Education
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
Ph.D. Physical Oceanography August 2024
Dissertation: Eddy-Topographic Interactions
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
M.S. Physical Oceanography May 2020
Stonehill College
B.S. Mathematics and Environmental Science May 2016
Ph.D. Physical Oceanography August 2024
Dissertation: Eddy-Topographic Interactions
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
M.S. Physical Oceanography May 2020
Stonehill College
B.S. Mathematics and Environmental Science May 2016
Professional Experience
Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Scientist
Scientist
Publications
Johnson Exley, A., Donohue, K. A., and Watts, D.R. The Southeast Indian Ridge: A hotspot for cross- frontal exchange. [Accepted Journal of Physical Oceanography]
Johnson Exley, A., Donohue, K.A., Watts, D.R., Tracey, K.L. and Kennelly, M.A., 2022. Generation of high-frequency topographic Rossby wave in the Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, p.2683
Stymiest, C., Bonanno, A., Gingras, A., Nickford, S., Johnson, A. and Rowe G., 2022. Collecting to Connect: Student-Built Miniboats Contributing to Ocean Science Research. The Journal of Ocean Technology, 17(3)
Johnson, A.R. and Omand, M.M., 2021. Evolution of a Subducted Carbon-Rich Filament on the Edge of the North Atlantic Gyre. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126(2), p.e2020JC016685
Johnson Exley, A., Donohue, K.A., Watts, D.R., Tracey, K.L. and Kennelly, M.A., 2022. Generation of high-frequency topographic Rossby wave in the Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, p.2683
Stymiest, C., Bonanno, A., Gingras, A., Nickford, S., Johnson, A. and Rowe G., 2022. Collecting to Connect: Student-Built Miniboats Contributing to Ocean Science Research. The Journal of Ocean Technology, 17(3)
Johnson, A.R. and Omand, M.M., 2021. Evolution of a Subducted Carbon-Rich Filament on the Edge of the North Atlantic Gyre. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126(2), p.e2020JC016685
Presentations
Johnson Exley, A. (2025, March). Interannual variability and depth-dependence in pathways of Iceland-Scotland Overflow Water exiting the Iceland Basin. Bio-Seminar Series, Stonehill College, Easton, MA.
Johnson Exley, A. (2025, March). Patterns and drivers of cross-frontal exchange diagnosed in the Southeast Indian Ridge sector of the Southern Ocean. Physical Oceanography Seminar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Falmouth, MA.
Johnson Exley, A. (2025, March). Patterns and drivers of cross-frontal exchange diagnosed in the Southeast Indian Ridge sector of the Southern Ocean. Lunch Brunch Seminar Series, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Johnson Exley, A. (2025, February). Patterns and drivers of cross-frontal exchange diagnosed in the Southeast Indian Ridge sector of the Southern Ocean. Estuarine and Ocean Sciences Seminar, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA.
Johnson Exley, A. (2024, October). Eddy Topographic Interactions. Oral presentation at the Physical Oceanography Dissertation Symposium, Lihue, HI.
Johnson Exley, A., Donohue, K.A., and Watts, D.R. (2024, February). The Southeast Indian Ridge: A hotspot for cross-frontal exchange. Oral presentation at the Ocean Sciences Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Johnson Exley, A., (2023, October). Observing and Quantifying Fluid Fluxes Across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Seminar at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Worcester, MA.
Johnson, A., Donohue, K.A., and Watts, D.R. (2022, February). Radiation of deep energy in the Gulf of Mexico. Virtual presentation at the Ocean Sciences Meeting.
Johnson, A., and Omand, M. (2020, February). Evolution of a Subducted Carbon Rich Filament on the Edge of the North Atlantic Gyre. Poster presentation at the Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Johnson, A. (2020, February). Submesoscale Eddy Driven Subduction in the Subpolar North Atlantic. Poster presentation at the Naval Innovative Science and Engineering Technical Exchange Meeting, Charleston, SC.
