Staff details

Teaching interests

• Physical Oceanography (shelf sea, coastal and estuarine)
• Optical Oceanography (underwater optics and imaging)

Research interests

• Coastal and shelf sea oceanography
• Turbulence, mixing and dispersion
• Breaking waves and Langmuir circulaton
• Boundary layers dynamics and coherent structures
• Flow visualisation, optical and acoustic measurement techniques

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Grants & contracts
"Turbulence, Sediment Stratification and Altered Resuspension under Waves (TSSAR Waves)" - NERC - £447,185
In collaboration with Dr Daniel Conley (PI)

"Dynamic response to Energy Extraction and Mixing (DREEM)" - SWRDA/PRIMaRE ~ £184,000
In collaboration with Dr Phil Hosegood (PI)

"Wave Hub Impacts on Seabed & Shoreline Processes (WHISSP)" - SWRDA/PRIMaRE ~ £500,000

"The application of remote sensing to the measurement of marine particle size and their relation to turbulence" - NERC - £307,434
In collaboration with Drs Bowers (PI) & Jago and Prof Simpson, University of Wales, Bangor
To provide high-quality in situ suspended particle size information using a submersible holographic particle imager.

"Form and dynamics of coherent vortical structures in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean" - NERC - £50,841
Provide detailed observations and analysis of coherent vortical structures in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean using an upgraded 3D-PTV system.

"Three-dimensional visualisation of coherent flow structures in the bottom boundary-layer of the coastal ocean" - The Nuffield Foundation - £3,500
Contribution for the field deployment of the 3D-PTV system.

"3-D Flow Visualisation in the Ocean" - The Royal Society - £14,247
Development of a 3D Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) system to study the form and dynamics of coherent vortical structures in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean.  

Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
Graham, G.W. and Nimmo-Smith, W.A.M. (in press) The application of holography to the analysis of size and settling velocity of suspended cohesive sediments. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods
Bowers, D.G., Braithwaite, K.M., Nimmo-Smith, W.A.M. , and Graham, G.W. (2009) Light scattering by particles suspended in the sea: The role of particle size and density. Continental Shelf Research , 29 (14), 1748-1755.
Thorpe, S.A., Green, J.A.M., Simpson, J.H., Osborn, T.R. and Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2008) Boils and turbulence in a weakly stratified shallow tidal sea. Journal of Physical Oceanography , 38 (8), 1711-1730.
Simpson, J.H., Green, J.A.M., Rippeth, T.P., Osborn, T.R. and Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2008) The structure of dissipation in the western Irish Sea front. Journal of Marine Systems, doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2008.10.014
Burchard, H., Craig, P.D., Gemmrich, J.R., van Haren, H., Mathieu, P.-P., Meier, H.E.M., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. ,
Prandke, H., Rippeth, T.P., Skyllingstad, E.D., Smyth, W.D., Welsh, D.J.S. and Wijesekera, H.W. (2008) Observational and numerical modeling methods for quantifying coastal ocean turbulence and mixing. Progress in Oceanography , 76 , 399-442.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2008). A submersible three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry system for flow visualization in the coast ocean. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 6 , 96-104.
Luznik, L., Gurka, R., Zhu, W., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Katz, J., Osborn, T. R. (2007). Distribution of energy spectra, Reynolds stresses, turbulence production and dissipation in a tidally driven bottom boundary layer. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 36 (6), 1527-1550.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2007). Theeffect of waves on subgrid-scale stresses, dissipation and modelcoefficients in the coastal ocean bottom boundary layer. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 583 , 133-160.
Graham, G.W., Bass, S.J., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. and Manning, A.J. (2007). Flow modification by Spartina anglica. Journal of Coastal Research , SI 50, 778-783.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2005). On the structure of turbulence in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. Journal of Physical Oceanography , 35 (1), 72-93.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Atsavapranee, P., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2002). PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. Experiments in Fluids , 33 , 962-971.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Thorpe, S.A. and Graham, A. (1999). Surface effects of bottom-generated turbulence in a shallow tidal sea. Nature , 400 , 251-254.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. and Thorpe, S.A. (1999). Dispersion of buoyant material by Langmuir circulation and a tidal current. Marine Pollution Bulletin , 38 , 824-829.
Thorpe, S.A., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Thurnherr, A.M. and Walters, N.J. (1999). Patterns in foam. Weather , 54 , 327-334.

