BIO

Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir holds the position of Director at the Institute of Oceanography and Environment at UMT. His research interests lie in coastal physical oceanography, with an emphasis on field observations and numerical modeling. He has played an active role in examining the southern South China Sea, particularly in terms of ocean currents, wind, waves, and its water masses. The most significant aspect of his research is the recent discovery of an upwelling system along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Involvement in several research projects under IOC/WESTPAC has allowed Dr. Mohd Fadzil to establish regional networks and lead the Upwelling research group, which consists of regional experts focusing on gathering valuable information about upwelling sites within the South China Sea. Currently, he is leading a major research project between Malaysia and China, known as the Ocean Forecasting System (OFS) for the South China Sea. Through this project, his team has developed MFAST (Malaysia Marine Forecast) to provide open-access forecasts for the industry and the community. He has recently been awarded the highest-ranking national grant scheme, a Long-Term Research Grant (LRGS), to conduct research on Ocean Climate Change. The project will focus on assessing the long-term impacts of climate change on ocean processes and productivity in Malaysian waters.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

• Director of Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS, UMT) 

(2019 – Present) 

• Senate Member, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

(2019- Present)

• Deputy Director of Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS, UMT) Research and Services

(2016 – 2019)

• Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) between Malaysia and China, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOSTI)

(2017-2019) 

• Director of University Committee for World Ocean Week, UMT

(2017 – 2020)

• Chief Scientist for LIMA 2019, Scientific Cruise UMT

(2019)

• Chief Scientist for National Scientific Cruise Expedition, MOSTI

(2016)

DEGREES

• Doctor of Philosophy

          * PhD, Physical Oceanography

            University of Western Australia (2010)

• Bachelor’s Degree

          * B.Eng (Hons) Civil Engineerging

            Heriot-Watt University (2004)

• Diploma

         * Diploma in Civil Engineering

           Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (2002)

Journal article

Bagheri, M., Ibrahim, Z.Z., Mansor, S., Abd Manaf, L., Akhir, M.F., Talaat, W.I.A.W., Wolf, I.D. (2023) Hazard Assessment and Modeling of Erosion and Sea Level Rise under Global Climate Change Conditions for Coastal City Management. Natural Hazards Review. Vol. 24. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000593

Xiao, S., Jian-feng, L., Fang-fang, W.A.N., Xuan, Y.U., xiaoxiao, S., Lu-yao, H.A.N., Guang-hao, W.E.I., Bing, Z.H.E.N.G., Akhir, M., Muslim, S.M., Idris, I.(2022) Research on red tide short-time prediction using GRU network model based on multi-feature Factors——A case in Xiamen sea area. Marine Environmental Research. Vol 182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105727

Kok, P.H., Wijeratne, S., Akhir, M.F., Pattiaratchi, C., Chung, J.X., Roseli, N.H., Daud, N.R.(2022) Modeling approaches in the investigation of upwelling along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia: Its driven mechanisms. Regional Studies in Marine Science. Vol 55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102562

Ali, F.S.M., Chung, J.X., Kok, P.H., Mansor, K.N.A.A.K., Akhir, M.F.M. (2022). Evaluation of CORDEX-SEA Models on Wind Simulation during the Southwest Monsoon in the Southwestern Part of the South China Sea. Atmosphere. Vol 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13081303

Apriansyah, Atmadipoera, A.S., Jaya, I., Nugroho, D., Akhir, M.F. (2022) Seasonal oceanographic changes and their implications for the abundance of small pelagic fishes in the southern South China Sea. Regional Studies in Marine Science. Vol 54.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102499

Tangang F., MF Akhir. et al. (2021) Progress in Climate Change Downscaling Simulations in Southeast Asia. In: Kaushik A., Kaushik C.P., Attri S.D. (eds) Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Approaches. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0902-2_2

Chang Z, G Wan, M Zhang, G Wang, G de With, R Bezhenar, V Maderich, CXia, B Zhao, KT Jung, R Periáñez, MF Akhir, C Sangmanee, F Qiao (2021) Transport and dispersion of tritium from the radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 169, 2021,112515,ISSN 0025-326X.

Johari A., Akhir M. F., Satar M. N., Zainol Z., Guo J.S. (2021) Inter-annual changes of water temperature in the southern south china sea’s continental shelf: the influence of ENSO on Malaysian waters. In Press

Zainol, Z., Akhir, M.F., Zainol, Z. (2021). Pollutant transport and residence time of a shallow and narrow coastal lagoon estimated using a numerical model, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 164, 2021,112011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112011

Akhir, M.F., Pattiaratchi, C. Meuleners, M. (2020). Dynamics and Seasonality of the Leeuwin Current and the Surrounding Counter-Current System in the Region South of Western Australia. J. Mar. Sci. Eng., 8, 552.

