Â鶹Íø

Office: 211 Marine Centre Wales Ìý ÌýÌýPhone:Ìý01248 382803

Email: m.austin@bangor.ac.uk

°Â±ð²ú:ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý

Twitter:

I am an observational oceanographer and specialise in the hydro- and morpho-dynamics of the inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal regions of the coastal ocean.ÌýMy present research at Â鶹Íø includes:

• Increasing our understanding of gravel barrier dynamics and resilience in a changing climate. Through the NERC-funded project #gravelbeach, it will deliver new scientific advances through an integrated and comprehensive morphosedimentary evaluation, intense field observations, targeted laboratory experiments, and numerical model development/simulation. This research involves UK-wide collaboration with multiple academic and industry partners.
• The turbulent flow dynamics around offshore infrastructure and sub-sea cables that result in changes to the seabed habitat, the vertical mixing of heat and nutrients through the water column and physical impacts to the infrastructure. This research is funded through NERC and ESPRC projects and involves significant collaboration with industry partners from the Marine Renewable Energy sector. Ìý
• The dynamics of large-scale turbulent motions in tidally energetic regions. This EPSRC- and NRN-funded work seeks to quantify large-scale turbulent motions and assess the impacts on tidal energy extraction and infrastructure. Observational field experiments are being undertaken in the Menai Strait and around north Wales, and include industry collaborators from UK, Europe and the USA.

I graduated from Plymouth University in 2002 with a BSc in Ocean Science and completed my PhD in gravel beach morphodynamics at Loughborough University in 2005. I have subsequently been a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at: Plymouth University (2005 - 2007, Cross-shore sediment transport on sandy beaches); Loughborough University (2007, Dust generation on an Arctic pro-glacial flood plain); before returning once again to Plymouth (2007 - 2010, Impacts of offshore wave energy arrays on seabed and shoreline processes; and 2010 - 2013, Dynamics of rip currents and implication for beach safety).ÌýÌýResearch Areas

• Sediment Dynamics and Morphology
• Ocean Physics

• PhD: Swash-groundwater interactions on a natural gravel beach
  Loughborough University,
• BSc: Ocean Sciences
  University of Plymouth,

PhD Students

• Guy Walker-Springett
• Natasha Lucas
• Alex Virod

Masters Teaching

I offer both MSc and MSci research projects on shallow water physical oceanography and sediment dynamics processes, and contribute to several taught MSc modules.

Undergraduate Teaching

I am the progarmme organiser for the BSC Geological Oceanography degree and am the module organiser for OSX-3006 and OSX-3007, and contribute to OSX-1000, OSX-2000, OSX-2004, OSX-2006, DXX-2007, OSX-3000, DXX-3018 and OSX-4023.

Project 1:

I am keen to develop a PhD project with a student to investigate the sediment resuspension and scour that occurs when sub-sea cables are exposed by bedform migration on the energetic continental shelf.

It is hypothesised that wake effects from emplaced objects on the seabed modify bedform migration rates through increased turbulent velocities and lead to a higher incidence of cable damage.

This project links with the Marine Renewable Energy industry and at the finer scale aims to take field measurements of turbulent flows and sediment suspension over a section of free-spanning sub-sea cable.

Wider-scale observations will aim to link far-field changes in bedform migration (and hence cable exposure) rates to wake effects of emplaced objects.Ìý

Project 2:

I am interested in developing a PhD project with a potential student to investigate the coupling between the sub-tidal and inter-tidal sections of the beachface and a dynamic aeolian sand dune field.

It is hypothesised that over-stabilised sand dunes minimise the exchange of sand between dunes and beachface, and combined with storm-driven offshore sand transport, result in a lowering the beach elevation and enhanced wave energy flux impacting the dune foot.

Long-term large-scale dyanmics of an extensive offshore sandbank system appear to exert a significant alongshore control on the wave impacts experienced by the dune foot.

This project is based in North Wales and could potentially collaborate with National Resources Wales.

2025

• E-pub ahead of print
  Morris-Webb, E. S., Austin, M., Cousens, C., Kent, N., Gosney, K. & Tenbrink, T., 9 Apr 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ocean and Society. 2, 9793.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M., Unsworth, C., Van Landeghem, K. & Lincoln, B., 16 Jan 2025, In: Ocean Science. 21, 1, p. 81-91 egusphere-2024-2056.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Cousens, C., Kent, N., Gosney, K., Morris-Webb, L., Tenbrink, T. & Austin, M., 7 Apr 2025, 39 p.
  Research output: Book/Report › Other report

2024

• Published
  Lake, T., Glasby, D., Horrillo-Caraballo, J., Togneri, M., Masters, I., Austin, M. & Lincoln, B., 31 Jul 2024, In: International Marine Energy Journal. 7, 1, p. 11-24
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of print
  Roome, E., Robins, P., Ahmadian, R., Austin, M., Hanousek, N., Guo, B. & Neill, S., 18 Oct 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Renewable Energy. 121601.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Whitton, T., Austin, M., Newbould, A., Kennedy, H., Allender, S., Cavan, E., Parker, R., North, C., Hatchman, J. & Hiddink, J. G., 1 Jul 2024, Â鶹Íø. 18 p.
  Research output: Book/Report › Other report

