Hydro Highlight: Scott Lee Young – Connecting Water Movement to Predictions of Dangerously Low Oxygen Levels
Scott Lee Young was always interested in understanding the world and its processes through science. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Lee Young explored various scientific fields, and guided by a sense of duty to his country, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of the West Indies. Lee Young continued his growth and educational journey by applying to the prestigious Fulbright Foreign Student Program. Upon being selected, he had the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in coastal and oceanographic engineering at the University of Florida.
Scott Lee Young (right), with his advisor Dr. Maitane Olabarrieta (left), posing with the bull gator in front of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Lee Young’s enthusiasm for research deepened during his master’s studies, inspired by a collaborative and dedicated research team, guidance from his advisor, and a challenging research topic. This led him to pursue a PhD in coastal and oceanographic engineering under Dr. Maitane Olabarrieta, a professor in the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering. Lee Young researches hypoxia, a depletion of dissolved oxygen in aquatic environments to levels that are detrimental to organisms that rely on oxygen to live.
As the oceans warm from increasing global temperatures, seawater’s capacity to hold oxygen decreases. When dissolved oxygen concentration falls below a certain threshold, the water becomes hypoxic. As a result, many important marine species, especially fish and shellfish, die, and harmful algal blooms can occur, thereby exacerbating their effects. Florida’s estuaries, or areas where freshwater mixes with saltwater, such as the St. Lucie Estuary in Lee Young’s study area, are especially vulnerable to hypoxic events because of their shallow depth. However, the impacts are not evenly distributed: the northern portion of the St. Lucie Estuary experiences hypoxia yearly on average, whereas the southern portion rarely does.
Research
But why and how do these hypoxic events occur, and why so frequently in the northern part of the estuary? That is the central question of Lee Young’s research. Scientists have identified several factors that contribute to hypoxia, but the exact combination of these factors and mechanisms remains underexplored. Some of these factors are biogeochemical – like how microbes consume oxygen – while others are physical, like the movement of water and weather. Lee Young suspects that a particular combination of physical and biogeochemical processes drives hypoxia in the St. Lucie Estuary and other similar systems.
Lee Young is investigating this in three ways: measuring hydrodynamics (how water flows throughout the estuary), statistically testing the relationship between physical and biogeochemical factors and dissolved oxygen, and using numerical modeling to gain deeper insights into the interplay of the physical and biogeochemical processes. Using data on water speed, direction, and weather, Lee Young can create a model to simulate how water moves throughout the estuary and how these movements associate with dissolved oxygen levels. To ensure the model’s accuracy, he compares it with field observations such as salinity, temperature, and water velocity.
Although his research focuses on the St. Lucie Estuary, he hopes the results have a much broader reach.
“Ultimately, the goal of this effort is to improve our ability to predict hypoxia to inform management decisions, improve safety and ecological health, and provide insights for use in other scientific contexts.”
– Scott Lee Young
Lee Young and other members of the research team deploying the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler and Seabird Conductivity, Temperature, Depth, and Dissolved Oxygen instruments in the St Lucie Estuary. From left to right: Patrick Norby, Ella Bear, Todd Van Natta, and Scott Lee Young.
Why Does It Matter?
The St. Lucie Estuary is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. It supports many species of fish, birds, and other animals, and it has high economic value in Florida through commercial and recreational fisheries, recreation, and tourism. However, hypoxia persists, leading to fish kills, foul odors, harm to wildlife, and reduced water clarity, thereby negatively impacting community well-being and the agricultural, economic, and residential value of estuaries. Without a clear way to predict hypoxic events, these threats will continue to mount, further harming the people and animals that depend on this estuary. Luckily, Lee Young’s dissertation is a promising start toward decoding hypoxia through water movements, and he hopes its results will extend beyond the St. Lucie Estuary.
“By understanding the hydrodynamic impacts, we can better predict and prevent these problems, keeping estuaries safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for everyone.”
– Scott Lee Young
Sharing Knowledge and Building Connections
During his time at UF, Lee Young has valued not only the significance of rigorous research but also the art of communicating it clearly and accessibly to both scientists and the public. He focuses on bridging interdisciplinary gaps through his research and at conferences.
Lee Young presenting at an International Center event in 2023.
“I am interested in connecting with researchers and practitioners working at the intersection of physical oceanography, water quality, and coastal management, especially those affiliated with state and federal agencies.”
– Scott Lee Young
This Hydro Highlight was created by the Water Institute Ambassadors Alexis Jackson and Lexi Bolger. Graduate students interested in being highlighted can fill out this survey to learn more.
February 17, 2026