The Beal lab is about advancing understanding of the ocean through observations, research, diversity, and outreach.
Research
In the Beal lab we strive to improve understanding of the ocean’s role in climate and climate change by measuring ocean currents and their properties, and by analysing observations and models. The ocean is often left out when people think about climate, yet it is the oceans that are acting as a buffer to climate change, absorbing over 90% of the excess heat from global warming, and it is the oceans, coupled with the cryosphere, that have set the pace of climate changes in the past.
Professor Beal on the bridge of the RV Knorr in the Agulhas Current. (Photo Credit Valery Lyman)
Graduate student Greta Leber and marine technician Mark Graham check instrumentation during mooring recovery. (Photo Credit Valery Lyman)
Nature paper interview: Broadening not strengthening of the Agulhas Current since the early 1990s.
Diversity
A diverse community of oceanographers benefits science and society by enabling all talented persons to excel and contribute. We are involved in community work and outreach to increase the engagement, recruitment, and retention of women and minorities in oceanography.
Panelist for LIVE@Frost Science, Hollywood Science & the Wonder Women of Miami, read the story here.
MPOWIR is a community-based program that provides mentoring to early-career physical oceanographers. The overall goal of MPOWIR is to reduce the barriers to career development for all junior scientists in the field, with a particular focus on improving the retention of junior women.
Global Ocean Observing
Establishing an ocean observing system that serves societal needs for forecasting and prediction of climate change and its impacts is a global challenge that requires all nations working together. Regions of the world ocean where coastal current systems are intense and important to monitor can pose particular challenges in terms of scientific capacity, diplomacy, and remoteness. We work to help advance resources and capacity for the global ocean observing system (GOOS) through international collaborations, workshops, teaching, and mentoring.
Teaching in the Oceanography Honors Program at the University of Cape Town, 2016.
Co-chairing the Indian Ocean Regional Panel, a steering committee of the World Climate Research Program’s CLIVAR project and the United Nations Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Global Ocean Observing System.