Johnson, A. and Omand, M. (2018, October), Eddy Driven Subduction and Fate of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Subpolar North Atlantic. Poster presentation at the Ocean Optics Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Johnson, A. (2017, June). Warming Seas and the Ocean State. Oral presentation for Bay Informed Discussion Series, Narragansett, RI.
Johnson Exley, A. (2025, March). Patterns and drivers of cross-frontal exchange diagnosed in the Southeast Indian Ridge sector of the Southern Ocean. Physical Oceanography Seminar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Falmouth, MA.
Johnson Exley, A. (2025, March). Patterns and drivers of cross-frontal exchange diagnosed in the Southeast Indian Ridge sector of the Southern Ocean. Lunch Brunch Seminar Series, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Johnson Exley, A. (2025, February). Patterns and drivers of cross-frontal exchange diagnosed in the Southeast Indian Ridge sector of the Southern Ocean. Estuarine and Ocean Sciences Seminar, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA.
Johnson Exley, A. (2024, October). Eddy Topographic Interactions. Oral presentation at the Physical Oceanography Dissertation Symposium, Lihue, HI.
Johnson Exley, A., Donohue, K.A., and Watts, D.R. (2024, February). The Southeast Indian Ridge: A hotspot for cross-frontal exchange. Oral presentation at the Ocean Sciences Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Johnson Exley, A., (2023, October). Observing and Quantifying Fluid Fluxes Across the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Seminar at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Worcester, MA.
Johnson, A., Donohue, K.A., and Watts, D.R. (2022, February). Radiation of deep energy in the Gulf of Mexico. Virtual presentation at the Ocean Sciences Meeting.
Johnson, A., and Omand, M. (2020, February). Evolution of a Subducted Carbon Rich Filament on the Edge of the North Atlantic Gyre. Poster presentation at the Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Johnson, A. (2020, February). Submesoscale Eddy Driven Subduction in the Subpolar North Atlantic. Poster presentation at the Naval Innovative Science and Engineering Technical Exchange Meeting, Charleston, SC.
Johnson, A. and Omand, M. (2018, October), Eddy Driven Subduction and Fate of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Subpolar North Atlantic. Poster presentation at the Ocean Optics Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Johnson, A. (2017, June). Warming Seas and the Ocean State. Oral presentation for Bay Informed Discussion Series, Narragansett, RI.
Teaching
Extreme Weather (OCG 200)
Grader and Guest Lecturer, URI
Introduction to Physical Oceanography (OCG 501)
Teaching Assistant: created online lecture material to replace traditional in-class lectures
Grader and Guest Lecturer, URI
Introduction to Physical Oceanography (OCG 501)
Teaching Assistant: created online lecture material to replace traditional in-class lectures
Field Work
Crossroads - Chief Scientist May 2024
R/V Roger Revelle
Deploying sound source moorings and suite of RAFOS floats near the Tail of the Grand Banks.
Quantifying Interocean Fluxes in the Cape Cauldron Hotspot of Eddy Kinetic Energy
R/V Roger Revelle
Primarily tasked with deployment of Current and Pressure recording Inverted Echo Sounders and APEX floats. Aided in deployment of wire flyer, microstructure profiler and CTD.
Southern Ocean Fronts and Eddies
R/V/I/B Araon
Deployed an array of Current and Pressure recording Inverted Echo Sounders in the lee of the Southeast Indian Ridge system of the Southern Ocean.
Understanding Gulf Ocean Systems
R/V Pelican
Recovered an array of Current and Pressure recording Inverted Echo Sounders from the Gulf of Mexico.
Persistent Acoustic Detection using Reef Ecological Soundscapes
Built and deployed a reconfigurable hydrophone array in Kona, Hawaii. Recorded 20+ hours of scientific diving.
Gulf Stream Nitrogen Fixation Experiment
R/V Endeavor
Aided in deployment of CTD and supported air and water sampling.
R/V Roger Revelle
Deploying sound source moorings and suite of RAFOS floats near the Tail of the Grand Banks.
