Lead Physical Oceanographer
Senior Research Scientist in physical oceanography and numerical modelling.
Role
Background
I joined AIMS as a support scientist in 1995, following 3 years experience as a numerical hydrodynamic modeller for a coastal engineering consulting firm. Since becoming a Research Scientist in 1999, I have focused on understanding physical oceanographic processes relevant to coral reefs and tropical continental shelf environments at region to local scales.
I am currently the Lead Physical Oceanographer at AIMS, responsible for development and implementation of the scientific vision for physical oceanography, and the delivery of that vision through appropriate Research Team plans.
I was a Program Leader in the AIMS@JCU joint venture for the period 2009-2011 and continue a commitment to postgraduate training through the supervision of PhD students at JCU and UWA.
I lead AIMS involvement in the eReefs project
I am currently the Lead Physical Oceanographer at AIMS, responsible for development and implementation of the scientific vision for physical oceanography, and the delivery of that vision through appropriate Research Team plans.
I was a Program Leader in the AIMS@JCU joint venture for the period 2009-2011 and continue a commitment to postgraduate training through the supervision of PhD students at JCU and UWA.
I lead AIMS involvement in the eReefs project
Education
- 2006: PhD Oceanography, School of Mathematics and Physics, James Cook University
- 1991: BSc Hons, Oceanography and Meteorology, Flinders University
Current Research Activities
My current research interests fall within the broad topics of coastal oceanography and physical-biological interactions on continental shelves. I am currently undertaking research on shelf dynamics; coupling of shelf and ocean circulation; sediment dynamics on tropical coasts; wave propagation over coral reefs and through coastal vegetation; and physical-biological interactions at regional and local scales. A unifying theme of my research is the development and application of validated models of hydrodynamic circulation and materials transport (sediment, larvae, pollutants) as part of multidisciplinary studies.
Expert Committees and Boards
Science Planning Committe for 'Life in a Changing Ocean'
Tropical Marine Science representative on Marine National Facility - Future Research Vessel Technical Advisory Group
2006-2011 Leade WAMSI 1, Project 2.3
Tropical Marine Science representative on Marine National Facility - Future Research Vessel Technical Advisory Group
2006-2011 Leade WAMSI 1, Project 2.3
Publications
Over 30 science and technical papers and client reports . The following are a selection of recent publications
Brinkman RM, Herzfeld M, Andrewartha J, Rizwi F, Steinberg CR, Spagnol SB (2011) Hydrodynamics at the whole-of-GBR scale: A foundation for receiving water quality models.Final MTSRF project report for Project 2.5i.1. 42 p.
Taebi S, Lowe RJ, Pattiaratchi C, Ivey G, Symonds G, Brinkman RM (2011) Nearshore circulation in a tropical fringing reef system. Journal of Geophysical Research 116:C02016.
Choukroun SM, Ridd PV, Brinkman RM, McKinna L (2010) On the surface circulation in the Western Coral Sea and residence times in the Great Barrier Reef. Journal of Geophysical Research 115: C06013.
Katsumata K, Wijffels S, Steinberg CR, Brinkman RM (2010) Variability of the semidiurnal internal tides observed on the Timor Shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research 115: C10008.
McKinnon AD, Trott LA, Brinkman RM, Duggan S, Castine S, Alongi DM (2010) Seacage aquaculture in a World Heritage Area: The environmental footprint of a Barramundi farm in tropical Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin 60: 1489-1501.
Weeks Sj, Bakun A, Steinberg CR, Brinkman RM, Hoegh-Guldberg O (2010) The Capricorn Eddy: a prominent driver of the ecology and future of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 29: 975-985.
Alongi DM, McKinnon AD, Brinkman RM, Trott LA, Undu MC, Muawanah, Rachmansyah (2009) The fate of organic matter derived from small-scale fish cage aquaculture in coastal waters of Sulawesi and Sumatra, Indonesia. Aquaculture 295: 60-75.
Webster IT, Brinkman RM, Parslow J, Prange J, Stevens ADL, Waterhouse J (2007) Review and Gap Analysis of Receiving-Water Water Quality Modelling in the Great Barrier Reef. CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country Flagship. 137 p.
Lowe RJ, Ivey G, Brinkman RM, Jones NL (In press) Seasonal circulation and temperature variability near the North West Cape of Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research .
Young JW, McKinnon AD, Ceccarelli DM, Brinkman RM, Cappo MC, Dichmont C, Doherty PJ, Furnas MJ, Gledhill D, Griffiths S, Hutton T, Ridgway KR, Williams A, Smith DC, Skewes T, Bustamante RH, Richardson AJ (Online First) Workshop on the ecosystem and fisheries of the Coral Sea: an Australian perspective on research and management. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries .
