Impacts of Climate Variability & Climate Change in Coastal Waters off Northern California

Brown Bag Lunch Online Presentation with Eric P. Bjorkstedt, Ph.D.:

This talk will describe major modes of climate variability affecting the North Pacific Ocean and the responses observed in coastal waters off the North Coast, and from this foundation go on to consider changes related to recent climate trends and potential climate futures. The goal is to build a general understanding from the physics of the ocean-atmosphere system through ecosystem and fisheries responses and how these dynamics manifest in our local coastal waters.

Eric P. Bjorkstedt, (H.B.A. Biology & English, Ph.D., Ecology) is the interim director of Marine Operations & Department of Fisheries Biology (Adjunct), Telonicher Marine Laboratory, Cal Poly Humboldt. He is a fisheries oceanographer and ecologist with over 30 years of experience conducting research and developing scientific analysis and advice in support of resource management, conservation planning, and ecosystem assessment in riverine, estuarine, and marine systems. His work ranges from long-term oceanographic surveys off the North Coast focused on plankton dynamics (including harmful algal blooms), experimental studies of how environmental factors affect krill and juvenile fish, and modeling studies of fish recruitment and life history evolution. He has contributed substantively to collaborative efforts establishing scientific principles and products that underpin recovery planning for salmon and steelhead, the design of marine protected area networks along the California Coast, and ecosystem assessments that support fisheries management in the California Current.  Dr. Bjorkstedt is also an experienced science communicator and educator, having taught “Fisheries Oceanography”, provided regular guest lectures in a suite of marine science courses, and mentored numerous graduate student researchers at Cal Poly Humboldt.  When not doing science, he enjoys fishing, kayaking, backpacking, creative writing and painting, and time with friends and family, whether out in nature or in cozier settings.

• See the video archive of this presentation on the OLLI YouTube channel.
• See upcoming Brown Bag Lunch presentations.
• See past presentations in the Brown Bag Lunch archive on Youtube.