Contact: ivenis.pita@whoi.edu | ivenis.pita@gmail.com
Ivenis Pita Postdoctoral Investigator
Physical Oceanography • Climate • Observations

Sustained ocean observations, AMOC variability, and climate.

I am a Postdoctoral Investigator in the Physical Oceanography Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, using in-situ observations to investigate the subpolar North Atlantic ventilation pathways of oxygen into the deep ocean.

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Current position Postdoctoral Investigator
Institution Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution • Physical Oceanography Department
About

Researcher in observational physical oceanography

I study large-scale ocean circulation using sustained observations, with a current focus on deep-ocean ventilation pathways in the subpolar North Atlantic.

WHOI

I am a Postdoctoral Investigator in the Physical Oceanography Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. My research uses in situ ocean observations to study deep-water formation processes and their role in climate variability, with particular emphasis on the subpolar North Atlantic ventilation pathways.

Previously, my work focused on observational approaches to AMOC variability and its climate relevance. More broadly, I am interested in how long-term ocean measurements can reveal changes in circulation, ventilation, and water-mass transformation across the Atlantic. I am also developing research directions related to subpolar North Atlantic ventilation processes and their role in climate-relevant circulation changes.

Sustained Ocean Observations AMOC Variability Subpolar North Atlantic Ventilation Pathways
Research

Current research themes

My research combines sustained observations, circulation diagnostics, and water-mass analysis to understand climate-relevant changes across the Atlantic Ocean.

01

Sustained ocean observations

I use long-term and repeat observations to investigate ocean variability across timescales, with emphasis on the value of sustained measurements for understanding large-scale circulation and detecting meaningful changes in the Atlantic Ocean.

02

AMOC variability and climate importance

A central theme of my work is understanding the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, the mechanisms behind its recent variability, and the implications of overturning and heat transport changes for regional and global climate.

03

Subpolar North Atlantic processes

My postdoctoral research at WHOI focuses on subpolar North Atlantic ventilation pathways and their links to water-mass transformation, subpolar circulation, and broader climate-relevant variability in the North Atlantic.

Publications

Featured publications and selected work

Selected publications on Atlantic overturning circulation, meridional heat transport, and sustained ocean observing systems.

Featured paper

Global oceans – Meridional overturning circulation and heat transport in the Atlantic Ocean [in: State of the Climate in 2023]

A synthesis contribution highlighting the state of the Atlantic overturning circulation and associated heat transport within the climate system.

Open publication
Featured paper

An ARGO and XBT Observing System for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and Meridional Heat Transport (AXMOC) at 22.5°S

Observational analysis focused on Atlantic overturning variability and associated transport structure in the South Atlantic.

Open publication
Featured paper

South Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and its respective heat and freshwater transports from sustained observations near 34.5°S

A broader observational perspective on Atlantic overturning variability using sustained measurements and observationally based diagnostics.

Open publication

Selected and full publication list

Featured papers are listed below. A complete and current publication record is available through Google Scholar.

Volkov, D., Pita, I., et al. — Global oceans: Meridional overturning circulation and heat transport in the Atlantic Ocean [in: State of the Climate in 2023] Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society / State of the Climate contribution.
Link
Pita, I., et al. — An ARGO and XBT Observing System for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and Meridional Heat Transport (AXMOC) at 22.5°S Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 2024.
Link
Pita, I., et al. — South Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and its respective heat and freshwater transports from sustained observations near 34.5°S Frontiers in Marine Science, 2024.
Link
Teaching & Leadership

Teaching, scientific service, and community engagement

This section was designed around the priorities you mentioned: undergraduate teaching, workshop instruction, and leadership through conference service.

Teaching

I value teaching as an essential part of academic life and as a way to connect research with student learning and scientific curiosity.

  • Workshop instructor in machine learning applications for oceanography.
  • Teaching experience with undergraduate classes at the University of Miami.
  • Interest in research-based teaching, student engagement, and scientific communication.

Leadership & Service

Beyond research, I contribute to the scientific community through leadership, mentoring, and academic service.

  • Chair of the AMOC section at Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026.
  • Scientific leadership through conference organization and broader community engagement.
  • Commitment to mentoring, collaboration, and research communication.
Contact

Get in touch

A clean contact section works better here than the older multi-column layout and outdated mailing-address-heavy format.

Ivenis Pita

Position: Postdoctoral Investigator

Affiliation: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Department: Physical Oceanography Department

Email: ivenis.pita@whoi.edu

Email: ivenis.pita@gmail.com

Google Scholar ResearchGate GitHub