Dr Helene Burningham

About

Coastal & Estuarine Research Unit
UCL Department of Geography
Pearson Building
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT

E: h.burningham@ucl.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7679 0577
F: +44 (0) 20 7679 0565

Photography
Geoscience gallery
Flora of the Alcudia dunes, Majorca
Coastal geomorphology of Donegal

Biography

Qualifications
DPhil Coastal Studies (2000): Morphodynamics of West Donegal Estuaries (DENI Distinction Award), University of Ulster
BSc (1st Class Hons) Combined Science (1994): University of Lancaster/OSU

Employment
2001-present: Lecturer in Physical Geography, UCL Department of Geography
2000: Tay Estuary Forum Project Officer, University of Dundee
1999: Countryside Ranger, East Lothian Council
1995: Countryside Ranger, East Kilbride Council

Affiliations
British Society for Geomorphology
Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation
American Geophysical Union

Research

Ongoing research projects

iCOASST - Integrating Coastal Sediment Systems [NERC]
Environmental history and morphodynamics of the west Donegal coast
Identifying coastal archaeology using multispectral satellite imagery of the intertidal zone: a pilot study [English Heritage]
Historical evolution of the greater Thames estuary [The Crown Estate - Caird Research Fellowship]
Morphodynamics of mixed sediment inlets and tidal deltas
Characterisation and prediction of large-scale coastal geomorphological behaviour [Environment Agency]
Development and demonstration of systems based estuary simulators (EstSim) [Defra/Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Defence R&D Programme]

Broader research interests

Late-Holocene climate-forcing and human occupation of coastal dunes in northwest Ireland
Coastal GIS and the analysis of historical shoreline and shoreface behaviour
Estuary-coast interaction in the vicinity of tidal inlets
Meso-tidal, high-wave energy beaches, sediment flux, and storm-driven beach-dune morphodynamics
Coastal conservation and sustaining naturally functioning systems

Research Students

Current PhD students
Primary supervisor to:
- Gardner E: Hydrogeomorphology and ecology in a sedimentary coastal lake and wetland system: Sheskinmore Lough (UCL 2011-)
- Fernandez Nunez M: Spatial and temporal response of saltmarsh ecosystems to sea level change: a case study from southwest Andalucia (Talentia 2011-)
- Oyedotun T: Estuary-coast interaction and morphodynamic evolution: the Hayle estuary, UK (Adekunle Ajasin University Education Trust Fund 2010-)
- Schembri M: Maltese Beaches : A source to sink approach (Malta Government Scholarship Scheme 2010-)

Secondary supervisor to:
- Pylarinou A: Modelling the impacts of climate change in coastal and estuarine habitats (2010-)
- Price D: Processes in a managed realignment site (2010-)
- Mitchell L: Hydrogeomorphic succession and ecological processes affecting sea trout spawning on remedial gravels (EA/Cefas 2010-)
- Duranel A: Wetlands in a changing environment: an assessment of the environmental factors driving biodiversity in soligenous acidic mires in Limousin, Central France (NERC 2009-)
- Morales-Marin L: Numerical modelling of lake hydrodynamics and sedimentation (UCL 2008-)

Completed PhD students
Barrett-Mold C (2013) Morphostratigraphy of marginal coastal environments (NERC)

