David McKee
NERC Advanced Research Fellow

Research

The oceans play a hugely important role in the global carbon cycle and in energy transport mechanisms that influence world climate. Monitoring oceans is difficult due to the vast areas involved, the harsh environmental conditions and the rapid temporal variability of marine biogeochemical systems. Optical sensors can provide information about biological and mineral particles and dissolved substances. The technology is particularly suitable as optical sensors can be deployed on a variety of platforms, from satellites and aircraft to in situ moorings and underwater vehicles. David’s research is currently focused on improving the quality of products obtained from ocean colour remote sensing signals and in situ optical measurements of absorption, scattering and fluorescence. He is also interested in development of new platforms for optical instruments in oceanography such as micro-satellites for Earth observation and in situ profiling moorings. The research combines significant time spent at sea making measurements, numerical simulation of underwater and water leaving light fields and statistical data analysis. Most of the work is concentrated on optically complex shelf seas (e.g. Bristol Channel, Irish Sea, Mediterranean) where the influence of terrestrial and anthropogenic sources are strongest, though more recently he has started to develop interests in optical complexity in more open ocean areas that are subject to episodic inputs of wind-borne particulates. A key element of David’s NERC Fellowships has been the development of several very successful collaborations with partners in UK and international institutions.

Highlights

The award of two NERC Fellowships is a significant measure of the success of previous research in this area and a strong endorsement from the Marine Science community for the ideas that David is currently working on. In particular, the focus on determining measurement uncertainties and tracking uncertainties through simulations and remote sensing algorithm development has the potential to radically change the manner in which ocean colour data is interpreted.

David has received invitations to visit some of the leading laboratories in his field across the world including Scripps Institute of Oceanography (USA), the Laboratoire d’Oceanographie de Villefranche (France) and the Institute of Oceanology in Sopot (Poland) amongst others. These collaborations have already led to significant publications and extended periods of joint research both here at Strathclyde and at partner laboratories. David also has on going links with colleagues in a number of the leading UK marine laboratories including SAMS,  NOCS, POL, University of Wales Bangor and PML. Together, these links ensure that his research is strongly aligned with current strategic priorities and firmly embedded in the wider oceanographic community.

Invitations to participate in joint fieldwork have led to opening of new research activities. Highlights include participation in D326 on the R.V. Discovery in the Tropical North Atlantic (January 2008).  This was a cruise led by Prof E. Achterberg together with colleagues from NOCS, PML and elsewhere to look at the impact of Saharan Dust deposits on microbial activity in open ocean waters. In March 2009 David took part on a cruise on the R.V. Alliance, a NATO research vessel from the Underwater Research Centre in La Spezia, Italy. This was a cruise involving leading groups from across Europe and the USA specifically looking at the optical properties of the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean).

David has recently undertaken consultancy work on a European Space Agency funded contract to establish baseline knowledge for the next generation of ESA ocean colour sensors. This work was sub-contracted through contacts with ARGANS, a very promising young consultancy business, and facilitated further development of links with colleagues at GKSS in Hamburg (Germany).