Professor Katrien Van Landeghem

Professor in Ocean Sciences

k.v.landeghem@bangor.ac.uk

+44 1248 388161

Professor Katrien Van Landeghem

I lecture in Marine Geology and Geophysics.聽

I study seabed morphodynamics around objects and its links to (1) sustainable management of engineering projects (2) glacial dynamics and (3) habitat suitability and the wider ecosystems.

I work in large projects supporting developing economic opportunities in Low Carbon, Energy and Environment (projects SEACAMS and SEEC) and I was S锚r Cymru NRN-LCEE Returning Fellow on seabed scour around seabed structures. I assess and predict seabed mobility in complex (palaeo)glaciated environments (NERC project NE/J009768/1), underpinned by more accurate modelling. My work underpins habitat maps in the Irish Sea (InterReg projects HabMap and MESH) and in polar regions (NERC project NE/P003087/1). I specialise in amplified sediment waves (EC Grant no. 228344) and accelerated seabed erosion around windfarms and cables (Supergen ORE Flexfund-EPSRC), with ecological implications (NERC project NE/X008886/1). My knowledge transfer projects have received funding from statutory advisers to UK Government, marine engineers and consultants, aggregate industry, marine renewable energy developers, offshore infrastructure connectors and coastline managers.聽

I sit on several external Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committees. I work towards widening participation in environmental sciences (NERC funded project NE/W007649/1). I am Course Director for the Marine Science & Conservation Undergraduate Programme.聽聽

I am Associate Editor Board member of Ocean Challenge and of Frontiers in Earth Science. I lead a Fully Sponsored Open Access Project for topic collection on seabed morphodynamics in Geosciences (MDPI Journal), which offers funding for under-represented groups in marine geosciences.

Room:聽312 Craig Mair聽 聽 聽 聽 聽聽Phone:聽01248 38 8161

Email:听办.惫.濒补苍诲别驳丑别尘蔼产补苍驳辞谤.补肠.耻办

Web: 聽 聽 聽聽聽 聽 聽

  • PhD: High-resolution seafloor evidence for glacial and post-glacial environments in the tidally dominated Irish Sea on the NW European Shelf
    University College Cork, 2008
  • MSc: A multidisciplinary study of the recent sedimentary processes in the Gollum Channel system to the West of Ireland
    Ghent University, 2004

I teach undergraduate and postgraduate modules with content ranging from general earth sciences to applied marine geology.

I supervise MSc and PhD projects during which the students acquire in-depth knowledge and key skills to investigate seabed dynamics, bedform formation, sediment transport and/or glacial geomorphology.

I have supervised four PhD students to completion (three as lead supervisor) and currently supervise five PhD students (four as lead supervisor).

I have a range of research interests in which PhD projects could be developed. Please contact me via email in the first instance regarding any of the following research areas: seabed dynamics; bedform formation; sediment transport; glacial geomorphology; habitat mapping

2024

  • Published
    Rogers, S. L., Giles, S., Dowey, N., Greene, S. E., Bhatia, R., Van Landeghem, K. & King, C., 27 Feb 2024, In: Earth Science, Systems and Society. 4, 10078.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Accepted/In press
    Austin, M., Unsworth, C., Van Landeghem, K. & Lincoln, B., 6 Nov 2024, (Accepted/In press) In: Ocean Science. 17 p., egusphere-2024-2056.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2023

