The multidisciplinary, seagoing fieldwork is a fun aspect of oceanography. Central in my research are processes affecting the air-sea transfer of natural long-lived greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) and the marine carbon cycle in a changing climate, notably the role of marine biota, ocean circulation, stratification, iron supply, sea ice and ocean acidification.

Data quality and access to marine biogeochemical data are important, especially for studies of longterm variation and change. I contribute to these aims as chair of the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT), a high-profile activity by the international marine carbon research community. Version 2022 of SOCAT is available. Automation of SOCAT data upload now enables annual, public releases of SOCAT. SOCAT has made a Voluntary Commitment to the 2017 UN Conference for Annual, public releases of the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (#OceanAction20464) and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.3.1 (Ocean Acidification). Recent SOCAT-based estimates indicate that the ocean carbon sink is more variable on year-to-year and decadal time scales than ocean biogeochemical models indicate.

Currently I am investigating carbon cycling in UK shelf seas and the Southern and Arctic Oceans. I am part of the CUSTARD, PICCOLO, MOSAiC, COMFORT and Greenfeedback research projects. Past research projects include CarboChange, and Ocean Acidification Research. I have participated in 21 multidisciplinary, mostly seagoing research projects, am an author of 100 peer-reviewed articles and 5 book chapters and supervise 1 researcher and 3 PhD students.

Key Research Interests
Air-sea interactions of long-lived greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide). The marine carbon cycle and its feedbacks with other biogeochemical cycles and climate. Seasonal, year-to-year and decadal variation in the ocean carbon sink and the processes driving this variation. The role of seasonal sea-ice in air-sea transfer of carbon dioxide (CO2). The key role of iron in the Southern Ocean carbon cycle. The effects of a high CO2 world and ocean acidifcation on marine biota. Remote sensing. Maintaining time series. Safe data storage. Access to marine biogeochemical data.