Quantifying Interocean Fluxes in the Cape Cauldron Hotspot of Eddy Kinetic Energy
R/V Roger Revelle
Primarily tasked with deployment of Current and Pressure recording Inverted Echo Sounders and APEX floats. Aided in deployment of wire flyer, microstructure profiler and CTD.
Southern Ocean Fronts and Eddies
R/V/I/B Araon
Deployed an array of Current and Pressure recording Inverted Echo Sounders in the lee of the Southeast Indian Ridge system of the Southern Ocean.
Understanding Gulf Ocean Systems
R/V Pelican
Recovered an array of Current and Pressure recording Inverted Echo Sounders from the Gulf of Mexico.
Persistent Acoustic Detection using Reef Ecological Soundscapes
Built and deployed a reconfigurable hydrophone array in Kona, Hawaii. Recorded 20+ hours of scientific diving.
Gulf Stream Nitrogen Fixation Experiment
R/V Endeavor
Aided in deployment of CTD and supported air and water sampling.
Outreach and Service
Educational Passages Miniboats
Build, deploy, and track autonomous mini-sailboats with K-12 students from low-income Rhode Island communities. Develop and tech lessons in oceanography, climate science and engineering.
Physical Oceanography Journal Club Organizer
Coordinate monthly meetings for the department and help facilitate discussion of a publication.
Ocean Classroom Field Programs
Lead educational field trips for K-12 students to become field scientists by exploring coastal ecosystems.
Action Planning Committee
Graduate student representative tasked to identify strategic goals for the future of the Graduate School of Oceanography.
Physical Oceanography Seminar Series Coordinator
Invited speakers to campus for weekly seminars and organized their visits.
Bay Informed Discussion Series
Co-founded a monthly graduate student seminar series aimed at communicating marine science to the public.
Career Fairs and STEM/STEAM Events
Ocean Race, Newport, RI
Mystic Aquarium Women in STEM Day (x3), Mystic, CT
Science Saturday (x2), Narragansett, RI
National Guard STEM Career Day, Quonset, RI
Career panel and workshop for underrepresented STEM students, Narragansett, RI
Portsmouth School District STEAM Career Festival, Portsmouth, RI
JA Inspire Career Exploration Fair, Providence, RI
Build, deploy, and track autonomous mini-sailboats with K-12 students from low-income Rhode Island communities. Develop and tech lessons in oceanography, climate science and engineering.
Physical Oceanography Journal Club Organizer
Coordinate monthly meetings for the department and help facilitate discussion of a publication.
Ocean Classroom Field Programs
Lead educational field trips for K-12 students to become field scientists by exploring coastal ecosystems.
Action Planning Committee
Graduate student representative tasked to identify strategic goals for the future of the Graduate School of Oceanography.
Physical Oceanography Seminar Series Coordinator
Invited speakers to campus for weekly seminars and organized their visits.
Bay Informed Discussion Series
Co-founded a monthly graduate student seminar series aimed at communicating marine science to the public.
Career Fairs and STEM/STEAM Events
Ocean Race, Newport, RI
Mystic Aquarium Women in STEM Day (x3), Mystic, CT
Science Saturday (x2), Narragansett, RI
National Guard STEM Career Day, Quonset, RI
Career panel and workshop for underrepresented STEM students, Narragansett, RI
Portsmouth School District STEAM Career Festival, Portsmouth, RI
JA Inspire Career Exploration Fair, Providence, RI
Awards
Lance A. Ricci Fellowship, 2022 Academic and Research Achievement Award, University of Rhode Island
Ada L. Sawyer Award, 2018 Academic and Research Achievement Award, University of Rhode Island
Ada L. Sawyer Award, 2018 Academic and Research Achievement Award, University of Rhode Island
Certifications
Diversity and Inclusion Badge, University of Rhode Island
Online Pedagogy Competency, University of Rhode Island
Online Pedagogy Competency, University of Rhode Island