2023

• Published
  Neill, S., Fairley, I., Rowlands, S., Young, S., Hill, T., Unsworth, C., King, N., Roberts, M., Austin, M., Hughes, P., Masters, I., Owen, A., Powell, B., Reeve, D. E. & Lewis, M., 1 Mar 2023, In: Renewable Energy. 205, p. 447-460
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Davies, A. G., Robins, P., Austin, M. & Walker-Springett, G., 15 Jan 2023, In: Continental Shelf Research. 253, 104903.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › 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 › Article › 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 › Paper › peer-review
• Published
  Forino, G., Yorke, L., Robinson, G., Austin, M., Sieradzan, K. & Hewitt, J., 28 Jun 2023, Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers .
  Research output: Other contribution › peer-review
• Published
  Ward, S. & Austin, M., 31 Mar 2023, The Conversation.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

2022

• Published
  Van Landeghem, K., Unsworth, C., Austin, M. & Waggitt, J., 23 May 2022.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
• Published
  Lucas, N., Austin, M., Rippeth, T., Powell, B. & Wakonigg, P., Jul 2022, In: Renewable Energy. 194, p. 259-272
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Unsworth, C., Austin, M. & Van Landeghem, K., 23 May 2022.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract

2021

• Published
  Austin, M. & Walker-Springett, G., 1 Nov 2021, Geography Review, 35, 2, p. 8-13 6 p.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
• Published
  Austin, M. & Walker-Springett, G., 13 Jan 2021, In: Journal of Coastal Conservation. 25, 1, 10.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
• Published
  Simpson, J., Woolway, I., Scannell, B., Austin, M., Powell, B. & Maberly, S. C., Jun 2021, In: Water Resources Research. 57, 6, 2020WR029441.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

• Published
  Poate, T. G., Masselink, G., Austin, M., Inch, K., Dickson, M. & McCall, R. D., 1 Feb 2020, In: Geomorphology. 350, 106880.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

• Published
  Poate, T. G., Masselink, G., Austin, M., Dickson, M. & McCall, R. T., Jan 2018, In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 123, 1, p. 97-123
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

• Published
  Conley, D., Austin, M., Davidson, I., Buscombe, D. & Masselink, G., 17 Jun 2017.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
• Published
  McCall, R. T., Masselink, G., Austin, M., Poate, T. & Jager, T., Jun 2017, p. 1658-1669.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

2016

• Published
  Ruju, A., Conley, D., Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., Puleo, J., Lanckriet, T. & Foster, D., 1 Jul 2016, In: Coastal Engineering. 113, July, p. 47-61
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Turner, I. L., Rau, G. C., Austin, M. J. & Andersen, M. S., Jul 2016, In: Coastal Engineering. 113, p. 104-116
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M., 27 Jul 2016, The Conversation.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

2015

• Published
  Scott, T., Austin, M. J., Masselink, G. & Russell, P., 30 Oct 2015, In: Coastal Engineering. 107, p. 53-69
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2014

• Published
  Scott, T., Masselink, G., Austin, M. J. & Russell, P., 15 Feb 2014, In: Geomorphology. 214
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Poate, T., Masselink, G., Russell, P. & Austin, M., 1 Apr 2014, In: Marine Geology. 350, p. 97-111
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., Scott, T., Poate, T. & Russell, P., 2 Aug 2014, In: Geomorphology. 226, p. 76-93
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

• Published
  Turner, I. L., Rau, G. C., Andersen, M. S., Austin, M. J., Puleo, J. A. & Masselink, G., 2013, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 65, S2, p. 1886-1891
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., McCall, R. T. & Poate, T. G., Aug 2013, In: Journal of Marine Systems. 123-124, p. 19-32
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M. J., Scott, T. M., Russell, P. E. & Masselink, G., 1 Oct 2013, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 29, 2, p. 283-300 18 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., Scott, T. M. & Russell, P. E., 16 Dec 2013, In: Continental Shelf Research. 75, p. 28-40
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2011

• Published
  Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., Russell, P. E., Turner, I. L. & Blenkinsopp, C. E., Aug 2011, In: Coastal Engineering. 58, 8, p. 690-705
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Bullard, J. E. & Austin, M. J., Jun 2011, In: Aeolian Research. 3, 1, p. 43-54
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Scott, T. M., Russell, P. E., Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., Wills, S. & Wooler, A., 9 May 2011, Rip Currents: Beach Safety, Physical Oceanogaphy, and Wave Modeling. Leatherman, S. & Fletemeyer, J. (eds.). CRC Press, p. 225-242 18 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2010

• Published
  MacMahan, J., Brown, J., Brown, J., Thornton, E., Reniers, A., Stanton, T., Henriquez, M., Gallagher, E., Morrison, J., Austin, M. J., Scott, T. & Senechal, N., 15 Jan 2010, In: Marine Geology. 268, 1-4, p. 1-15
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M., Scott, T., Brown, J., Brown, J., MacMahan, J., Russell, P. E. & Masselink, G., 31 May 2010, In: Continental Shelf Research. 30, 9, p. 1149-1165
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2009

