Professor Alex Nimmo Smith
Profiles

Professor Alex Nimmo Smith

Professor of Marine Science and Technology

School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Biography

Biography

Alex is Professor of Marine Science & Technology at the University of Plymouth, and is part of the Marine Physics Research Group (MPRG). His research interests are focussed around suspended particle dynamics, both in terms of how particles (plankton, sediment, bubbles, droplets) behave in a natural, turbulent environment, and also in the use of particles as tracers of turbulent flows. He has developed several in situ optical systems to directly image particles for measurement and identification, and visualise 3D turbulence structure, deploying these on autonomous platforms.

Qualifications

  • 2023 - present: Professor of Marine Science & Technology, University of Plymouth, UK
  • 2010 - 2023: Associate Professor (Reader) in Marine Physics, University of Plymouth, UK
  • Feb 2005: Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Plymouth, UK
  • 2003 - 2010: Lecturer in Marine Physics, School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, UK
  • 2000 - 2002: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA."PIV measurements in the bottom-boundary layer of the coastal ocean"
  • 1996 - 2000: PhD, School of Ocean and Earth Science, Southampton Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK. "Dispersion of material by windand tide in shallow seas"
  • 1993 - 1996: BSc (Hons), Marine Biology and Oceanography, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, UK 

Professional membership

  • Member of the Challenger Society for Marine Science
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Roles on external bodies

Key publications

Lieber L, Nimmo Smith WAM, Waggitt J & Kregting L (2019) 'Localised anthropogenic wake generates a predictable foraging hotspot for top predators' Communications Biology 2, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access
View all publications
Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

  • Physical Oceanography (shelf sea, coastal and estuarine) 
  • Optical Oceanography (underwater optics and imaging) 
  • Data Analysis methods
Research

Research

Research interests

  • Suspended particle dynamics
  • Turbulence, mixing and dispersion
  • Breaking waves and Langmuir circulaton
  • Boundary layers dynamics and coherent structures
  • Flow visualisation, optical and acoustic measurement techniques 
For further details, please refer to the Marine Physics Research Group.