  • Published
    Fisher, B., Hendry, K., Damerell, G., Baker, C., Goddard-Dwyer, M., Joshi, S., Marzocchi, A., Nousek-McGregor, A., Robinson, C., Sieradzan, K., Tagliabue, A. & Van Landeghem, K., Dec 2023, In: Oceanography. 36, 4, p. 150-151
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Jones, R., Meredith, M., Lohan, M., Woodward, E. M., Van Landeghem, K., Retallick, K., Flanagan, O., Vora, M. & Annett, A., 20 Apr 2023, In: Marine Chemistry. 251, 104230.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K., 3 Apr 2023, Valance, A., Garlan, T., MARID VII. Seventh International Conference on Marine and River Dune Dynamics. Rennes, France, 3-5 April 2023. University of Rennes 1 and Shom. 344 p.. University of Rennes 1 and Shom, p. 149-154 6 p.
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding 鈥� Conference contribution 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Unsworth, C., Austin, M., Van Landeghem, K., Couldrey, A., Whitehouse, R., Lincoln, B., Doole, S. & Worrall, P., Sept 2023, In: Coastal Engineering. 184, 22 p., 104309.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Unsworth, C., Austin, M., Van Landeghem, K., Couldrey, A. & Whitehouse, R., 1 Jan 2023, p. 299-306. 7 p.
    Research output: Contribution to conference 鈥� Paper 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Arosio, R., Wheeler, A. J., Sacchetti, F., Guinan, J., Benetti, S., O'Keeffe, E., Van Landeghem, K., Conti, L. A., Furey, T. & Lim, A., 31 Dec 2023, In: Journal of Maps. 19, 1, 2283192.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2022

  • Published
    Giglio, C., Benetti, S., Sacchetti, F., Lockhart, E. A., Clarke, J. H., Plets, R., Van Landeghem, K., 脫 Cofaigh, C., Scourse, J. & Dunlop, P., Jan 2022, In: Boreas. 51, 1, p. 118-135
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K., Unsworth, C., Austin, M. & Waggitt, J., 23 May 2022.
    Research output: Contribution to conference 鈥� Abstract
  • Published
    Clark, C., Ely, J. C., Hindmarsh, R., Bradley, S. L., Ign茅czi, A., Fabel, D., 脫 Cofaigh, C., Chiverrell, R., Scourse, J., Benetti, S., Bradwell, T., Evans, D., Roberts, D., Burke, M., Callard, S. L., Medialdea, A., Saher, M., Small, D., Smedley, R., Gasson, E., Gregoire, L., Gandy, N., Hughes, A., Ballantyne, C., Bateman, M., Bigg, G., Doole, J., Dove, D., Duller, G., Jenkins, G., Livingstone, S., McCarron, S., Moreton, S., Pollard, D., Praeg, D., Sejrup, H. P., Van Landeghem, K. & Wilson, P., Oct 2022, In: Boreas. 51, 4, p. 699-758
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Meredith, M., Inall, M., Brearley, A., Munday, D., Ehmen, T., Retallick, K., Annett, A., Jones, R., Carvalho, F., Van Landeghem, K., Garabato, A. N., Gerrish, L., Scourse, J., Cook, A. & Bull, C., 23 May 2022.
    Research output: Contribution to conference 鈥� Paper
  • Published
    Meredith, M., Inall, M., Brearley, A., Ehmen, T., Sheen, K., Munday, D., Cook, A., Retallick, K., Van Landeghem, K., Gerrish, L., Annett, A., Carvalho, F., Jones, R., Naveira-Garabato, A. C., Bull, C., Wallis, B., Hogg, A. & Scourse, J., 25 Nov 2022, In: Science Advances. 8, 47, p. eadd0720 eadd0720 .
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Unsworth, C., Austin, M. & Van Landeghem, K., 23 May 2022.
    Research output: Contribution to conference 鈥� Abstract

