Dr. Daniel Carlson
Position: Senior Scientist
Function: Head of Department
Seestrasse 15
18119 Rostock
Germany
Expertise
Physical Oceanography & Ocean Dynamics:
- Deep expertise in ocean circulation, Lagrangian transport, surface dispersion, and mixing processes, developed across major research programs in the Gulf of Mexico, Adriatic Sea, Red Sea, and Arctic.
Arctic & Greenland Research:
- Extensive fieldwork in Greenland and the broader Arctic, including studies of iceberg-ocean interactions, glacier discharge, fjord dynamics, and macroalgal habitat mapping using satellite imagery.
Marine Technology & Open-Source Hardware:
- Proven track record designing and deploying innovative, low-cost observational tools, including autonomous surface vehicles, ice drones, and UAV systems tailored for remote and challenging marine environments.
Field Leadership & Expedition Science:
- Experienced Chief Scientist with leadership of numerous research expeditions by ship, sailboat, and drone in some of the world's most remote regions, including multiple Arctic campaigns.
Marine Ecology & Carbon Cycling:
- Research into seagrass, kelp, and macroalgal ecosystems, with a focus on carbon sequestration, ocean-ecosystem interactions, and the impacts of glacial melt on marine biogeochemistry.
Here you can access my Linked-In profile.
Here you can access my Google Scholar profile.
CV
Education
2008–2014: Ph.D. Physical Oceanography
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Institute for Earth Sciences, Jerusalem, Israel
Advisor: Hezi Gildor
2004–2007: M.S. Physical Oceanography
Florida State University, Dept. of Oceanography, Tallahassee FL, USA
Advisor: Allan J. Clarke
2000–2004: B.S. Physics
Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, USA
Piano Minor
Professional Appointments
2023–2025: Research Scientist, Radar Hydrography
Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany
2020–2023: Research Scientist, Optical Oceanography
Institute of Carbon Cycles, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Geesthacht, Germany
2018–2019: Assistant Professor
Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
2015–2019: Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University
- Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE)
2015–2018: Postdoctoral Researcher
Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
2013–2015: Postdoctoral Researcher
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine, La Spezia
2008: Research Biologist-I
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, Florida
Publications
2026
- Carlson, D. F., M. Ryan, R. Chaudhary, M. Boecke, M. J. Walsh, P. Tejsner, D. Krause-Jensen, G. Jouvet, K. Löffler, J. Abermann, R. Jackisch, J. T. Kerby, S. Rysgaard, U. A. Treier and U. Kleeberg (2026). The Greenland Drone Explorer: A WebGIS for browser-based visualization and spatial browsing of published UAS raster imagery. Geomatica 78: 100123, doi: 10.1016/j.geomat.2026.100123
- Carlson, D. F., N. Suzuki, R. Carrasco, K. Filbee-Dexter, L. C. Gillard, P. G. Myers, A. M. Queirós, J. Assis, C. M. Duarte, M. Sejr and D. Krause-Jensen (2026). Ocean transport and vertical mixing connect Greenland's macroalgae to deep ocean carbon sinks. Sci. Total Environ. 1012: 181247, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181247
Publications prior IOW
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D.F. Carlson, N. Suzuki, R. Carrasco, K. Filbee-Dexter, L.C. Gillard, P.G. Myers, A.M. Queirós, J. Assis, C.M. Duarte, M. Sejr, D. Krause-Jensen, Ocean transport and mixing connect Greenland’s macroalgal habitats to deep ocean carbon sinks. Accepted for publication in Science of the Total Environment |
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Filbee-Dexter, K., A. Pessarrodona, M.F. Pedersen, T. Wernberg, C.M. Duarte, J. Assis, T. Bekkby, M.T. Burrows, D.F. Carlson et al. 2024: Carbon export from seaweed forests to deep ocean sinks. Nature Geoscience 17:552-559. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, S. Akbulut, J. Rasmussen, C. Hestbech, M. Andersen, C. Melvad. 2023: Compact and modular autonomous surface vehicle for water research: the Naval Operating Research Drone Assessing Climate Change (NORDACC). HardwareX, 15: e00453. URL |
