Joellen Russell

Joellen Russell is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Integrative Science at the University of Arizona’s College of Science. She has joint appointments in the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, the Department of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, and the Mathematics/Program in Applied Mathematics. She is a leading climate scientist and oceanographer whose research focuses on the Southern Ocean’s role in global climate and the carbon cycle.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of oceanography, climate science, and biogeochemistry. She investigates how ocean dynamics, particularly in the Southern Ocean, regulate atmospheric CO₂ levels and influence global climate patterns. Her early work on westerly winds led to a paradigm shift in understanding glacial-interglacial carbon cycles. She uses advanced tools such as autonomous biogeochemical floats, satellite observations, and supercomputer climate models to study past, present, and future climate systems.

The most recent articles highlight a consistent focus on Southern Ocean dynamics, carbon and heat transport, climate modeling resolution, paleoclimate reconstructions, and observational system design. There is a strong trend toward evaluating and improving Earth system models (e.g., CMIP), understanding the impacts of ice melt and wind changes, and advancing space-based monitoring of oceanic and atmospheric variables.

• University Distinguished Professor, University of Arizona
• Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Integrative Science
• Co-author of amicus brief cited in Massachusetts v. EPA (2007)

Prof. Russell leads the modeling theme of the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling (SOCCOM) project and collaborates with NOAA/GFDL. She co-founded the Women in STEM Leadership program at the University of Arizona and serves on multiple advisory boards, including the NOAA Science Advisory Board’s Climate Working Group and the NCAR Community Earth System Model Advisory Board. She has been active in the UA Faculty Senate since 2015 and advises the Honors College. Her interdisciplinary leadership extends to the Global Change, Applied Math, and Space Institute programs.

She is a key figure in major climate modeling and observational initiatives, driving efforts to improve climate projections and reduce uncertainty in carbon flux estimates. Her lab and collaborative teams focus on Southern Ocean modeling, paleoclimate analysis, and the development of next-generation observing systems.