2021

  • Published
    Coughlan, M., Guerrini, M., Creane, S., O'Shea, M., Ward, S., Van Landeghem, K., Murphy, J. & Doherty, P., 1 Nov 2021, In: Continental Shelf Research. 229, 104574.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Verweirder, L., Van Rooij, D., White, M., Van Landeghem, K., Boss茅e, K. & Georgiopoulou, A., 1 Dec 2021, In: Marine Geology. 442, 106639.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Saha, K. & Van Landeghem, K., 17 Jun 2021, ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Copernicus GmbH, Vol. 3-2021. p. 29-35
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding 鈥� Conference contribution 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Benetti, S., Chiverrell, R. C., 脫 Cofaigh, C., Burke, M., Medialdea, A., Small, D., Ballantyne, C., Bateman, M., Callard, S. L., Wilson, P., Fabel, D., Clark, C., Arosio, R., Bradley, S. L., Dunlop, P., Ely, J. C., Gales, J., Livingstone, S. J., Moreton, S., Purcell, C., Saher, M., Schiele, K., Van Landeghem, K. & Weilbach, K., Jul 2021, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 36, 5, p. 833-870
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Mu帽oz-Ramirez, C., Beltr谩n-Concha, M., P茅rez-Araneda, K., Sands, C., Barnes, D., Roman-Gonzalez, A., De Lecea, A., Retallick, K., Van Landeghem, K., Sheen, K., Gonnelli, K., Scourse, J. D., Bascur, M. & Brante, A., 31 Dec 2021, In: Revista de Biolog铆a Marina y Oceanograf铆a. 56, 2, p. 151-156
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Scourse, J. D., Chiverrell, R. C., Smedley, R., Small, D., Burke, M. J., Saher, M., Van Landeghem, K., Duller, G. A. T., O'Cofaigh, C., Bateman, M., Benetti, S., Bradley, S. L., Callard, S. L., Evans, D., Fabel, D., Jenkins, G.T.-H., McCarron, S., Medialdea, A., Moreton, S., Ou, X., Praeg, D., Roberts, D. H., Roberts, H. M. & Clark, C., Jul 2021, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 36, 5, p. 780-804 25 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    O'Cofaigh, C., Callard, S. L., Roberts, D., Chiverrell, R., Evans, D., Saher, M., Van Landeghem, K., Smedley, R., Benetti, S., Burke, M., Clark, C., Duller, G., Livingstone, S., McCarron, S., Medialdea, A., Moreton, S. & Sachetti, F., Jul 2021, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 36, 5, p. 805-832
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2020

  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K. & Chiverrell, R., 1 Oct 2020, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 245, 106526.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Barnes, D., Sands, C., Cook, A., Howard, F., Rom谩n Gonz谩lez, A., Mu帽oz-Ramirez, C., Retallick, K., Scourse, J., Van Landeghem, K. & Zwerschke, N., May 2020, In: Global Change Biology. 26, 5, p. 2750-2755 6 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K. & Rippeth, T., 1 Feb 2020, Ocean Challenge, 24, 1, p. 30-39.
    Research output: Contribution to specialist publication 鈥� Article
  • Published
    Tarlati, S., Benetti, S., Callard, S. L., 脫 Cofaigh, C., Georgiopoulou, A., Edwards, R., Van Landeghem, K., Saher, M., Chiverrell, R., Fabel, D., Moreton, S., Morgan, S. & Clark, C., Nov 2020, In: Scottish Journal of Geology. 56, 2, p. 117-133
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Coughlan, M., T贸th, Z., Van Landeghem, K., McCarron, S. & Wheeler, A. J., Oct 2020, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 35, 7, p. 907-919
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Yiannoukos, I., Benson, T., Van Landeghem, K., Couldrey, A., Whitehouse, R., McCarron, C., Quinn, R., Morgan, J., Roberts, M. & Clayton-Smith, B., 30 Oct 2020, Online proceedings of the papers submitted to the 2020 TELEMAC-MASCARET User Conference. Breugem, W. A., Frederickx, L., Koutrouveli, T., Kulkarni, R., Chu, K. & Decrop, B. (eds.). International Marine & Dredging Consultants, p. 68-73 6 p.
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding 鈥� Conference contribution 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Callard, S. L., O'Cofaigh, C., Benetti, S., Chiverrell, R., Van Landeghem, K., Saher, M., Livingstone, S. J., Clark, C., Small, D., Fabel, D. & Moreton, S., Feb 2020, In: Marine Geology. 420, 106087.
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2019