Research groups

Publications

Publications

Key publications

Lieber L, Nimmo Smith WAM, Waggitt J & Kregting L (2019) 'Localised anthropogenic wake generates a predictable foraging hotspot for top predators' Communications Biology 2, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Lieber L, Füchtencordsjürgen C, Hilder RL, Revering PJ, Siekmann I, Langrock R & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2022) 'Selective foraging behavior of seabirds in small‐scale slicks' Limnology and Oceanography Letters , DOI Open access
Costagliola-Ray MM, Lieber L, Nimmo-Smith WAM, Masden EA, Caplat P, Wilson J & O'Hanlon NJ (2022) 'To fly or not to fly? Comparing vantage point and uncrewed aerial vehicle surveys for assessments of seabird abundance and fine-scale distribution' Environmental Impact Assessment Review 97, , DOI Open access
Barnett M, Kemp A, Nimmo Smith W & Purdie D (2022) 'Total water column analysis shows the importance of a single species in subsurface chlorophyll maximum thin layers in stratified waters' Frontiers in Marine Science , DOI Open access
Lieber L, Langrock R & Nimmo Smith W (2021) 'A bird’s eye view on turbulence: Seabird foraging associations with evolving surface flow features' Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 288, (1949) , DOI Open access
Yesson C, Letessier TB, Nimmo-Smith A, Hosegood P, Brierley AS, Hardouin M & Proud R (2021) 'Improved bathymetry leads to >4000 new seamount predictions in the global ocean – but beware of phantom seamounts!' UCL Open: Environment 4, , DOI Open access
Ross RE, Nimmo-Smith WAM, Torres R & Howell KL (2020) 'Comparing Deep-Sea Larval Dispersal Models: A Cautionary Tale for Ecology and Conservation' Frontiers in Marine Science 7, , DOI Open access
Ferreira AS, Costa M, Py F, Pinto J, Silva MA, Nimmo-Smith A, Johansen TA, de Sousa JB & Rajan K (2019) 'Advancing multi-vehicle deployments in oceanographic field experiments' Autonomous Robots 43, (6) 1555-1574 , DOI Open access
James M, Polton J, Brereton A, Howell K, Nimmo-Smith A & Knights A (2019) 'Reverse engineering field-derived vertical distribution profiles to infer larval swimming behaviors' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116, (24) 11818-11823 , DOI Open access
Lieber L, Nimmo Smith WAM, Waggitt J & Kregting L (2019) 'Localised anthropogenic wake generates a predictable foraging hotspot for top predators' Communications Biology 2, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access
Hosegood PJ, Nimmo Smith WAM, Proud R, Adams K & Brierley AS (2019) 'Internal lee waves and baroclinic bores over a tropical seamount shark ‘hot-spot’' Progress in Oceanography , DOI Open access
Lieber L, Nimmo Smith WAM, Waggitt J & Kregting L (2018) 'Fine-scale hydrodynamic metrics underlying predator occupancy patterns in tidal stream environments' Ecological Indicators , DOI Open access
Vlasenko V, Stashchuk N & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2018) 'Three-dimensional dynamics of baroclinic tides over a seamount' Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans , DOI Open access
Ross RE, Nimmo Smith WAM & Howell KL (2017) 'Towards ‘ecological coherence’: Assessing larval dispersal within a network of existing Marine Protected Areas' Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers , DOI Open access
Stashchuk N, Vlasenko V, Hosegood P & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2017) 'Tidally induced residual current over the Malin Sea continental slope' CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH 139, 21-34 , DOI Open access
Bowers DG, McKee D, Jago CF & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2017) 'The area-to-mass ratio and fractal dimension of marine flocs' Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 189, 224-234 , DOI Open access
Ross RE, Nimmo-Smith WAM & Howell KL (2016) 'Increasing the Depth of Current Understanding: Sensitivity Testing of Deep-Sea Larval Dispersal Models for Ecologists' PLOS ONE 11, (8) Author Site , DOI Open access
Lefering I, Bengil F, Trees C, Röttgers R, Bowers D, Nimmo-Smith A, Schwarz J & McKee D (2016) 'Optical closure in marine waters from in situ inherent optical property measurements' Optics Express 24, (13) 14036-14036 , DOI Open access
Vlasenko A, Steele ECC & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2016) 'Corrigendum: A physics-enabled flow restoration algorithm for sparse PIV and PTV measurements (2015 Meas. Sci. Technol . 26 065301)' Measurement Science and Technology 27, (6) 069502-069502 , DOI Open access
Steele ECC, Nimmo-Smith WAM & Vlasenko A (2016) 'Direct measurement of hairpin‐like vortices in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean' Geophysical Research Letters 43, (3) 1175-1183 , DOI Open access
Davies EJ, Buscombe D, Graham GW & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2015) 'Evaluating Unsupervised Methods to Size and Classify Suspended Particles Using Digital In-Line Holography' Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 32, (6) 1241-1256 , DOI Open access
Cross J, Nimmo-Smith WAM, Hosegood PJ & Torres R (2015) 'The role of advection in the distribution of plankton populations at a moored 1-D coastal observatory' PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY 137, 342-359 Author Site , DOI Open access
Vlasenko A, Steele ECC & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2015) 'A physics-enabled flow restoration algorithm for sparse PIV and PTV measurements' Measurement Science and Technology 26, (6) 065301-065301 , DOI Open access
Davies EJ, McKee D, Bowers D, Graham GW & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2014) 'Optically significant particle sizes in seawater' APPLIED OPTICS 53, (6) 1067-1074 Author Site , DOI Open access
Cross J, Nimmo-Smith WAM, Hosegood PJ & Torres R (2014) 'The dispersal of phytoplankton populations by enhanced turbulent mixing in a shallow coastal sea' JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS 136, 55-64 , DOI Open access
