Education:

Ph.D. University of California, San Diego

Current research interests and projects:

Planktonic and benthic microalgal primary production on the South Atlantic Bight continental shelf -- assessing the photophysiology and productivity of benthic microalgae and their contribution to primary production on the shelf.

Application of SeaWiFS ocean color imagery in biogeochemical studies on the SAB shelf -- estimating light levels at the shelf sea floor from satellite ocean color imagery.

Bio-optical tracers of continental shelf waters masses -- optical signature of cross-shelf advective exchange.

Biological and bio-optical applications of SABSOON observations -- real-time observations at Navy towers on the Georgia shelf.

Courses:

Coordinator 1999 Skidaway Institute Summer Course "Coastal Oceanography and Marine Field Methods."

Recent Publications:

In press. R.A. Jahnke, J.R. Nelson, R.L. Marinelli, and J.E. Eckman. Benthic flux of biogenic elements on the southeastern U.S. continental shelf: Influence of pore water advective transport and benthic microalgae. Continental Shelf Research.

J.R. Nelson, J.E. Eckman, C.Y. Robertson, R.L. Marinelli, and R.A. Jahnke, 1999. Benthic microalgal biomass and irradiance at the sea floor on the continental shelf of the South Atlantic Bight: Spatial and temporal variability and storm effects. Continental Shelf Research 19, 477- 505.

J.R. Nelson and S. Guarda, 1995. Particulate and dissolved spectral absorption on the continental shelf of the southeastern United States. Journal of Geophysical Research 100, 8715- 8732.

J.R. Nelson, 1993. Rates and possible mechanism of light-dependent degradation of pigments in detritus derived from phytoplankton. Journal of Marine Research 51, 155-179.