Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

Profile

John is predominantly an observational physical oceanographer and has taken part in 35 research cruises (leading 6 of these). He has considerable experience in the application of fluid dynamic theory to the diagnosis of complex mesoscale flow in the upper ocean from directly observable variables such as temperature, salinity and current velocity. Most recently, he has spent a number of years investigating the biological consequences of the energetic mesoscale and sub-mesoscale fluid motion associated with unstable eddies and fronts. He was made a Fellow of the Challenger Society for Marine Science in 2004.

John has 16 years of project management experience covering EU, NERC and joint grant/MOD project grants, and other smaller commercial contracts. He has 24 years of staff management experience, 14 recent years managing a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, technicians and PhD students. John has supervised 8 PhD students and numerous masters and final year graduate students.

John has published over 40 scientific peer reviewed publications, over 50 contract reports and non-refereed publications and he has made a number of media appearances including the Discovery Channel.

Qualifications

• 1985: BSc Marine Physics, University College of North Wales, Bangor
• 1986: MSc Underwater Technology, Cranfield Institute of Technology
• 1996: PhD Department of Oceanography, The University of Southampton

Career Appointments

• 1986: Higher Mapping and Charting Officer, The Hydrographic Department MOD(N)
• 1989: Higher Scientific Officer, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (Band 6)
• 1990: Higher Scientific Officer, Feature Modelling Group, James Rennell Centre
• 1995: Higher Scientific Officer, Deacon Hydrography Team, George Deacon Division, Southampton Oceanography Centre
• 1997: Senior Scientific Officer, Deacon Hydrography Team, George Deacon Division, Southampton Oceanography Centre.
• 2003: Climate Change Research Associate, Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College, University of Highlands and Islands Millenium Institute
• 2005: Senior Scientific Officer, Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
• 2005: Scientific and founding Director, MyOcean Resources Ltd
• 2012: Founding designated partner, VECTis Environmental Consultants Team Llp
• 2012: Part-time Senior Lecturer, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth

Present areas of research interest

• Air-sea interaction and the structure of the upper ocean
• Mesoscale structure and the dynamics of fronts and eddies
• The interdisciplinary significance of mesoscale physical processes
• How ocean variability controls global climate
• Climate change and the boundary layer wind field
• Alternative energy schemes, engineering solutions and socio-economic constraints

Recent Publications

More recent publications