Dr David McKee

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Physics

Personal statement

The oceans play a hugely important role in the global carbon cycle and in energy transport mechanisms that influence world climate. Monitoring the oceans is difficult due to the vast areas involved, the harsh environmental conditions and the rapid temporal variability of marine biogeochemical systems. The aim of my work is to use and improve optical measurements and modelling to better understand marine systems.

My work covers size scales from single particles using flow cytometry and microscopy imaging, through bulk optical properties measured using in situ sensors, to basin scale observations using satellite sensors. I combine making measurements at sea and in the lab with radiative transfer modelling to develop new ways to extract useful information about biogeochemical processes happening in the ocean. I am particularly interested in optically complex waters where standard algorithms and approaches struggle, but which are often the places where the need for quality information is greatest.

The vast majority of my work involves collaborations with others and is inherently multi-disciplinary. I have developed a network of partners across the UK and internationally, and across a number of academic disciplines. My aim is to provide information that others can understand and successfully use to achieve better outcomes across a wide range of areas in academia, industry and society.

Expertise

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Prize And Awards

2nd place in Copernicus Masters 2020: BMVI Transport Challenge: Recipient; 8/12/2020
Finalist in E&T Innovation Awards 2020: Recipient; 19/11/2020
NERC Advanced Fellowship: Recipient; 2007

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Publications

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Publications

Determination of zooplankton absorption spectra and their potential contribution to ocean color: McCarry Cait L, Basedow Sünnje L, Davies Emlyn J, Last Kim S, McKee David; Optics Express Vol 32, pp. 41314-41334 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.537062
Calibration verification of an underwater hyperspectral imaging push broom instrument to measure light in absolute units and field demonstration: Schartmüller Bernhard, McKee David, Berge Jørgen, Johnsen Geir; Applied Optics Vol 63, pp. 7200-7211 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1364/ao.532003
Monopile-induced turbulence and sediment redistribution form visible wakes in offshore wind farms: Bailey Lewis P, Dorrell Robert M, Kostakis Ina, Mckee David, Parsons Dan, Rees Jon, Strong James, Simmons Stephen, Forster Rodney; Frontiers in Earth Science Vol 12 (2024); https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1383726
High uptake of sympagic organic matter by benthos on an Arctic outflow shelf: Cautain Ivan J, Last Kim S, Bluhm Bodil A, Renaud Paul E, McKee David, Narayanaswamy Bhavani E; PLOS One Vol 19 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308562
Optical constituent concentrations and uncertainties obtained for Case 1 and 2 waters from a spectral deconvolution model applied to in situ IOPs and radiometry: Lo Prejato M, McKee D; Earth and Space Science Vol 10 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ea002815
Spectral and RGB analysis of the light climate and its ecological impacts using an all-sky camera system in the Arctic: Grant Stephen, Johnsen Geir, McKee David, Zolich Artur, Cohen Jonathan H; Applied Optics Vol 62, pp. 5139-5150 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1364/ao.480454

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Research

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Research Interests

Current research areas include:

Developing ocean colour algorithms for optically complex waters.
Quantifying zooplankton abundance from space.
Measuring and modelling light fields in the Arctic.
Measuring the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) in the marine environment.
Developing advanced underwater sensing capabilities.