Associate Professor Jochen Kaempf
Associate Professor
College of Science and Engineering
Jochen Kaempf is a passionate and fearless physical oceanographer with over 20 years of professional experience.
Key Discoveries
Jochen's research revealed that downwelling-favorable winds trigger bursts of sediment erosion and benthic nutrient releases in coastal oceans. This knowledge is pivotal in the understanding of the functioning marine ecosystems in shelf seas!
He has presented the first ever theory that explains the existence of upslope transport and channeling of suspended sediment in submarine channels of continental margins. Incidentally, this theory also explains the accumulation of orcas near the head of the Hood Canyon in the western Great Australian Bight.
His research has led to the discovery of the Great Southern Australian Coastal Upwelling System, which key nutrient source for the Southern Ocean marine food web. Kaempf also uncovered the physical mechanisms driving gigantic phytoplankton blooms in the northwestern Arafura Sea north of Australia.
Jochen was the first marine scientist exploring and describing the water circulation of both the Persian Gulf and South Australian gulfs with state-of-the-art 3D hydrodynamic circulation models.
Publication Achievements
He has published two textbooks on ocean modelling as a contribution to classroom teaching of oceanography, a monograph on upwelling systems of the world (co-authored by Piers Chapman, Texas A&M University), numerous book chapters, and more than 40 peer-reviewed publications.
Diploma (Physical Oceanography), University of Hamburg, Germany, 1994
PhD (Natural Sciences, Physical Oceanography), University of Hamburg, Germany,1996
Associate Professor (Oceanography) at Flinders University since July 2009
In 2011, Jochen Kaempf was a finalist of the prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Award in the Environment category. In the same year, he also was a finalist of the Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection by the Conservation Council SA. In 2014, Jochen won the Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection for his critical engagement as scientific expert in the discussion of various industrial proposals such as seawater desalination and oil drilling. Inofficially, his activities as environmentalist has earned him the title of "Guardian of the Gulfs".
- Teaching & coordination of various topics (all year levels)
- Supervision of honours and postgraduate students
- Scientific research
- Various administrative roles
- Service to the community & community engagement
- to find ways to make students understand the scientific method and fundmental scientific concepts
- to share my passion for oceanography and marine sciences with the students
- Chair of the Adelaide branch of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (AMOS)
- Expert scientist (oceanography) for AMOS
- Active member of other professional societies (e.g. Americal Geophysical Union, Coastal Education and Research Foundation, Australian Marine Sciences Association)
- Member of the Australian scientific advisory committee to the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2)
- Reviewer of scientific manuscripts and research grant applications
- Marine Science
- Oceanography
- South Australia
- Coastal and estuarine oceanography
- Coastal upwelling
- Hydrodynamic modelling
- Marine desalination discharges
- Marine pollution and protection
- Oceanography
- Upwelling in submarine canyons
Jochen Kaempf's CV (in PDF format) can be downloaded from the link below.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
Follow Flinders