Safuan, C. D. M., Roseli, N. H., Bachok, Z., Akhir, M. F., Xia, C., & Qiao, F. (2020). First record of tropical storm (Pabuk-January 2019) damage on shallow water reef in Pulau Bidong, South of South China Sea. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 35, 101216.

Shariful, F., Sedrati, M., Ariffin, E.H., Shubri, S.M., Akhir, M.F. (2020). Impact of 2019 Tropical Storm (Pabuk) on Beach Morphology, Terengganu Coast (Malaysia). Journal of Coastal Research, 95 (sp1), pp. 346-350

Isa, N.S., Akhir, M.F., Kok, P.H, Daud, N.R., Khalil, I., Roseli, N.H. (2020). Spatial and temporal variability of sea surface temperature during El-Niño Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole in the Strait of Malacca and Andaman Sea, Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2020, 101402, ISSN 2352-4855, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101402

Satar, M.N., Akhir, M.F., Poh Heng Kok, P.H., Daud, N.R. (2020). Upwelling in the northwest Sabah during the northeast monsoon and its relation with El–Niño. Research in Marine Sciences, 5(2): 681-698, 2020.

Research Interests

• Coastal physical oceanography

Grants

• Interaction of ocean dynamics with the climate system of past, present and future using ocean observation integrated data and numerical modeling

Project Leader * LRGS * 2020-2024

• Marine Coastal and Delta Sustainability for Southeast Asia

Project Leader * EU-ERASMUS+, * 2019-2023

• Development of Integrated System of Ocean Forecasting, Observation Network and Atmospheric Oceanic Database for Malaysia Waters of the Southern South China Sea

Project Leader * ICF-MESTECC * 2018-2020

• Leader for Malaysia-China collaboration on Ocean Forecasting System development

Project Leader * UMT-FIO * 2017-2020

• Chief Scientist for National Scientific Cruise Expedition 2016

Project Leader * MOSTI * 2016-2017

• Upwelling studies through ocean data integration towards sustaining ocean health and productivity

Project Leader * UNESCO-IOC/WESTPAC * 2015-2017

• Development of Advanced Hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Technology for Low Carbon Society and Sustainable Energy System: First Experimental OTEC Plant of Malaysia

Co-Researcher * SATREPS (Malaysia-Japan) * 2019-2024

• Malaysia-China Research and Cooperation on Marine Renewable Energy Utilization

Co-Researcher * ICF (MOSTI) * 2018-2020

• A new assessment tool for paleoclimate evolution in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia during Holocene by using alkenone-paleothermometry and inorganic marine proxies

Co-Researcher * FRGS * 2015-2017

• Modelling oceanic dispersal of sea turtle hatchlings through locomotors energetic cost and ocean current

Co-Researcher * FRGS * 2017-2019 

• The Development of New Waveform Retracking Algorithm and Expert System to Optimize Sea Surface Heights from Satellite Radar Altimetry Waveforms over Coastal Regions

Co-Researcher * FRGS *2015-2018 

• Assessment of offshore engineering skills, ecological knowledge and maritime governance required for large-scale seaweed farming in UK and Malaysia waters

Co-Researcher * NEWTON Grant

• A new assessment tool for paleoclimate evolution in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia during Holocene by using alkenone-paleothermometry and inorganic marine proxies

Co-Researcher * FRGS * 2015-2017

Professional Activities

• Head of Coastal and Ocean Dynamics, INOA

• Project leader for Malaysia-China collaboration on Ocean Forecasting System of South China Sea
• Principal Researcher for Malaysia Marine Forecast (MFAST)
• Project Leader of IOC/WESTPAC Projects on Upwelling Studies and Ocean Data Integration
• Scientific Members of SEAGOOS Program (IOC/WESTPAC) on Ocean Forecasting System (OFS)
• Co-PI, Multi-hazards early warning system development for A Smart Ocean, Ocean Seamless Forecasting System, Ocean Decade Program, UNESCO
• Co-Founder – Director, Ocean Hydro Sdn. Bhd. (UMT Start-up innovation company on ocean data and forecasting)
  .

Plenary Speaker

• Workshop Convenor and Presenter

*2nd WESTPAC Workshop on Upwelling and Its Dynamics in the South China Sea and adjacent areas * 26-27 January 2021

• Presenter

*International Webinar on Marine Environment: Facilitating Marine Environmental Awareness through Research and Education * 10 December 2021

• Forum Panelist

*United Nation Decade of Ocean Science: Ocean Future-The Science We Need for The Ocean We Want * 25 Mar 2021

*Young Scientist Forum on Ocean Governance 1 * 28 Feb 2021

Expertise

• Physical oceanography: Coastal current circulation

• Upwelling system

• Water mass characteristics

• Ocean Modeling, Ocean Climate Change

Postgraduate Students

2010 – Present

• Master’s student: 18 Graduated, 11 current
• PhD student: 7 Graduated, 14 current