• Published
  Austin, M. J., Scott, T. M., Brown, J. W., Brown, J. A. & Macmahan, J. H., 2009, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 2009, 56, p. 24-28
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M., Masselink, G., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P. E., 15 Apr 2009, In: Marine Geology. 259, 1-4, p. 86-101
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2008

• Published
  Masselink, G., Austin, M., Tinker, J., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P. E., 6 Jun 2008, In: Marine Geology. 251, 3-4, p. 141-155
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M. J. & Buscombe, D., 31 Mar 2008, In: Marine Geology. 249, 3-4, p. 167-183
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M. J. & Masselink, G., Mar 2008, In: Coastal Engineering. 55, 3, p. 251-260
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2007

• Published
  Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., O'Hare, T. J. & Russell, P. E., 24 Oct 2007, In: Journal of Geophysical Research. 112, C10
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P. E., 28 Aug 2007, In: Geophysical Research Letters. 34, 16, p. 1-5 5 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Masselink, G., Buscombe, D., Austin, M., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P., 20 Nov 2007, In: Sedimentology. 55, 3, p. 667-687
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2006

• Published
  Austin, M. & Masselink, G., 30 May 2006, In: Marine Geology. 229, 1-2, p. 59-77
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• Published
  Austin, M. J. & Masselink, G., Dec 2006, In: Continental Shelf Research. 26, 20, p. 2503-2519
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2025

• Initial meeting to explore collaboration with the National Trust Wales at Porthdillaen linked to flood prevention, community engagement, and harbour/seagrass preservation.

  18 Mar 2025

  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Work on advisory panels for social community and cultural engagement (Contributor)

• Meeting to discuss recent applications of Nortek instruments within SOS, what Nortek have on the horizon and how we can continue to work together moving forwards.

  7 Mar 2025

  Activity: Types of Business and Community - Hosting of external, non-academic visitor (Organiser)

• Updates on tidal cut off collaboration and employability/community engagement exploring how SOS students can work with the RNLI

  29 Jan 2025

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

2024

• SOS/BU writing sandbox

  11 Dec 2024

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

• Internal examiner

  8 Nov 2024

  Activity: Examination (Examiner)

• Internal examiner

  1 Oct 2024

  Activity: Examination (Examiner)

• Project development, international stakeholder group meeting

  22 Apr 2024

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

• Workshop with stakeholders to co-develop project impact plan and deliverables.

  22 Apr 2024

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

• 16 Apr 2024

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

• 14 Mar 2024 – 15 Mar 2024

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

• Impact led meeting contributing to RNLI safety planning

  21 Feb 2024

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

2023

• 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 Â鶹Íø Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £29,613

  1 Aug 2023 – 31 Jul 2024

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

• Initial findings of a UK and Irish survey of public understanding of the tide, found that 38% of the British public were unaware that the tide typically comes in twice a day. A surprising 15% of the public have some experience of being cut off by the tide.

  Â鶹Íø and RNLI press releases, aiming to warn people about tidal cut off around the extreme tides over Easter weekend were picked up by several TV and radio outlets.

  BBC Wales news (audio) MediaView (tveyes.com)

  S4C News (video) MediaView (tveyes.com)

  ITV News (video uploaded here)

  BBC Radio Cymru (interview with Prof Thora Tenbrink)

  5 Apr 2023

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

2022

• Project abstract: Every year, hundreds of lifeboat and lifeguard operations occur to rescue coastal users who have become cut off by tide. Despite the RNLI’s best efforts there are still multiple fatalities.

  Ultimately, to reduce the number of emergencies a deeper understanding of the reasons why coastal users become exposed to this hazard is required. This project will address this by looking at people’s concepts and understanding of the tide. Our goal is to help the RNLI develop precautionary measures in a more targeted way, responding directly to coastal users’ conceptual needs.

  For instance, people will naturally generalise from previous experiences with the tide, not realising that tidal movements can differ radically between places and at different times. Furthermore, they will normally expect that the water will come in straight to the shore, not diagonally or in a curved or irregular fashion; they expect tide to come in quite slowly, and to be able to simply walk back on the sandbanks to the shore. However, the tide rarely just uniformly advances and retreats across a beach. Instead, it will initially flow laterally along channels and around sandbanks, cutting them off from the mainland and removing any safe route back to land.

  Funding awarded through the Â鶹Íø Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £11,514

  1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

• 01/11/2023 – 30/11/2027 (Active)

• 01/02/2021 – 01/08/2022 (Finished)

• 01/10/2020 – 31/03/2024 (Finished)

• 01/07/2017 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)

• 01/03/2017 – 01/08/2017 (Finished)

• 01/03/2017 – 31/03/2024 (Finished)

• 01/08/2014 – 12/08/2017 (Finished)

• Cable Scour from fluid-seabed interactions in regions of mobile sedimentary bedforms

Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

• Measurable metrics for characterisation of large-scale turbulent structures in tidal races for the marine tidal energy industry

  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilÌý

• Waves Across Shore Platforms

  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

• BU-IIA Tidal Cut off with RNLI S28904