  • Published
    Scourse, J., Saher, M., Van Landeghem, K., Lockhart, E., Purcell, C., Callard, S. L., Roseby, Z., Allison, B., Pie艅kowski, A., 脫 Cofaigh, C., Praeg, D., Ward, S., Chiverrell, R. C., Moreton, S., Fabel, D. & Clark, C., 1 Jun 2019, In: Marine Geology. 412, p. 53-68
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    脫 Cofaigh, C., Weilbach, K., Lloyd, J., Benetti, S., Callard, S. L., Purcell, C., Chiverrell, R. C., Dunlop, P., Saher, M., Livingstone, S., Van Landeghem, K., Moreton, S., Clark, C. & Fabel, D., 15 Mar 2019, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 208, p. 76-96
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    McCarron, C. J., Van Landeghem, K. J. J., Baas, J. H., Amoudry, L. O. & Malarkey, J., Apr 2019, In: Marine Geology. 410, p. 22-31
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2018

  • Published
    Lockhart, E., Scourse, J., Praeg, D., Van Landeghem, K., Mellett, C., Saher, M., Callard, S. L., Chiverrell, R. C., Benetti, S., 脫 Cofaigh, C. & Clark, C. D., 15 Oct 2018, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 198, p. 156-170
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Callard, S. L., 脫 Cofaigh, C., Benetti, S., Chiverrell, R. C., Van Landeghem, K., Saher, M., Gales, J., Small, D., Clark, C., Livingstone, S. J., Fabel, D. & Moreton, S., 1 Dec 2018, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. p. 280-302
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Chiverrell, R. C., Smedley, R. K., Small, D., Ballantyne, C. K., Burke, M. J., Callard, S. L., Clark, C. D., Duller, G. A. T., Evans, D. J. A., Fabel, D., Van Landeghem, K., Livingstone, S., Cofaigh, C. 脫., Thomas, G. S. P., Roberts, D. H., Saher, M., Scourse, J. D. & Wilson, P., Oct 2018, In: Quaternary Science. 33, 7, p. 739-762
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2016

  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K., Garlan, T., Baas, J. H. & Van Landeghem, K. J. (Editor), 4 Apr 2016, Unknown Publisher.
    Research output: Book/Report 鈥� Book

2015

  • Published
    Ward, S. L., Neill, S. P., Van Landeghem, K. J. & Scourse, J. D., 30 May 2015, In: Marine Geology. 367, p. 94-104
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K. J., Niemann, H., Steinle, L. I., O'Reilly, S. S., Huws, D. G. & Croker, P. F., 28 Apr 2015, In: Geo-Marine Letters. 35, 4, p. 289-304
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Mellett, C. L., Carter, G., Long, D., Chiverrell, R. C. & Van Landeghem, K., 3 Dec 2015, Edinburgh: British Geological Survey. (Energy and Marine Geoscience Programme; no. CR/15/057)
    Research output: Book/Report 鈥� Commissioned report 鈥� peer-review

2013

  • Published
    Chiverrell, R. C., Thrasher, I. M., Thomas, G. S., Lang, A., Scourse, J. D., Van Landeghem, K. J., Mccarroll, D., Clark, C. D., 脫 Cofaigh, C., Evans, D. J. & Ballantyne, C. K., 25 Feb 2013, In: Quaternary Science. 28, 2, p. 200-209
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2012

  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K. J., Baas, J. H., Mitchell, N., Wilcockson, D. & Wheeler, A. J., 15 Feb 2012, In: Marine Geology. 295-298, p. 95-112
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2009

  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K. J., Uehara, K., Wheeler, A. J., Mitchell, N. C. & Scourse, J. D., 30 Jul 2009, In: Continental Shelf Research. 29, 14, p. 1723-1736
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K. J., Wheeler, A. J. & Mitchell, N. C., 1 Feb 2009, In: Boreas. 38, 1, p. 119-131
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review
  • Published
    Van Landeghem, K. J., Wheeler, A. J., Mitchell, N. C. & Sutton, G., 15 Jul 2009, In: Marine Geology. 263, 1-4, p. 108-119
    Research output: Contribution to journal 鈥� Article 鈥� peer-review

2024

  • Invited contributor.

    The FOW Centre of Excellence (CoE) is currently undertaking a review and redraft of its FOW Environmental Interactions Roadmap in order to ensure its continued relevancy. The FOW CoE and Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub are therefore coordinating a workshop that facilitates the engagement of subject matter experts from across the academic and regulatory communities and ensure that their input is reflected in the updated Roadmap report.