Supervision Activities

Completed Masters Supervision

• Seafloor Morphology and Sedimentological Characteristics of the Kuala Terengganu Nearshore Area (Mohamad Anas Bin Mohamad Annuar)

2010 – 2013
Associate Supervisor

• Tidal Currents In The Coastal Waters Off Terengganu (Fathy Kameel Bin Mohd Fadzil)
  2010 – 2015
  Main Supervisor

• Physical Oceanography Of Lekir Bay, Manjung, Perak (Hadzley Bin Harith)
  2011 – 2014
  Associate Supervisor

• Water Characteristics And Current Circulations Off East Coast Peninsular Malaysia (Nur Hidayah Binti Roseli)

         2011 – 2014
         Main Supervisor

• Water Mass Properties, Variabilities And Origins In Northern Borneo (Shukri Bin Arsad)

         2011 – 2014
         Main Supervisor

• Thermal Frontal Zone And Associated Coastal Upwelling Along The East Coast Of Peninsular Malaysia (Kok Poh Heng)
  2013 – 2015
  Main Supervisor

• Coastal Upwelling And Phytoplankton Biomass In Terengganu And Pahang Coastal Waters (Zuraini Binti Zainol)
  2014 – 2016
  Main Supervisor

• Local Volume Table For Rhizophora Apiculata At Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Peninsular Malaysia (Mohd. Shafie Bin Mahamud @ Bahari)
  2014 – 2019
  Main Supervisor

• Occurrence And Distribution Of Microplastics Pollution In Pulau Tioman And Pulau Redang, Malaysia (Nur Syafinaz Ameera Binti Zainal)
  2016 – 2019
  Main Supervisor

• Hydrodynamics Influence On The Dispersal Of Rhizophora Mucronata Propagules In Setiu Wetland (Atteleth Don Peris)
  2016 – 2019
  Associate Supervisor

• Implikasi Rekabentuk Tukun Tiruan Konkrit Terhadap Persekitaran Dasar Laut Menggunakan Permodelan Numerikal (Rafezi Bin Hazizi)
  2016 – 2019
  Main Supervisor

• Long-Term Trends And Variations Of Water Temperature In Southern South China Sea (Afifi Bin Johari)
  2016 – 2019
  Main Supervisor

• Paleoproductivity Records Of Terengganu And Kelantan Waters, Malaysia During Holocene (Erick Bin Naim)
  2017 – 2021
  Associate Supervisor

• Characteristics Of Upwelling In Northwest Sabah Waters And Its Relation With Northeast Monsoon And El Nino Southern Oscillation Event (Muhammad Naim Bin Mohd Satar)
  2017 – 2021
  Main Supervisor

• Early Swimming Behaviour Of Green Turtle Hatchlings Produced At Chagar Hutang, Pulau Redang, Malaysia (Nur Nadhirah Syafiqah Suhaimi)

          2018 – 2020 
          Associate Supervisor

• Coastal Dynamic Processes In Vicinity Of Coastal Protection Structure At Kuala Nerus Beach, Terengganu (Muhammad Syakir Zufayri Bin Zulfakar)
  2018 – 2021
  Main Supervisor

• Seasonal And Inter-Annual Of Sea Surface Temperature In The Strait Of Malacca And Andaman Sea Using Remote Sensing Data (Noor Suhadah Binti Muhamad Isa)
  2018 – 2020
  Main Supervisor

• Phytoplankton Community Variation In Relation To The Environmental Condition In Malacca Straits (Erqa Shazira Binti Sohaimi)
  2019 – 2022
  Associate Supervisor

Current Masters Supervision

• The Changes Of Beach Processes And Its Impacts On Local Community In Kuala Nerus, Terengganu (Syazana Md Shubri)
  2018
  Associate Supervisor
• Coastal Morphodynamic Changes As A Response To Monsoon Season In Terengganu Coast, Malaysia (Junainah Binti Zakaria)
  2019 

Associate Supervisor

• A Study Of Climate Change Influence On Upwelling Dynamics And Wind Characteristic Along Peninsular Malaysia’s East Coast (Fariz Syafiq Bin Mohamad Ali)
  2019 

Main Supervisor

• Sediment Accretion Rate In Mangrove Areas As Adaptation To Rising Sea Level (Muhammad Izwan Bin Yazin)
  2021

Associate Supervisor

• 21st Century Southern South China Sea Level Rise From Thermal Expansion And Ice Melting Using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (Cmip6) (Muhammad Noah Irfan Bin Azran)
  2021

Associate Supervisor

• Modeling The Effect Of Wave Overtopping At Kelantan And Johor Coasts (Toh Siaw Hui)
  2022

Associate Supervisor

• Impact On Coastal Erosion In Johor Coast With The Wave Overtopping Application (Mohamad Hakim Bin Mohd Shukri)
  2022

