A. Longhurst

A. Longhurst, or Alan Longhurst, is an oceanographer known for developing the Longhurstian biogeochemical provinces—maps that divide the world's oceans into regions based on the types of plankton and other microorganisms that thrive there. These regions help scientists understand how different parts of the ocean function ecologically and how they influence global processes like carbon cycling. Longhurst's work provides a framework for studying marine ecosystems, improving climate models, and managing marine resources by highlighting the distinct biological characteristics of various ocean areas.