study is published […]
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Krill behaviour takes carbon to the ocean depths
Read more of: Krill behaviour takes carbon to the ocean depthsA new study shows that Antarctic krill behave in a way that could accelerate the transport of atmospheric carbon to the deep ocean. Antarctic krill form some of the highest […]
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Study sheds new light on krill larvae survival
Read more of: Study sheds new light on krill larvae survivalAn international study involving British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists has shed light on how the larvae of Antarctic krill – small shrimp-like crustaceans – use sea ice to ensure their […]