Associate Supervisor

• Day And Future Projection Of Oceanic Physical Processes Over Southeast Asia Marine Environment By Coupled Models Intercomparison Project (Cmip) Phase 6 Models (Sharifah Nurul Akmal Binti Syed Omar)
  2022

Associate Supervisor

• Assessment For Optimal Site Selection For Otec Power Plant At Sabah Using Cmems And Wod Data (Ahmad Aleef Amirul Bin Anuwa)
  2022
  Main Supervisor

• Vertical Structure Of Coral Community In Pulau Bidong: Influence Of Reef Zonation, Depth And Wave Energy Gradient (Nur Qamarina Binti Mohmad Fuad)
  2023

Associate Supervisor

• Hydrodynamic In Setiu Lagoon (Malaysia): Impact Of Shifted River Mouth And Implications For Management (Suhaila Binti Mohd Shamshudin)
  2023

Associate Supervisor

Completed Doctoral Supervision

• Determination Of Geo-Statistical Technique For Optimisation Of Spatial Oceanographic Data (Azizi Bin Ali)
  2011 – 2015

Associate Supervisor

• Intergration Of Geographic Information System (Gis) And Oil Spill Tracking Model To Forecast Oil Spill Along Terengganu And Pahang Coastal Area (Yaniza Shaira Zakaria)
  2012 – 2018

Associate Supervisor

• Coastal Oceanographic Processes Associated With Blood Cockle (Anadara Granosa) Recruitment: A Case Study In Kapar To Sungai Buloh, Selangor (Hadzley Harith)
  2014 – 2017

Associate Supervisor

• Temperature Variability In The Upwelling Region Of Southern South China Sea (Nur Hidayah Binti Roseli)
  2015 – 2018

Main Supervisor

• Dynamics Of Current Circulation Between Southern South China Sea And Gulf Of Thailand (Nurul Rabitah Binti Daud)
  2015 – 2019

Main Supervisor

• Monsoonal Effects On Hydrodynamic And Water Quality At Setiu Wetland, Terengganu (Zuraini Binti Zainol)
  2016 – 2020

Main Supervisor

• Upwelling Dynamics And Water Advection Along The Peninsular Malaysia’s East Coast And Its Relation To Climate Variability In The Tropical Pacific (Kok Poh Heng)
  2016 – 2021

Main Supervisor

Current Doctoral Supervision

• Simulasi Pemodelan Berasskan Individu(Ibms) Untuk Menilai Dinamik Tumbuh-Tumbuhan Dalam Dirian Terurus Dan Tidak Terurus Di Hutan Simpan Bakau Matang(Mmfr),Malaysia (Mohd Rodila Bin Ibrahim)
  2016 

Associate Supervisor

• Water Characteristics, Thermal Fronts And Current Circulation In Northern Of Malacca Strait (Ku Nor Afiza Asnida Binti Ku Mansor)
  2018

Main Supervisor

• Probabilistic Shoreline Change Modelling At Kuala Nerus Terengganu (Faerah Nasir)
  2019

Associate Supervisor

• Muhammad Izuan Bin Nadzri
  2019

Associate Supervisor

• Environmental Changes In Tropical Waters Of East Coast Peninsula Malaysia Based On Different Proxies (Hamad Maalim Sharif)
  2019

Associate Supervisor

• Macrobenthos Ecology With An Emphasize On Polychaetes (Family Oweniidae) At Coastal Man-Made Structures In Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia (Nur Fazne Ibrahim)
  2020

Associate Supervisor

• Wave Variability Prediction At South China Sea And Application To Community (Fathy Kameel B Mohd Fadzil)
  2020

Main Supervisor

• The Continuity Of South China Sea Western Boundary Current Into The Southen Part Of South China Sea (Afifi Bin Johari)
  2021

Main Supervisor

• The Warming Of Deep Ocean Near Indonesia Region (Noir Primadona Purba)
  2021

Main Supervisor

• Measuring And Modelling Sea Surface Temperature (Sst) To Advance Remote Sensing Of Coral Bleaching Risks (Idham Bin Khalil)
  2021

Associate Supervisor

• Establishing Framework For Marine Data Management In Malaysia (Shukri Bin Arsad)
  2021

Main Supervisor

• Studies On Upper Oceanic Response Induced By Cyclones In The Northeast Indian Ocean And Western Pacific Ocean (Winfred Marshal)
  2022

Main Supervisor

• Behavioural Of Instream Sand Mining On Channel Erosion And Nick Point Migration (Nurhidayati Binti Mat Daud)
  2022

Associate Supervisor

• A Study On The Governance Feasibility Of Adopting Marine Spatial Planning In Malaysia For Sustainable Ocean Economy (Husni Alhan Bin Md Salimun)
  2022

Associate Supervisor