Denise Fernandez
PhD
Physical Oceanographer
Earth Sciences New Zealand
Dr Denise Fernandez is a physical oceanographer based at Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA). She completed her undergraduate studies at Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in geophysics and mathematics, followed by a Masters in Geophysics and then received a PhD in Physical Oceanography from the University of Auckland in 2017.
In the Antarctic Platform Denise is a co-PI for Tiaki Moana where she leads the Oceanography Objective. The main goal of the objective is to understand the mechanisms by which heat is delivered to continental shelves. The formation and distribution of dense waters leaving the continental shelves are essential for assessing the impacts on melting Antarctic ice sheets, global sea levels, climate regulation, and the overall ocean ecosystem health.
She has undertaken six scientific voyages in the Southwest Pacific Ocean and co-led the 2025 RV Tangaroa “ACTUATE” voyage to the Ross Sea. She is the NZ representative for the GO-SHIP and BGC Argo program and a member of the SOOS Ross Sea Working Group.