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Ager, T., D. Krause-Jensen, M. Sejr, B. Olesen, D.F. Carlson, M. Winding. 2023: High biomass of floating macroalgae supports carbon sequestration potential within and beyond a Greenland fjord. Science of the Total Environment, 872:162224. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, A. Vivó-Pons, U.A. Treier, E. Mätzler, L. Meire, M.K. Sejr, D. Krause-Jensen. 2023: Mapping shallow macrophytes in fjords in Southwest Greenland using Sentinel-2 imagery. Science of the Total Environment 865:161213. URL |
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M.J. Walsh, D.F. Carlson, P. Tejsner, S. Thomsen. 2023: The Bear Trap: Reinvestigation and digital imaging of a unique stone structure on the northwest tip of the Nuussuaq Peninsula, Greenland. Arctic Anthropology 58:200-217. URL |
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J. Bendtsen, S. Rysgaard, J. Mortensen, D.F. Carlson, L. Meire, M.K. Sejr. 2021: Vertical mixing in stratified fjords near tidewater outlet glaciers along northwest Greenland. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 126:e2020JC016898. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, G. Carr, J.L. Crosbie, P. Lundgren, N. Peissel, P. Pett, W. Turner, S. Rysgaard 2021: The 2017 Mission Arctic Citizen Science Sailing Expedition Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Profiles in Western Greenland and Baffin Bay. Frontiers in Marine Science 8:665582. URL |
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E D’Asaro, D.F. Carlson, M. Chamecki, R. Harcourt, B. Haus, et al. 2020: Advances in observing and understanding small-scale open ocean circulation during the GoMRI Era. Frontiers in Marine Science 4:349. URL |
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M.J. Hopwood, D. Caroll, T. Dunse, A. Hodson, J.M. Holding, J.L. Iriarte, S. Ribeiro, E.P Achterberg, C. Cantoni, D.F. Carlson, et al. 2020: How does glacier discharge affect marine biogeochemistry and primary production in the Arctic? The Cryosphere 14, 1347-1383. URL |
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S. Thomsen, F.S. Tirsgaard, M.H. Hansen, J.P. Lillethorup, A. Flytkær, C. Melvad, S. Rysgaard, D.F. Carlson 2020: An affordable and miniature coring drill for rapid iceberg sample acquisition. HardwareX e00101 URL |
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D.F. Carlson, W.J. Pavalko, D. Petersen, M. Olsen, A.E. Hass 2020: Maker Buoy Variants for Water Level Monitoring and Tracking Drifting Objects in Remote Areas of Greenland. Sensors 20:1254 URL |
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S. Rysgaard, W. Boone, D.F. Carlson, J. Bendtsen, et al. 2020: The West Greenland coastal system and its implication for glacier melt. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 125:e2019JC015564 URL |
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M.J. Walsh, P. Tejsner, D.F. Carlson, L. Vergeynst, K.U. Kjeldsen et al. 2020: The VIMOA project and archaeological heritage in the Nuussuaq Peninsula, Northwest Greenland. Antiquity. 94:e6. URL |
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H. Chang, H. Huntley, A.D. Kirwan Jr., D.F. Carlson, J. Mensa, B. Fox-Kemper et al. 2019: Small-scale dispersion observations in the presence of Langmuir circulation. Journal of Physical Oceanography 49:3069-3085. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, J. Pasma, M.E. Jacobsen, M.H. Hansen, S. Thomsen et al. 2019: Retrieval of iceberg samples using the Ice Drone. Frontiers in Earth Science 7:287. URL |
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L. Corgnati, A. Griffa, P. Penna, P. Celentano, L. Bellomo, D.F. Carlson et al. 2019: Implementation and validation of the ISMAR High Frequency Coastal Radar Network in the Gulf of Manfredonia (Mediterranean Sea). IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. 44:424-445. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, A. Fürsterling, L. Vesterled, M. Skovby, S.S. Pedersen et al. 2019: An affordable and portable autonomous surface vehicle with obstacle avoidance for coastal ocean monitoring. HardwareX, 6:e00059. URL |
