Appraising erosion management strategies on the North-Norfolk coastline to 2300: projections, implications, and visualisation

(NICHOLLS_UENV24ARIES) CASE studentship with Moffatt & Nichol

Appraising erosion management strategies on the North-Norfolk coastline to 2300: projections, implications, and visualisation

(NICHOLLS_UENV24ARIES) CASE studentship with Moffatt & Nichol

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Robert Nicholls, University of East Anglia – Contact me

Dr Stefanie Nolte, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

Dr Mike Walkden, Moffat and Nichol

Background

This PhD assesses the interplay between coastal erosion, coastal management strategies and sea-level rise over the long-term (to 2300) using ensemble simulations within an integrated assessment systemic approach. The research focusses on understanding the potential evolutionary trajectories of the North Norfolk coast from Blakeney to Winterton Ness and their implications for coastal management. This is an exemplar site of this problem nationally and globally. The research builds upon the Tyndall Coastal Simulator which analysed evolving coastal hazards along the North Norfolk coastline to 2100. The Simulator linked a range of simulation tools, datasets and scenarios to examine future trajectories of coastal evolution. These results also informed the current coastal strategy for the North Norfolk coast. Subsequently, there have been notable developments in sea-level rise projections (extending to 2300 and capturing uncertainty), computing power and visualisation tools3. There is also policy interest in coastal adaptation pathways, especially coastal adaptation transitions, and recognition of the long timescale of the problem as sea level will continue to rise well beyond 2100.

The existing Tyndall Coastal Simulator integrated approach will be updated and extended to 2300, including the following components:

  • Extend and improve the climate change scenarios,
  • Develop new management scenarios that describe the full range of potential options,
  • Develop suitable appraisal methods building on state-of-the-art practise,
  • Simulate future trends in coastal erosion and tidal flooding across the full range of scenarios, using ensemble methods to capture uncertainty,
  • Analyse and interpret their implications for coastal management and coastal land use in Norfolk in the short-term, medium- and long-term up to 2300,
  • Create an accessible web-based database to summarize and communicate these results and insights for wider use,
  • Consider the wider transferable lessons.

Training

Training will comprise of:

  • Integrated assessment methods
  • Appraisal and economic assessment
  • Numerical models (e.g., SCAPE2)
  • Programming

Person specification

A degree/international equivalent in a subject focussed on the built environment or natural processes (e.g. Civil engineering, environmental science, etc.)

Desirable skills/experience include:

  • Coastal processes and management
  • Appraisal and economic hazard assessment
  • Numerical modelling
  • Programming
  • Data visualisation
  • GIS

References

  • 1 Mock T, Boulton W, Balmonte JP, Barry K, Bertilsson S, et al. (2022) Multiomics in the central Arctic Ocean for benchmarking biodiversity change. PLOS Biology. 20(10): e3001835. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001835
  • 2 Duncan A, Barry K, Daum C, et al. (2022) Metagenome-assembled genomes of phytoplankton microbiomes from the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Microbiome. 10(1):67. doi:10.1186/s40168-022-01254-7 Duncan A, Barry K, Daum C, et al. (2022) Metagenome-assembled genomes of phytoplankton microbiomes from the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Microbiome. 10(1):67. doi:10.1186/s40168-022-01254-7
  • 3 Velten, B., Braunger, J.M., Argelaguet, R. et al. (2022) Identifying temporal and spatial patterns of variation from multimodal data using MEFISTO. Nat. Methods. 19, 179–186. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01343-9
  • 4 Ovaskainen, O., Tikhonov, G., Norberg, et al. (2017), How to make more out of community data? A conceptual framework and its implementation as models and software. Ecol. Lett. 20: 561-576. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12757
  • 5 Winder JC, Boulton W, Salamov A, Eggers SL, Metfies K, Moulton V, Mock T. Genetic and Structural Diversity of Prokaryotic Ice-Binding Proteins from the Central Arctic Ocean. Genes. 2023; 14(2):363. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020363

Key Information

  • This project has been shortlisted for funding by the ARIES NERC DTP and will start on 1st October 2024. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 10th January 2024.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a NERC studentship, which covers fees, stipend (£18,622 p.a. for 2023/24) and research funding. International applicants are eligible for fully-funded ARIES studentships including fees. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK. We expect to award between 4 and 6 studentships to international candidates in 2024.
  • ARIES students benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis, visa requirements notwithstanding.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential, and will be stored on the UEA sharepoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships, and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES funding is subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. See https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information

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