Joel Wong

Dr. Joel Wong is a Researcher at ETH Zurich's Department of Environmental Systems Science, affiliated with the Professorship for Environmental Physics. His work focuses on understanding marine heatwaves, ocean biogeochemical extremes, and the application of remote sensing techniques to coastal and open ocean environments. He investigates the vertical and horizontal dimensions of oceanic phenomena, including compound extremes in the Southern Ocean and global marine systems.

His research emphasizes the impacts of tropical peatlands on coastal water quality, particularly through dissolved organic matter's role in light attenuation and its consequences for coral reef ecosystems. He has developed methodologies for satellite-based estimation of water quality parameters, such as colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), in highly turbid waters.

Key contributions include analyzing the drivers of column-compound extremes, improving remote sensing algorithms for complex coastal environments, and linking climate variability (e.g., ENSO) to marine heatwave patterns. His interdisciplinary approach bridges environmental physics, oceanography, and biogeochemistry to address pressing questions in climate science and ecosystem resilience.