Karin Kvale
I am a global biogeochemical modeller and model developer, ocean and climate scientist with a strong interest in how marine ecosystems are affected by both pollution and climate change. I have a broad background in biological calcification, ecological interactions with open ocean biogeochemistry over paleo timescales, ocean-based climate feedbacks, carbon, nutrient and oxygen cycling and most recently, interactions of microplastics with the base of the ocean food web.
In addition to my research I am active in the international ocean science community as an editor for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere-Research, and serve as a member of the Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) Scientific Steering Committee to 2026. I also contribute advice to the ongoing negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty via the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty. I review manuscripts for 20 international scientific journals as well as government-funded grant proposals. I lecture casually at Victoria University Wellington, where you can hear me speak about environmental microplastics.
My work has been covered by media, with some links here:
Microplastics pose risk to ocean plankton, climate, other key Earth systems Mongabay
How plastic is fuelling a hidden climate crisis in Southeast Asia China Dialogue
In the ocean, its snowing microplastics New York Times
In addition I contribute to the popular press:
Kvale K, Gurgacz N, Eby M, Weaver A (2023) Carbon leaching from plastic pollution is negligible - the larger threat to the climate is the production of plastics. The Conversation
Kvale K (2022) Microplastics. Invited contribution to The Climate Book, Thunberg, G. (ed) Penguin Press, London, UK.