    The principal aims of the proposed workshop are to:

    鈥� Convene relevant subject matter experts from academia, industry and the public sector;

    鈥� Identify and discuss current research activities pertaining to the environmental interactions of FOW technology;

    鈥� Review the current research priorities and recommendations outlined in the FOW Environmental Interactions Roadmap, and identify areas where these could be updated;

    鈥� Develop recommendations for further research addressing and mitigating FOW environmental interactions.

    20 Sep 2024 鈫�

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Participant)

  • Invited member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG).

    TAG purpose:

    鈥� Provide an expert view on whether the different assessment framework levels can measure ecological loss and gain.

    鈥� Provide an expert view on whether loss and gain at one framework level can be translated into loss and gain at another

    7 Jun 2024 鈥� 13 Sep 2024

    Activity: Types of Business and Community - Membership of public/government advisory/policy group or panel (Contributor)

  • Project development, international stakeholder group meeting

    22 Apr 2024

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Organiser)

  • Invited participant.

    The term 鈥榗able innovation鈥� covers a wide range of opportunities and ideas which, if implemented, could reduce environmental impact and/or deliver wider industry benefit. When using the term 鈥榗able innovation鈥� the workshop will be considering what processes, systems, options, and designs could be improved or changed throughout the project lifecycle. This could include:

    飩� The economic/financial arrangements in the OWF industry, including marine warranty, maintenance, economic and organisational set-up (e.g. what can be learned from telecommunication and oil and gas industries)

    飩� Strategic planning and pre-feasibility (e.g. multi-project cable corridors such as used in Japan, New Zealand and Australia, exclusion zones etc)

    飩� Routing design and consenting (e.g. strategic oversight and approaches to consenting where there is a known requirement for licensing multiple cables in an area e.g. the Celtic Sea)

    飩� Detailed cable design and installation (e.g. innovation in surface laid cable armouring or protection designs and materials; innovation in cable burial depth requirements)

    飩� Vessels and installation machinery (e.g. innovation in cable lay/burial/protection vessels and innovation in cable burial tools and methodologies)

    飩� Operation and maintenance approaches (e.g. Insurance/pooled resources such as the Atlantic Cable Maintenance Agreement, to self-owned maintenance capability)

    飩� Building upon ideas and innovation from other sectors (e.g. standardisation of cabling and jointing)

    飩� Innovation in data and support services (e.g. remote cable monitoring and novel survey techniques, autonomous survey vehicles, big data, AI)

    Outcome: The 鈥淚nnovation in Cables鈥� report at the end of May 2024 will be for use by Defra as part of the wider Offshore Wind Environmental Standards programme of work.

    27 Mar 2024

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Participant)

  • Marine Evidence Conference Wales

    27 Feb 2024 鈥� 29 Feb 2024

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker)

  • The Irish Sea is characterised by a heterogenous seabed, where different sediment types vary over short spaces in adjacent regions. This means it is also characterised by various environments that are home to different fauna and flora, which can easily be affected by changes to the seabed composition. Ocean currents and waves both induce stress over the seabed in shelf and shallow water regions. There are complex feedback interactions between these two components, which are expected to be affected by future climate change and sea level rise (SLR). Future changes to ocean, waves and their interaction may therefor affect the bed-stress, changing the present seabed structure and related environments. Recent coupled model developments now allow us to better reproduce these interactions though numerical simulation; In this work, we implement a NEMO-WW3 coupled model at 1.5km resolution over the whole northwestern European shelf. For the first time, we can demonstrate the impact of SLR over the bed stress, considering only barotropic factors. Here we show the latest model results and discuss implications for seabed habitats.

    18 Feb 2024 鈥� 24 Feb 2024

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

  • In the near-field of seabed infrastructure, forces on the seabed will be dominated by the local flow amplification. In the far-field, the cumulative effect of flow amplification and climate-driven changes can still influence seabed mobility and sediment composition significantly enough to modulate habitat suitability. Some animals might be affected negatively from such changes, but some positively.

