I develop and test physical-biological models for the Pacific Ocean and coastal seas with focus on the upwelling regions such as the equatorial Pacific, the coast of Peru, California coastal upwelling, the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the Gulf of Maine. I also study the nutrient transport from the interior ocean to the surface by the ocean circulation and mixing processes and their impacts on the carbon cycle. My research also includes studying the role of the ocean in determining global climate change.

Photo: Fei Chai helps "test drive" new student hands-on activities about climate and ocean change with educators from the November 2008 Climate Change workshop.