Macdonald RG, Bowers DG, McKee D, Graham GW & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2014) 'Vertical migration maintains phytoplankton position in a tidal channel with residual flow' MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 509, 113-126 , DOI
Cross J, Nimmo Smith WAM, Torres R & Hosegood PJ (2013) 'Biological controls on resuspension and the relationship between particle size and the Kolmogorov length scale in a shallow coastal sea' Marine Geology 343, 29-38 , DOI
Bowers DG, Macdonald RG, McKee D, Nimmo-Smith WAM & Graham GW (2013) 'On the formation of tide-produced seiches and double high waters in coastal seas' ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE 134, 108-116 , DOI
Graham GW, Davies EJ, Nimmo-Smith WAM, Bowers DG & Braithwaite KM (2012) 'Interpreting LISST-100X measurements of particles with complex shape using digital in-line holography' JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS 117, , DOI
Davies EJ, Nimmo-Smith WAM, Agrawal YC & Souza AJ (2012) 'LISST-100 response to large particles' MARINE GEOLOGY 307, 117-122 , DOI
Braithwaite KM, Bowers DG, Smith WAMN & Graham GW (2012) 'Controls on floc growth in an energetic tidal channel' JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS 117, , DOI
Bowers DG, Braithwaite KM, Nimmo-Smith WAM & Graham GW (2011) 'The optical efficiency of flocs in shelf seas and estuaries' ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE 91, 341-350 , DOI
Davies EJ, Nimmo-Smith WAM, Agrawal YC & Souza AJ (2011) 'Scattering signatures of suspended particles: an integrated system for combining digital holography and laser diffraction' OPTICS EXPRESS 19, (25) 25488-25499 , DOI
Kay S, Hedley J, Lavender S & Nimmo-Smith A (2011) 'Light transfer at the ocean surface modeled using high resolution sea surface realizations' OPTICS EXPRESS 19, (7) 6501-6512 , DOI
Braithwaite KM, Bowers DG, Nimmo Smith WAM, Graham GW, Agrawal YC & Mikkelsen OA (2010) 'Observations of particle density and scattering in the Tamar Estuary' Marine Geology 277, (1-4) 1-10 , DOI
Graham GW & Nimmo Smith WAM (2010) 'The application of holography to the analysis of size and settling velocity of suspended cohesive sediments' Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 8, (JAN) 1-15 , DOI
Bowers DG, Braithwaite KM, Nimmo-Smith WAM & Graham GW (2009) 'Light scattering by particles suspended in the sea: The role of particle size and density' CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH 29, (14) 1748-1755 , DOI
Thorpe SA, Green JAM, Simpson JH, Osborn TR & Smith WAMN (2008) 'Boils and turbulence in a weakly stratified shallow tidal sea' JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY 38, (8) 1711-1730 , DOI
Burchard H, Craig PD, Gemmrich JR, van Haren H, Mathieu P-P, Meier HEM, Smith WAMN, Prandke H, Rippeth TP & Skyllingstad ED (2008) 'Observational and numerical modeling methods for quantifying coastal ocean turbulence and mixing' PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY 76, 399-442 , DOI
Smith WAMN, Katz J & Osborn TR (2007) 'The effect of waves on subgrid-scale stresses, dissipation and model coefficients in the coastal ocean bottom boundary layer' JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS 583, 133-160 , DOI
Luznik L, Gurka R, Nimmo Smith WAM, Zhu W, Katz J & Osborn TR (2007) 'Distribution of energy spectra, Reynolds stresses, turbulence production, and dissipation in a tidally driven bottom boundary layer' Journal of Physical Oceanography 37, (6) 1527-1550
Graham GW, Bass SJ, Smith WAMN & Manning AJ (2007) 'Exploring Marsh Surface Canopy Dynamics - A Discussion of Laboratory Methods' JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH 778-783
Nimmo Smith (2005) 'On the structure of turbulence in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean' Journal of Physical Oceanography 35 (1), 72-93 , DOI
Nimmo Smith WAM, Atsavapranee P, Katz J & Osborn TR (2002) 'PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean' Experiments in Fluids 33, (6) 962-971
Thorpe SA, Smith WAMN, Thurnherr AM & Walters NJ (1999) 'Patterns in foam' Weather 54, (10) 327-334 , DOI
Nimmo Smith WAM & Thorpe SA (1999) 'Dispersion of buoyant material by Langmuir circulation and a tidal current' MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 38, (9) 824-829 , DOI
Nimmo Smith WAM, Thorpe SA & Graham A (1999) 'Surface effects of bottom-generated turbulence in a shallow tidal sea' NATURE 400, (6741) 251-254 , DOI
Smith WAMN 'A submersible three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry system for flow visualization in the coastal ocean' LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY-METHODS 6, {96-104}-{96-104}
Simpson JH, Green JAM, Rippeth TP, Osborn TR & Nimmo-Smith WAM 'The structure of dissipation in the western Irish Sea front' JOURNAL OF MARINE SYSTEMS 77, {428-440}-{428-440} , DOI
Chapters
Smith WAMN, Osborn TR & Katz J (2004) 'PIV MEASUREMENTS IN THE BOTTOM BOUNDARY LAYER OF THE COASTAL OCEAN' Advances in Coastal and Ocean Engineering WORLD SCIENTIFIC 51-79 , DOI
Conference Papers
Conley D, Buscombe D & Nimmo-Smith A (2012) 'USE OF DIGITAL HOLOGRAPHIC CAMERAS TO EXAMINE THE MEASUREMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF SEDIMENT SUSPENSION IN THE NEARSHORE' Coastal Engineering Research Council 73-73 , DOI
Luznik L, Gurka R, Smith WAMN, Zhu W, Katz J & Osborn TR (2005) 'Wave Phase based Conditional Sampling of Reynolds Stresses in the Coastal Ocean Bottom Boundary Layer' Fourth International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena 6-/-0/20056-/-0/2005Begellhouse , DOI
Nimmo Smith WAM, Atsavapranee P, Zhu W, Luznik L, Baldwin DR, Katz J & Osborn TR (2001) 'PIV measurements in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean' 413-422
Smith WAMN '3D flow visualization in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean' {1202-1208}-{1202-1208}
Personal

Personal

Links

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