    In our ECOWind-ACCELERATE project (2022-26), we are assessing the combined impacts of climate change and large offshore windfarms on the rate and nature of seabed sediment transport over various spatial and temporal scales. Via a multi-proxy study using concurrent information on physical and biological processes in the marine environment, large flume laboratory experiments and models under different climate predictions, we will map how the stresses on the bed will be modified by 2050 and by 2100 and how the distribution of seabed habitats and biodiversity will change. We are establishing how deep-diving seabirds use the seabed exactly across different habitats, and we will use that fine-scale relationship to establish impacts on these seabirds.

    We are strengthening capability and confidence in modelling approaches, e.g. UKCP18-ORCA1/4 to help simulate bed stress under sea level rise and changing tides, and TELEMAC-TOMAWAC-SISYPHE to quantify the combined impact on seabed mobility from modified flows around windfarms and from climate change. We can thus provide advice on e.g. (1) what aspects of future climate (like storm wave height) will impact seabed stresses (and thus habitat suitability) over which time scales, (2) what observations serve best to understand impact (like mean time-averaged flow vs turbulent kinetic energy), (3) what species are best/worst suited for using deep-learning methods in large video datasets.

    In summary, via quantified impacts on benthic habitats and predator foraging success we will deliver a robust and unified evidence base behind efficient habitats regulation assessments, strategic compensation advice and seabed monitoring approaches. We want to provide the context within which recovery of features and ecosystem services can be promoted, and in which marine net gain may happen at the same time as future climate change-adaptive and resilient offshore structures are designed.

    Plain-language Summary:

    New large infrastructure like windfarms and tidal lagoons will be built on the seabed as part of an accelerated schedule to switch away from fossil fuels and to protect our coastlines. When natural currents in the sea deviate around such seabed infrastructure, it can change the shape and composition of the seabed (i.e. more gravelly, sandy or muddy). This happens both near the infrastructure and far away from it. The seabed is important for fishing, carbon storage, aggregates and coastal protection. It also is the home to little fish that are eaten by larger animals like marine mammals and seabirds that dive to the seabed for their food. It is therefore important that we assess what the impact is from changes to the seabed in the future and we started a 4-year ECOWind-ACCELERATE research project in 2022 to address these issues. The knowledge we generate can help the design of renewable energy infrastructure in such a way that animals that use the seabed can benefit.

    18 Feb 2024 鈥� 24 Feb 2024

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

  • Offshore wind farms (OWFs) are a key component of our journey to Net Zero; however, this must be done in a sustainable manner, so understanding their impacts on the marine environment is important. Where tidal flows interact with OWF their flow field can become dramatically modified. Satellite data has shown disturbances such as kilometre-scale wake effects on the sea surface. Yet little attention has been paid to far field effects on the seabed. The ECOWind-ACCELERATE project focusses on how OWFs can modify seabed processes, and consequently, the habitats and the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we integrate large-scale physical laboratory and 3D numerical modelling to better understand these impacts. A 3 m wide, 35 m long flume was used to monitor flow, turbulence, and bed changes, assessing the influence of different monopile diameters representative of present-day and future OWFs. Experimental runs were varied to represent differing levels of bed mobility.

    Under mean flow conditions that would otherwise fall below the threshold of motion, new bedform fields were generated from the turbulence produced in the wake of the monopile. These bedform fields extended up to 17x downstream and 7x as wide as the monopile diameter; and longer experimental runs would likely have likely extended them further. Under mobile bed conditions the effect was less than expected. Changes to the bed extended to 14x the monopile diameter downstream, suggesting widespread existence of bedforms can reduce the effect of the monopiles turbulent wakes on near bed dynamics. A suite of velocimeter data from the flume laboratory tests were used as the basis for a 3D Telemac model of the flume laboratory environment. We then assessed how much of this induced sediment mobility is due to the turbulent wake from the monopile and rock armour, compared to that generated by the bedforms themselves.

    Our work indicates that installing offshore wind farms on seabeds that would otherwise be immobile can create newly active and dynamic seabeds with bedforms extending far beyond the monopile. This can modify existing habitats and potentially create new ones. Our findings provide a new evidence-base concerning the modification and recovery of the seabed around offshore wind farms, with implications for benthic biodiversity and opportunities for marine net gain.