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T. Ozgokmen, M. Boufadel, D.F. Carlson, C. Cousin, C. Guigand et al. 2018: Technological advances for ocean surface measurements by the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE). Marine Technology Society Journal, 52:71-76. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, T. Ozgokmen, G. Novelli, C. Guigand, M. Curcic et al., 2018: Surface ocean dispersion observations from the ship-tethered aerostat remote sensing system. Frontiers in Marine Science. 5:479 URL |
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R. Sciascia, M. Berta, D.F. Carlson, A. Griffa, M. Panfili et al. 2018: Linking sardine recruitment in coastal areas to ocean currents using surface drifters and HF radar. A case study in the Gulf of Manfredonia, Adriatic Sea. Ocean Science, 14:1461-1482 . URL |
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D.F. Carlson and S. Rysgaard, 2018: Adapting open-source drone autopilots for real-time iceberg observations. MethodsX, 5:1059-1072. URL |
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W. Boone, S. Rysgaard, D.F. Carlson, L. Meire, S. Kirillov et al., 2018: Coastal freshening prevents fjord bottom water renewal in Northeast Greenland – a mooring study from 2003-2015, Geophysical Research Letters, 28:2726-2733. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, L.A. Yarbro, S. Scolaro, M. Poniatowski, P.R. Carlson Jr., 2018: Sea surface temperatures and seagrass mortality in Florida Bay: Temporal and spatial patterns discerned from AVHRR and MODIS data, Remote Sensing of Environment, 208:171-188. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, W. Boone, L. Meire, J. Abermann, and S. Rysgaard, 2017: Bergy Bit and Melt Water Trajectories in Godthåbsfjord (SW Greenland) Observed by the Expendable Ice Tracker, Frontiers in Marine Science, 4:276 URL |
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D.F. Carlson, G. Suaria, S. Aliani, E. Fredj, T. Fortibuoni et al. 2017: Combining litter observations with a regional ocean model to identify sources and sinks of floating marine debris in a semi-enclosed basin: The Adriatic Sea. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4:78. URL |
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E. Fredj, D.F. Carlson, Y. Amitai, A. Gozolchiani, H. Gildor, 2016: The particle tracking and analysis toolbox (PaTATO) for Matlab. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 14:586-599. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, A. Griffa, E. Zambianchi, G. Suaria, L. Corgnati et al. 2016: Observed and modeled surface Lagrangian transport between coastal regions in the Adriatic Sea with implications for marine protected areas. Continental Shelf Research. 118:23-48. URL |
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S. Aliani, M. Berta, M. Borghini, D.F. Carlson et al. 2015: Biodiversity conservation: an example of a multidisciplinary approach to marine dispersal. Rendiconti Lincei, 26:37-48. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, E. Fredj, H. Gildor, 2014: The annual cycle of vertical mixing and restratification in the northern Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba based on high temporal and vertical resolution observations. Deep-Sea Research, 84:1-17. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, E. Fredj, H. Gildor, E. Biton, J.V. Steinbuck, S.G.Monismith, A. Genin, 2012: Observations of tidal currents in the northern Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba (Red Sea). Journal of Marine Systems, 102-104:14:28. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, E. Fredj, H. Gildor, V. Rom-Kedar, 2010: Deducing an upper bound to the horizontal eddy diffusivity using a stochastic Lagrangian model. Environmental Fluid Mechanics, 10:499-520. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, P.A. Muscarella, H. Gildor, B.L. Lipphardt Jr., E. Fredj, 2010: How useful are progressive vector diagrams for studying coastal ocean transport? Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 8:98-106. URL |
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D.F. Carlson, A.J. Clarke, 2009: Seasonal along-isobath geostrophic flows on the west Florida shelf with application to Karenia brevis red tide blooms in Florida's Big Bend. Continental Shelf Research, 29:445-455. URL |
