Martin Austin

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. My present research at Bangor 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.

Exploring the physical and societal mechanisms to gain understanding of coastal water safety linked to our energetic tidal environment. In collaboration with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) we have analysed five years of lifeboat rescue data and conducted a nationally-representative survey of the UK and Ireland to explore peoples' tidal literacy.

The impacts of bottom trawling on seabed carbon storage. Through a NERC-funded project, we're exploring how bottom trawling in different seabed environments impacts the storage of carbon and its potential cycling between the benthic, pelagic and atmospheric systems.

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.