Ali Johnson Exley

Postdoctoral Investigator, WHOI

About Me


I am an observational physical oceanographer interested in meso- to large- scale ocean dynamics in high latitude environments. My research is broadly focused on drivers and pathways of ocean heat transport that are responsible for mediating our climate system. I am passionate about developing new methodologies and technologies for observing and quantifying our ocean and aim to establish a career around both science and instrument development. 

I am currently a postdoc working with Dr. Amy Bower in the physical oceanography department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. I am part of the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Project, an international effort to establish a long-term monitoring system of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. More specifically, I am using simulated particle trajectories in HYCOM to better constrain the depth-dependency and interannual variability of exit pathways of Iceland Scotland Overflow Waters from the Iceland Basin. 

I completed my Ph.D. at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography where I worked with Dr. Kathleen Donohue and Dr. Randy Watts. I was primarily focused on quantifying rates and drivers of cross frontal exchange in the lee of major topographic ridge systems of the Southern Ocean. 

Please reach out to say hi or with any questions! I'd love to hear from you! 

Contact


Ali Johnson Exley

Postdoctoral Investigator



Dept. of Physical Oceanography

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution


Upcoming

 July 2025 | Crossroads deployment cruise - part 1! 

Recent News

April 2025 | Presented postdoc work at EGU in Vienna.
Feb 2025 | SEIR paper published!
Oct 2024 | Attended and presented Ph.D. research at the Physical Oceanography Dissertation Symposium in Lihue, Hawaii
Oct 2024 | Started postdoc at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Aug 2024 | Successfully defended Ph.D. at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography!!
Members of the WHOI PO department at EGU. Photo courtesy of Maurice Huguenin
2024 PODS participants in Lihue Kauai. Photo courtesy of Samuel Gillilan
Graduate School of Oceanography Fall 2024 graduates and faculty. Photo courtesy of Veronica Berounsky
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