Projects per year
Personal profile
Areas of Expertise
Oceanography, Air-sea interactions, Marine Biogeochemical Cycles, Carbonate Chemistry
Video: Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas SOCAT with Dorothee Dr Dorothee Bakker (UEA) and Dr Kim Currie (NIWA)
Video: Let’s start the ocean data revolution in the Nordics!
Biography
After an MSc in Soil Science with a focus on biogeochemical cycles (1991), I moved into oceanography for PhD research on CO2 air-sea exchange in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans. The oceans cover two-thirds of our Blue Planet and major findings are still being made. 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 TRICUSO, MaSCOt, PICCOLO, and GreenFeedBack research projects. Past research projects include CarboChange, CUSTARD, MOSAiC, COMFORT 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 3 researchers and 3 PhD students.
Read here about Elise Droste's participation in MOSAiC.
Career
- 2024- : University of East Anglia, Professor
- 2018-2024: University of East Anglia, Associate Professor
- 2016-2018: University of East Anglia, Senior Lecturer
- 2006-2016: University of East Anglia, Research Officer
- 1998-2005: University of East Anglia, Senior Research Associate
- 1998: PhD awarded by the University of Groningen
- 1996-1998: Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, Research Associate
- 1991-1996: Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PhD research
- 1985-1991: Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands, MSc Soil Science
Special Award
- 2015: Recognition for my contribution to the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) by the Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS).
PhD Opportunities
Email me (d.bakker at uea.ac.uk) to discuss PhD projects on the ocean carbon cycle and sources of funding.
Click here for other PhD opportunities in the School of Environmental Sciences.
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.
Publications: EPrints Digital Repository
Key Responsibilities
- Director for Postgraduate Research, School of Environmental Sciences
- Adviser, School of Environmental Sciences
- Module Organiser, ENV-4010B Earth Systems
- First Aider at Work
Research Group or Lab Membership
Teaching Interests
Since 2018 I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I teach on:
ENV-4004Y Research and Field Skills (Slapton Field Course)
ENV-4010B Earth Systems (Module Organiser)
ENV-5020K Marine Sciences Field Course
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Groningen
… → 1998
Master of Science, M.Sc., Soil Science, Wageningen University and Research
… → 1991
Media Expertise
- Oceanography
- Engineering
- Atmospheric science
- Carbon cycle
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Three Research Infrastructures together: Carbon Uptake Southern Ocean
1/01/25 → 31/12/28
Project: Research
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CoccolitHophore controls on ocean ALKalinitY (CHALKY)
Robinson, C., Bakker, D. & Lee, G.
Natural Environment Research Council
1/11/23 → 31/10/26
Project: Research
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GREENHOUSE GAS FLUXES AND EARTH SYSTEM FEEDBACKS
Kaiser, J., Bakker, D. & Suntharalingam, P.
1/07/22 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Processes Influencing Carbon Cycling: Observations of the Lower limb of the Antarctic Overturning (PICCOLO)
Heywood, K., Bakker, D., Hall, R., Robinson, C., Garcia-Martin, E. E. & Lee, G.
Natural Environment Research Council
31/07/17 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Accuracy of ocean CO2 uptake estimates at a risk by a reduction in the data collection
Dong, Y., Bakker, D. C. E. & Landschützer, P., 16 May 2024, In: Geophysical Research Letters. 51, 9, e2024GL108502.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
Constraining the trend in the ocean CO2 sink during 2000–2022
Mayot, N., Buitenhuis, E. T., Wright, R. M., Hauck, J., Bakker, D. C. E. & Le Quéré, C., 28 Sept 2024, In: Nature Communications. 15, 8429.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Direct observational evidence of strong CO2 uptake in the Southern Ocean
Dong, Y., Bakker, D. C. E., Bell, T. G., Yang, M., Landschützer, P., Hauck, J., Rödenbeck, C., Kitidis, V., Bushinsky, S. M. & Liss, P. S., 24 Jul 2024, In: Science Advances. 10, 30, eadn5781.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus) -
Disentangling carbon concentration changes along pathways of North Atlantic subtropical mode water
Reijnders, D., Bakker, D. C. E. & van Sebille, E., Jul 2024, In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 129, 7, e2023JC020814.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)2 Downloads (Pure) -
Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W) - The Implementation Plan
Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W), 15 Apr 2024, 64 p. World Meteorological Organization.Research output: Other contribution
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Award for contribution to the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT)
Bakker, Dorothee (Recipient), 10 Sept 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Surface Ocean CO2 Observing Network (External organisation)
Dorothee Bakker (Member)
1 Mar 2024 → …Activity: Membership › Committee
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WMO's Global Greenhouse Gas Watch Implementation Plan (External organisation)
Dorothee Bakker (Member)
7 Nov 2023 → 20 Jan 2024Activity: Membership › Public/government panel or group
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Workshop on surface ocean pCO2 observations, synthesis and data products
Tobias Steinhoff (Organiser), Thanos Gkritzalis (Organiser), Dorothee Bakker (Organiser), Peter Landschuetzer (Organiser), Shin-Ichiro Nakaoka (Organiser), Kevin O'Brien (Organiser), Richard Sanders (Organiser), Adrienne Sutton (Organiser), Maciej Telszewski (Organiser) & Bronte Tilbrook (Organiser)
6 Nov 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop or seminar
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Scientific Advisory Board of ICOS ERIC (External organisation)
Dorothee Bakker (Member)
26 May 2023 → …Activity: Membership › Public/government panel or group
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Rapporteur and membre du jury de soutenance
Dorothee Bakker (Examiner)
28 Feb 2023Activity: Examination
Press/Media
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Is This Stormy Sea A Climate Friend Or Foe?
20/02/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Satellites are key to monitoring global carbon dioxide levels
15/11/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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UEA and British Antarctic Survey in largest ever polar expedition
23/09/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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UEA researchers part of ground-breaking Arctic project
20/09/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: UEA Press Release
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Southern Ocean starts to absorb carbon again
14/09/15
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution