Mr. Xavier Desmit has a broad interest and experience in phytoplankton ecology and water quality in marine systems and transitional waters. During his PhD, he started first to specialise in field sampling (also on Belgica) and laboratory measurements of phytoplankton production and water quality parameters. With this experimental background, he specialised in data analysis and mathematical modeling. From 2005 to 2009, he has been involved in various research and consultancy projects related to ecological modeling in Deltares institute (NL). Since 2009, he is ecological modeller at MUMM with a special interest in the eutrophication of the North Sea.

CoBiOS

Coastal Biomass Observatory Services, EU-FP7 project, coordinator VU-IVM (Steef Peters).

AMORE III

Advanced Modelling and Research on Eutrophication (3rd part): "Combined effect of changing hydroclimate and human activity on coastal ecosystem health", BELSPO project, coordinator ULB-ESA (Christiane Lancelot).

OSPAR’09 (At Deltares)

Eutrophication modelling study of the North Sea for the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Eutrophication Modelling (ICG-EMO), Deltares project, coordinator X Desmit.

2005

Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium "Study and modeling of phytoplankton production in the strong tidal Scheldt estuary".

2001

M.Sc. in Chemical Oceanography and Water Pollution Control, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.

1998

Licence in Chemistry Sciences, Organic Photochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.

My area of research is bio-optical oceanography and ocean color remote sensing. I'm interested in improving the retrieval of optically active components of the water column (like chlorophyll and total suspended matter concentration) using remotely sensing imagery in the Argentinean Continental shelf and shelf-break regions. My activities involve validation of satellite products using field data (radiometric and bio-optical data), atmospheric correction algorithms evaluation, and bio-optical algorithm development. I'm also interested in improving the estimation of primary production at large scale by combining satellite and in situ information.

• Validation of satellite products using field data (radiometric and bio-optical data)
• Development of bio-optical algorithm
• Primary Production Modeling using remote sensing datas

BELCOLOUR-ARG (2010-2011)

"Satellite mapping of the La Plata river plume". Funded by Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO), Belgium

02/2008 – 02/2009

Postdoctoral position. Physics Department of Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Brazil

2007

Ph.D. in Biology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

1999

Lic. in Biology (equivalent to MSc in Biology), University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• Ecological modeling (English Channel and Southern Bight of the North Sea)
  • Algal bloom (Phaeocystis)
  • eutrophication
  • riverine nutrient reduction scenarios
  • transboundary nutrient transport
• Fish larvae transport
  • individual-based model
  • larvae dispersal
  • connectivity

ATP PIREN, CNRS, FR (1988-1991)

Modelling of the coastal zone: application to the Cannes-Mandelieu Bay

EROS MAST EU (1991-1992)

European River Ocean System 2000

TOURNESOL program, CGRI, French Community of Belgium (1996)

ERASMUS & SOCRATES (1991-2000)

Inter-Universities cooperation program 'Modelling of the Marine Environment'

FRFC convention (1997-2000)

Nitrogen cycle in the Bay of Calvi

ARC, French Community of Belgium (1997-2002)

Interactions, under hydrodynamical constraints, between pelagic and benthic trophic chains in coastal zone; study and modeling of the controlling physical and biological processes in a Mediterranean site

AMORE-II, Belgian Science Policy (2002-2006)

Advanced MOdeling and Research on Eutrophication: Study and modelling of the interaction between eutrophication and biological resources

PNEC, FR (2002-2005)

Determinism of the Phaeocystis bloom and its consequences on the ecosystem of the eastern Channel and the southern Bight of the North Sea

LITEAU 2, FR (2004-2006)

Integrated modelling of the nutrient transfer from Seine, Somme and Scheldt basins into the Channel and the southern North Sea

BELPROD, Belgian Science Policy (2005-2007)

Primary production in the Belgian waters

OSPAR ICG-EMO (2005-present)

Eutrophication modelling study of the North Sea for the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Eutrophication Modelling

COMETS, Belgian Science Policy (2006-2007)

Cluster eutrophication "COmunicating advanced progress in coastal Eutrophication to Stake holders and the scientific community"

AMORE-III, Belgian Science Policy (2007-2008 & 2009-2010)

Advanced MOdeling and Research on Eutrophication: Combined effects of hydroclimate and human activities on the coastal ecosystem

SOLEMOD, Research Action RBINS, Belgian Science Policy (2007-2011)

Modelling the impact of the physical and biological environment on the recruitment of Solea solea fish larvae

ECOOP, EU-FP6 Global change and ecosystems (2007-2009)

European COastal shelf-sea OPerational observing and forecasting system

WESTBANKS, Belgian Science Policy (2007-2008 & 2009-2011)

Understanding benthic, pelagic and air-borne ecosystem interactions in shallow coastal seas

CoBiOS, EU-FP7-SPACE-2010-1 (2011-2014)

Coastal Biomass Observatory Services

1998

PhD in Sciences, orientation: Oceanology (ULg, Belgium)

PhD in Biological Oceanology and Marine Environment (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, France)

1990

European (ERASMUS) DEA in Marine Environment Modelling (ULg, Belgium)

1989

Master in Physics (UCL, Belgium)

Aggregation for the Superior Secondary School (UCL, Belgium)

Since 2002

Scientific researcher (MUMM/RBINS, Belgium)

1995 – 2002

Research assistant (50%) (ULg, Belgium)

Contractual researcher (50%) (French Community of Belgium, ULg, Belgium)

1992 – 1995

PhD researcher (EU "Pierre et Marie Curie" Fellowship, LOV, Villefranche-sur-mer, France)

1990 – 1992

Research assistant (ULg, Belgium)

• Ocean colour algorithms and products
  • total suspended matter concentration
  • chlorophyll a concentration
• Sea surface temperature
• Light attenuation on coastal and oceanic waters
• Satellite atmospheric correction

MULTICOLOR-2 (1999-2000)

BELCOLOUR-1 (2002-2006)

BELCOLOUR-2 (2007-2011)

COASTCOLOUR (2007-2011)

Since 1999

Research assistant at the Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models.

1997-1999

in the marine meteorological forecasting service of "Direction de la Météorologie Nationale" (Casablanca, Morocco).

1997

Engineering graduate in meteorology, from "Ecole Nationale de Météorologie" (Toulouse, France). Thesis carried out on numerical forecasting.

1994

Graduate from "Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles, Lycée M.Youssef" (Rabat, Morocco).

1992

Secondary school graduate from "Omar El Khayam" (Rabat, Morocco).

2011

Validation of MODIS TSM products and MODIS-"Recoloured" (cloud filling with DINEOF) using smart buoys platforms (in colaboration with the University of Liège, Belgium, and Cefas, UK) Intercomparison of MERIS products from different ocean colour algorithms (Coastcolour Round Robin, Coastcolour project.

2010

Modelling the underwater light attenuation under varying cloud conditions and sun zenith angles, using a radiative transfer software (Hydrolight).

2006

SST product comparison with in situ SST and OPTOS-NOS model results.

Implementation of MODIS CHL, SST and TSM products generation in near real time.

Since 2003

Total suspended matter algorithms, design for the turbid waters. Calibration and validation for the Belgian coastal waters.

Intercomparison of the satellite, in situ and transport model derived TSM in the Southern North Sea (a joint work with the sediment transport modelers at MUMM).

2001 – 2002

Satellite imagery processing (atmospheric correction of SeaWiFS imagery) and mapping of chlorophyll and total suspended matter concentrations, over the Southern North Sea area.

2000

The atmospheric correction of HRV- SPOT (20m) imagery used to map TSM concentrations in the San Vicente Bay (Chile), to support an environmental study lead by Ecolas.

My research interests drifted with time from the mangrove forests on the land-sea interface to suspended particles in the sea. My current research interests are: the diurnal variability of suspended particulate matter, as detected by the geostationary SEVIRI sensor, and the relationship between scattering properties and the concentration and nature of marine particles in suspension. I am further interested in remote sensing algorithm development, bio-optical modelling, atmospheric correction of satellite imagery, particle aggregation processes and the propagation of light in the water column.

BELCOLOUR-2 (2007-2011)

The general objective of the BELSPO-funded BELCOLOUR-2 project is to improve the quality of existing optical remote sensing products for marine, coastal and inland waters based on new scientific knowledge and to develop new products (including partial pressure of CO2 and primary production) for key applications such as aquaculture and air-sea CO2 flux quantification. In addition to algorithm work and image processing BELCOLOUR-2 participates in seaborne cruises for the purposes of calibration of algorithms and for validation of the end products.

GEOCOLOUR (2010-2013)

The general objective of the BELSPO-funded GECOLOUR project is to improve the quality and quantity of marine optical products from the SEVIRI geostationary sensor and to prepare the design of the next generation of geostationary ocean colour sensors. More specifically, the project aims to improve the temporal and geographical coverage of the extisting SEVIRI products (see Neukermans et al. 2009), to extend SEVIRI products from suspended particulate matter concentration to turbidity and light attenuation products and to improve their spatial resolution. Geostatistical techniques will be used for cloud-filling of the imagery, by performing multivariate reconstructions specific to tidally-correlated variability at sub-day time scales.