    18 Feb 2024 鈥� 24 Feb 2024

    Links:

    Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

  • ScotMER Symposium 2024 - oral presentation and discussion

    8 Feb 2024

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Invited speaker)

  • Seminar for the department, but also to seek alignment with projects QUEST (Quantification characterisation source and fate of past and present carbon storage in coastal and offshore sediments for effective marine management), SCALE (De-risking Scour and Anchor Installation for Floating Offshore Wind through Numerical and Experimental Modelling), and project 鈥淢odels to aid site-selection of offshore-wind turbines鈥�.

    24 Jan 2024

    Activity: Invited talk (Invited speaker)

2023

  • ECOWind and OWEC Annual Impact Meeting

    22 Nov 2023 鈥� 23 Nov 2023

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Invited speaker)

  • 23 Sep 2023

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Invited speaker)

  • In the process of consenting for new wind farms, regulators will set the terms for what evidence industry needs to deliver. This includes information on sand bank and sand wave mobility, as well as their recovery post construction. However the current level of understanding of these processes at regulator level is insufficient, and the proposed reduction in consenting timescales add pressure onto regulators to be fast, accurate and consistent in delivering advice. This proposal focusses on how we can help regulators to better inform industry of what evidence to present for the consenting process to be successful, appropriate, and robust.

    Funding awarded through the 麻豆传媒高清版 Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = 拢29,613

    1 Aug 2023 鈥� 31 Jul 2024

    Activity: Other (Contributor)

  • External Examiner PhD VIVA at SAMS

    10 May 2023

    Activity: Examination (Examiner)

  • The UK鈥檚 position in high-quality marine scientific outputs, including major contributions to address global challenges, relies on strategic investment in infrastructure including ships, autonomous platforms, satellites and shore-based laboratories and other facilities as well as new digital, informatics and other innovative technologies.

    The Future Marine Research Infrastructure programme (FMRI - https://fmri.ac.uk/) is delivering this strategic investment, and is currently in the business case development phase, building the strategic, scientific and economic case. The Focus of FMRI is on scoping next phase investment when the RRS James Cook reaches the end of its design life in 2031. This builds on the commissioned scoping study on Net Zero Oceanographic Capability in 2020-2021, presenting a range of options for transitioning to low or zero carbon capabilities (https://fmri.ac.uk/resources/nzoc).

    The SAG will:

    a. Advise the FMRI Programme Leadership Team and FMRI Board regarding the scientific aspects of the Programme, seeking to maximise the benefits for the entire science community by ensuring that future capability aligns to current and expected future demands for oceanographic research and innovation across all disciplines.

    b. Highlight opportunities for complementarity with other initiatives, both nationally and internationally.

    c. Act as a channel for engagement between the wider science community and the FMRI Programme, including proactively raising community views.

    d. Provide any other such advice and support as may be reasonably requested by the FMRI Programme Leadership Team and the Board.

    24 Feb 2023 鈥� 24 Feb 2028

    Activity: Types of Business and Community - Membership of public/government advisory/policy group or panel (Contributor)

  • Feb 2023 鈫�

    Activity: Membership of board (Member)

2022

  • 15 Dec 2022

    Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker)

  • Nov 2022 鈫�

    Activity: Membership of board (Member)

  • May 2022

    Activity: Membership of committee (Chair)

  • Jan 2022 鈥� Mar 2022

    Activity: Membership of committee (Chair)

2021

  • Jul 2021 鈥� Dec 2021

    Activity: Membership of committee (Chair)

  • May 2021 鈫�

    Activity: Membership of committee (Member)

  • May 2021 鈫�

    Activity: Membership of committee (Member)

  • Peer review panel

    Apr 2021

    Activity: Membership of committee (Member)

  • Jan 2021 鈫�

    Links:

    Activity: Membership of network (Member)

  • External Examiner for Ulster鈥檚 Marine Science Programme (2021-25)

    2021 鈥� 2025

    Activity: Examination (Examiner)

