About the project
This project explores coastal transformations along the south coast of England linked to the combined impacts of storms, waves, and rising sea levels. The south coast is highly vulnerable to climate change because of its exposure to powerful weather systems originating from the North Atlantic.
The North Atlantic region is densely populated and hosts important natural habitats and key infrastructure essential for economic activities, transportation, and energy security. Nuclear power facilities are an example of such infrastructure, as they are often located in coastal environments and face increasing risks of coastal flooding due to the growing frequency, intensity and duration of storms, which accelerate coastal erosion.
The project will investigate the use of new observations from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission with advanced coastal monitoring methodologies to detect coastal changes along the south coast of England during successive winter storms. SWOT provides unparalleled high-resolution images of coastal water levels, winds and sea state day-and-night in all-weather, including heavy cloud cover. By leveraging diverse spaceborne data, the research aims to demonstrate how effectively dynamic coastal processes can be observed from space and how satellite data could enhance risk reduction strategies for critical coastal infrastructure amid evolving climate challenges.
As well as Dr Charlie Thompson, you will also receive supervision from Professor Christine Gommenginger (lead supervisor) at the National Oceanographic Centre (NOC), Southampton.
Please contact the lead supervisor if you require further information about the project.
