The morphologies of coastlines are ever changing.   Coastal erosion, alterations in sea level, sediment transport, and man-made structures all contribute to modifications in the coastline which impact on their structure and function.   This sub-theme therefore combines the story of the Irish coastline in the context of its palaeoenvironment through to likely impacts of global change.

People

Dr. Kevin Lynch Geography Phone: (091) 49 5779; Email: kevin.lynch@nuigalway.ie ——— Dr Lynch’s research interests are in the field of coastal geomorphology and integrated coastal zone management. He is primarily involved in field–based research of beach-dune systems, with the aim of elucidating links between short-term variables and longer-term morphological development.

Some Current Projects

ANCORIM: Atlantic Network for Coastal Risk Management: The ANCORIM project is funded through INTERREG IVB. This project focuses on strengthening the operational capacity of decision-makers in Atlantic regions, with the aim of preventing coastal risks and in particular those linked to climate change. This strengthening of capacities is possible by making practical use of existing scientific and technical information and through creating linkages between the decision-makers and the scientific community.

Secondary airflow patterns under offshore winds over coastal foredunes: implications for aeolian sediment transport: This NERC (UK)-funded project seeks to examine the role of winds in building up frontal sand dunes along coastlines which are subject to largely offshore-directed wind regimes. The project utilises state-of-the-art 3D ultrasonic anemometry, sediment traps and CFD modelling techniques to investigate the process mechanisms involved in the deformation of the primary airflow and resulting sediment transport. The results of the project will help explain how some dune fringed coastlines can rapidly recover after significant storm wave attack.