2020

  • Apr 2020 鈫�

    Activity: Membership of committee (Member)

2019

  • May 2019 鈥� Aug 2021

    Activity: Membership of committee (Member)

2018

  • 16 Jul 2018

    Links:

    Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor)

2016

  • Jun 2016 鈥� May 2019

    Activity: Membership of board (Member)

  • 01/01/2023 鈥� 31/07/2024 (Finished)

  • 09/08/2022 鈥� 31/08/2026 (Active)

  • 01/08/2022 鈥� 30/08/2024 (Finished)

  • 01/11/2019 鈥� 17/09/2024 (Finished)

  • 01/05/2018 鈥� 31/03/2024 (Finished)

  • 01/04/2016 鈥� 01/08/2019 (Finished)

  • 01/10/2015 鈥� 31/03/2021 (Finished)

  • 01/10/2014 鈥� 10/07/2018 (Finished)

  • 01/10/2014 鈥� 01/08/2019 (Finished)

I focus my research on seabed sediment mobility:

A. Seabed sediment transport and bedform dynamics:

1. Understanding the role of methane seepage in the formation of amplified sediment waves:

-> 2014-2019: project 鈥淏edload transport of sediment mixtures in shelf seas鈥�, funded by NERC (ENVISION PhD studentship, with CASE partner NOC-L and extra funds from Llanelli Sand Dredging Ltd

-> 2011 onwards: project 鈥淎mSedIs鈥�, funded by the European Commission (EUROFLEET) and with experts in biogeochemistry, seabed geomorphologists, sedimentologists, geophysics experts and numerical modellers across Europe.

2. Understanding enhanced sediment mobility around seafloor objects:

-> 2021 - 2022: project "Cable scour from fluid-seabed interactions in regions of mobile sedimentary bedforms" funded by EPSRC聽 聽

-> 2018-2022: project 鈥淪eabed integrity around objects in a complex marine environment鈥�, funded by KESSII (PhD studentship) and via multi-disciplinary collaboration with experts in marine geo-archaeology, Computational Fluid Dynamics and sediment transport modelling.

-> 2016-2018: project 鈥淯nstable shipwreck sites in sand & gravel鈥�, funded via a Returning Fellowship by Welsh Government: S锚r Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment (NRN-LCEE)

-> 2015: project 鈥淲WI Shipwrecks in the Irish Sea鈥�, with shiptime funded by the Marine Institute, Ireland

3. Seabed dynamics and its link to sustainable management of engineering projects:

-> via collaboration with renewable energy developers and with links to iCRAG (Ireland鈥檚 national geoscience research centre supported by Science Foundation Ireland).

-> 2022-2023: Seabed dynamics as a key consideration for renewable energy projects. Funded by a windfarm developper.

-> 2022-2026: ECOWind-ACCELERATE: Ecological impacts of accelerated seabed mobility. Funded by NERC and The Crown Estate.

B. Seabed morphodynamics linked to glacial dynamics:

1. Understanding the demise of marine-terminating ice streams from investigations of the seafloor:

-> 2015-2019: project 鈥淕lacial sculpting and post-glacial drowning of the Celtic Sea鈥�, funded by NERC (ENVISION PhD studentship)

-> 2012-2018: Consortium project 鈥淏RITICE-CHRONO鈥�, NERC-funded and with experts in glacial geomorphology, geochronology, palao-oceanography and ice sheet modelling聽

-> Ongoing: object-oriented modelling for glacial landscape recognition, in collaboration with modellers in India.聽

2. Understanding seabed habitat suitability on exposed seafloor when glaciers have retreated:

-> 2017-2020: project 鈥淚mpacts of deglaciation on benthic marine ecosystems in Antarctica (ICEBERGS)鈥�, NERC funded (CONICYT - NERC Antarctic programme), in collaboration with experts in benthic ecology, palaeo-oceanography, glacial dynamics and sclerochronology.

-> 2014: project 鈥淭he collapse of the Irish Ice Sheet in the Celtic Sea sector and its marine habitat legacy鈥�, with shiptime funded by the Marine Institute, Ireland聽