Refereed Conference Proceedings and Book Chapters
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Osborn, T.R. and Katz, J. (2004). PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. In: PIV and Water Waves, Gru, J., Liu, P.L.-F. and Pedersen, G.K. eds, Advances in Coastal and Ocean Engineering , vol. 9.
Thorpe, S.A., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Graham, A. and Thurnherr, A.M. (1999). Patterns in foam and shallow tidal flows. Proceedings of the ASI Symposium, Sydney, ed. M. Banner , p257-264.

Other publications (published abstracts with oral/poster presentation):
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2007) 3D flow visualization in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean, IEEE/MTS Oceans 2007, October, Vancouver, Canada
Luznik L., Nimmo Smith W.A.M. (2006) , Hackett, E., Katz J. and Osborn T., Influence of wave strains on the TKE production rate in the outer part of the bottom boundary layer, AGU General Assembly December 2006, San Francisco, USA
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2006). Turbulent structures in tidal flows. Coastal and Shelf Seas: Present Understanding and Future Challenges April 2006, Bangor, UK
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2006). 3D flow structure in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. AGU Ocean Sciences meeting February 2006, Hawaii
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2005). 3D flow visualisation in the coastal ocean. Open Science Meeting: HABs and Stratification, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France (invited)
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2005). 3D flow structure in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. Internal Waves, Turbulence and Shelf Seas Workshop November 2005, Bangor, UK
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2005). 3D flow visualisation in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. Warnemünde Turbulence Days September 2005, Warnemünde, Germany
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2005). 3D flow visualization in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean using PTV. The 6th International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry September 2005, Los Angeles, USA
Gurka R., Luznik L., Nimmo Smith W.A.M. , Zhu W., Katz J. and Osborn T., The distributions of Reynolds Stresses, production, dissipation and vorticity in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean, 57th Annual Meeting of APS, Division of Fluid Dynamics, WA, November 23-25, 2004.
Luznik, L., Gurka, R., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Zhu, W., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2004). On the structure of turbulence and Reynolds stress distribution in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. ICTAM (XXI) 2004, Warsaw, Poland.
Luznik, L., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Zhu, W., Gurka, R., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2004). Turbulence measurements in the bottom boundary layer using PIV on the U.S. Southeastern Continental Shelf. AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences 2004, Portland, USA.
Fricova, A., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2002). Particle transport in the coastal bottom boundary layer using combined PIV and SVM. AGU Fall Meeting 2002, San Francisco, USA.
Osborn, T.R., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Zhu, W., Luznik, L. and Katz, J. (2002). Stress calculations from PIV measurments in the bottom boundary layer. Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas in Hamburg, Germany.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Luznik, L., Zhu, W., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2002). Flow structure and turbulence distributions in the coastal ocean from PIV data. EGS General Meeting, Nice, France.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Osborn, T.R., Luznik, L., Zhu, W. and Katz, J. (2002). Turbulent stress measurements in the coastal ocean using particle image velocimetry. EGS General Meeting, Nice, France.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Luznik, L., Zhu, W., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2002). Turbulence distributions and flow structure in the coastal ocean from PIV data. PIV and Modelling Water Wave Phenomena Symposium, Cambridge, UK.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Luznik, L., Zhu, W., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2002). Flow structure and turbulence distributions in the coastal ocean from PIV data. AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences 2002, Hawaii, USA.
Katz, J., Osborn, T.R. and Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. (2002). A 10 meter range turbulence and stress profiler for the coastal ocean. AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences 2002, Hawaii, USA.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Atsavapranee, P., Luznik, L., Zhu, W., Baldwin, D.R., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2001). PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. 4th International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry 2001, Gottingen, Germany.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Atsavapranee, P., Zhu, W., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2000). PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. AGU Fall Meeting 2000, San Francisco, USA.
Atsavapranee, P., Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Zhu, W., Katz, J. and Osborn, T.R. (2000). PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. APS Fall Meeting 2000, Washington DC, USA.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Thorpe, S.A. and Graham, A. (1999). Boils and eddies in tidal flows. AGU Spring Meeting 1999, Boston, USA.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Thorpe, S.A. and Graham, A. (1999). Boils and eddies in tidal flows. IUGG General Assembly 1999, Birmingham, UK.
Nimmo Smith, W.A.M. , Graham, A. and Thorpe, S.A. (1998). Dispersion of material by wind and tide in shallow seas. Challenger Society "Oceanography '98", Southampton, UK. 

Links
For further details of my research interests, please go to:
http://www.coastalprocesses.org/