2002-2004

MSc. Ecological Marine Management, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium

1997-2002

MSc. Applied Mathematics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium

Since 12/2007

Marine researcher at the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences / Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (RBINS-MUMM)

PhD student at the Université du Littoral, Côte d'Opale, Wimereux, France

08/2007 – 11/2007

Research assistant at NATO's Undersea Research Centre (NURC), La Spezia, Italy

02/2007 – 07/2007

Coordinator of International Master Programme in Ecological Marine Management, VUB, Brussels, Belgium

02/2005 – 01/2007

Researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium

European Commission distinguished poster award

for the poster entitled "Diurnal variability of suspended matter from the SEVIRI geostationary sensor", (Neukermans, G., Forster, R., Greenwood, N. and Ruddick, K.), presented at Oceans From Space 2010, 26-30 April 2010, Venice, Italy.

VLIZ (Flanders Marine Institute) Professional Jury's award for the best poster

entitled "Vertical Variability of suspended matter and its influence on remote sensing reflectance" (Neukermans, G., Loisel, H., Mériaux, X. and Ruddick, K.), Young Researcher's Day of Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), 6 March 2009, Bruges, Belgium.

The Oceanography Society Honorable Mention Student Paper (1st runner up)

for the extended abstract entitled "Optical remote sensing of coastal waters from geostationary platforms: a feasibility study" (Neukermans, G., Ruddick K. And Nechad, B.), submitted for the Ocean Optics XIX Conference, 6-10 October 2008, Barga, Italy.

VLIZ (Flanders Marine Institute) Young Researcher's Thesis Award 2004

for the thesis "Remote sensing of mangroves in Gazi Bay (Kenya) with very high resolution QuickBird satellite imagery: automated methods for species and assemblage identification", VLIZ Young Scientist's Day, 25 February 2005, Bruges, Belgium.

General interest in understanding how the physical environment (light, temperature, currents, etc.) affects life in the sea.

"I am never content until I have constructed a [mechanical] model of the subject I am studying. If I succeed in making a model, I understand; otherwise I do not." (Lord Kelvin)

• Marine optics and remote sensing
  • Algorithms for Total Suspended Matter, Chlorophyll a, Diffuse attenuation, turbidity, (Harmful) Algae Bloom, etc.
  • Atmospheric correction, especially for turbid waters
  • In situ validation measurements, especially making the best possible reflectance measurements and understanding their uncertainty
  • Geostationary ocean colour, the next ocean colour revolution
  • Marine reflectance spectra from the blue to the short wave infrared (400-3000nm)
  • Coastal water applications of remote sensing data
  • Underwater light climate
• Ecosystem modeling
  • Eutrophication dynamics
  • Jellyfish
  • Fish larvae dispersion
  • Coastal water applications in response to environmental management needs

Various Belgian and European projects including coordination of the BELCOLOUR-2 and GEOCOLOUR projects.

1995

PhD in Oceanography (Docteur en Sciences), Université de Liège, Belgium

1992

Masters in Marine Environmental Modelling, Université de Liège, Belgium

1988

Masters in Fluid Dynamics, von Karman Institute, Belgium

1987

Bachelors of Arts, Mathematics, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

• Remote Sensing of Marine Ecosystems
  • Algea bloom dynamics
  • In situ validation measurements
• Remote Sensing of Vegetative Systems
  • 3D canopy structure description using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
  • 3D light modelling
  • Optical remote sensing of vegetative systems

MARCOAST-2

Marine & Coastal Environmental Information Services, GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), coordinator Thales (Stéphane Pierotti)

AQUAMAR

Marine Water Quality Information Services, EU-FP7 project, coordinator Thales (Stéphane Pierotti)

2008

Ph.D. in Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven (KUL), Belgium

" Mathematical Modeling of 3D Canopy structure of Forest Stands using ground-based LiDAR".

2003

Master in Bioscience Engineering: Land and Forest Management, Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven (KUL), Belgium

Since 2010

Research scientist in MUMM

2009 – 2010

Post-doctoral Research / Docent

Geomatics Group / M3-BIORES

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL)

Prof. Pol Coppin

• Remote sensing
  • Ocean colour
  • Image processing and automation
  • Validation of r/s products
  • Long-term r/s data archive
• Jellyfish ecology

JELLYFOR (2010-2012)

Forecasting of jellyfish blooms in Spanish and Irish waters, using in situ and r/s data

2009

Msc. Marine and Lacustrine Sciences, Universiteit Gent, Belgium

2007

Bsc. Geography, Universiteit Gent, Belgium

June 2010 - present

Researcher at MUMM