Rebecca Coles

Glacial Landscaping: Using geomorphological properties of glaciated terrain to test, refine and apply a landscape evolution model
Supervisors - Professor Chris Clark, Dr Felix Ng (both University of Sheffield), Professor Jan Piotrowski (University of Sheffield & University of Aarhus), Dr David Lundbek Egholm (University of Aarhus

Funding: University Vice Chancellor's Studentship (University of Sheffield)

MGeog (int) (2003) - University of Leeds with a year abroad at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada

Research summary

By incorporating processes (glacial, fluvial and hillslope) of erosion, transport and deposition into a numerical model it is possible to run simulations of how whole landscapes evolve under different process regimes, and to ask questions hitherto unaddressed. For example, we aim to use such a model to examine how mountain ranges evolve when glaciated, and to explore glacial landscape feedbacks. Model development and coding is part of a separate project conducted by Dr David Lundbeck Egholm at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. This PhD project will operate in parallel, and will focus on using real landscapes from around the World to compare with model output. By characterizing glaciated landscapes from digital elevation models (DEMs) and satellite images it will be possible to test the models sufficiency, and to guide where extra model development is required. If for example the model cannot simulate realistic U-shaped valleys of appropriate dimensions then we conclude that further model refinement is required. Once the model adequately represents glacial landforms it can be applied to questions associated with glacial landscaping as a whole.

Contact Details

Address: University of Sheffield, Department of Geography, Winter Street, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
Tel: +44 (0)114 222 7915
Fax: +44 (0)114 222 7907
Email: R.Coles@Sheffield.ac.uk