School of Geographical & Earth Sciences

Surface processes theme

Surface processes research focuses on the dynamics of Earth surface environments (fluvial, glacial; lacustrine, coastal), and their coupling to tectonic, geodynamic and climatic controls and impacts. Current areas of research include:

Sedimentary systems

  • Processes in coastal, glacial, lacustrine and fluvial systems, with overlapping emphases: (1) interaction between geomorphological processes and morphology (including rock weathering, erosion and sediment transport); and (2) the nature and timing of Earth surface responses to environmental change, including anthropogenic impact and environmental management

Tectonically and climatically driven landscape evolution

  • Landscape response to tectonic- and climate-driven forcing is investigated using a combination of thermochronology, cosmogenic nuclide analysis, remote Earth observation and field measurements. Analysis of data from active and passive margins, post-orogenic landscapes and major fault systems is coupled with numerical modelling to enhance models of landscape change

Earth observation

  • Earth Observations from ground, aircraft and space are used to monitor environmental changes at all scales, so as to improve our understanding of the Earth system. Specifically, advanced techniques of space geodesy, digital topography, multispectral imagery and geochronology are being developed for quantifying surface and near-surface processes. We are also concerned with sensor development, integrating data from different platforms, data quality and improving the usability of geospatial information systems for research and end-user communities

 Carbon cycling

  • Understanding the contribution of bacteria and photosynthesising organisms in cycling carbon and other nutrients in the aquatic environment, biogeochemical cycling fundamental to life and in turn impacting the transfer of radiatively forcing gases such as carbon dioxide and methane from the aquatic environment to the atmosphere

 

Theme members
Based in the School of Geographical & Earth Sciences (GES):
David Forrest, Jim Hansom, Trevor Hoey, Rhian Thomas, Jaime Toney, Larissa Naylor, Susan Waldron.

Based at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Center (SUERC):
Philippa Ascough, Adrian Boyce, Charlotte Bryant, Gordon Cook, Stuart Freeman, Mark Garnett, Angus MacKenzie, Gillian Mackinnon, Derek Fabel, David Sanderson, Sheng Xu

Current postgraduate students

Khruewan Champangern, James Fitton, Hazel Long, Georgios Maniatis, Hannah Mathers, Jill McColl, Solomon Olabode, Julia Stockamp, Nick Thomas.

Facilities and resources

 

Projects