MSc students
Bolles, K (2012) Ecogeomorphic feedbacks in coastal dune blowouts. MSc EMAP *
Giannakou, E (2012) Reconstructing the geographical history of watersheds. MSc EMAP
Soubies, H (2012) Modelling the influence of offshore banks on nearshore waves. MSc EMAP
Blande, F (2011) Public perceptions and values of ecosystem services. MSc CONS
Eremin, B (2011) Landscape connectivity of local food and energy production. MSc CONS
Hearn, S (2011) Mitigation strategies for the new high-speed rail route. MSc CONS *
Gardner, E (2010) The altitudinal ecology of Apteryx australis. MSc CONS *
Smart, E (2010) Oviposition and habitat requirements of the Small Blue (Cupido minimus). MSc CONS *
Caine, J (2010) Evaluating Natura 2000; a case study of Sheskinmore Lough SPA in Ireland. MSc CONS *
Kempson, R (2010) Dune heath habitats of northwest Ireland. MSc CONS
Velasquez, L (2010) User of LiDAR elevation data to assess the potential for managed realignment. MSc EMAP
Edwards, C (2009) The impact of artificial lighting on the commuting and foraging behaviour of bats. MSc CONS
Kesel, R (2009) Control of invasive species in San Francisco natural areas. MSc CONS *
MacDonald, J (2009) The effect of Common Standards Monitoring on Lepidoptera. MSc CONS *
Robertson, C (2009) Naturally regenerated calcareous grasslands on former arable land. MSc CONS *
Doeser, A (2008) Physical characterisation and differentiation of visually identified flow biotopes. MSc FACS *
McNee, S (2008) Developing a wider countryside common insects monitoring method for volunteers. MSc CONS
Nathan, C (2008) Ecological impacts of deer browsing on ground flora. MSc CONS
Needham, C (2008) The potential to restore a plantation on ancient woodland at Roudsea NNR, Cumbria. MSc CONS
Richards, E (2008) Effects of invasion and clearance of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) on dunes. MSc CONS *
Richardson, R (2008) Changes in ecohydraulics with restoration: a case study of the River Glaven, Norfolk. MSc FACS
Archer, S (2007) Bats in Greater London: A revisit to London's bat feeding area survey. MSc CONS
Barrett-Mold, C (2007) Geomorphological control on coastal dune plant species. MSc CONS *
Gear, A (2007) A rapid assessment of the avifauna of Isla Del Rey, Las Perlas Archipelago, Panama. MSc CONS *
Ung, C (2007) Evaluation of Shotley foreshore recharge. MSc FACS
Wade, L (2007) The morphosedimentary character of Orford Haven, Suffolk. MSc FACS
Amphlett, C (2006) Spatial or temporal movement of wildlife through the Bow Valley Wildlife Corridors. MSc CONS *
Balaga, A-R (2006) Grain size trend analysis in a gravel-dominated ebb-tidal delta. MSc FACS
Brunsendorf, A (2006) Long-term changes in flora and structure of Monks Wood. MSc CONS
Wilson, T (2006) River Thames inter-tidal substrate habitat: implications for management and conservation. MSc CONS
Allen, E (2005) Bat mitigation: a preliminary investigation into the success of replacement bat roosts. MSc CONS
Isden, J (2005) Factors affecting the distribution of Hypericum linariifolium (Toadflax-leaved St John's Wort). MSc CONS *
Macmillan, S (2005) Biological and anthropogenic determinants of spatial variation in primate abundance. MSc CONS
Parrott, P (2005) Uptake and implementation of the coastal habitat creation agri-environment scheme. MSc CONS *
Watts, P (2005) Bird foraging preferences in response to differing arable field management strategies. MSc CONS *
Alam, T (2004) The implications of climate change for the conservation of native pine woodland. MSc CONS
Harding, D (2004) The response of ground flora to changes in silvicultural systems. MSc CONS
Reeves, J (2004) Common lizard (Lacerta vivipara) populations on the Isle of Man. MSc CONS
Roberts, F (2004) Impact of litter management strategies on strandline eco-morphodynamics. MSc CONS
Starkey, R (2004) Habitat requirements and oviposition of the Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus). MSc CONS *
Cox, L (2003) Abundance and extinction rates amongst the Lemurs of Madgascar. MSc CONS
Crouch, N (2003) Habitat use by Skylarks (Alauda arvensis) on a lowland arable farm. MSc CONS *
Horton, C (2003) Black Grouse breeding success and habitat management. MSc CONS *
King, G (2003) Habitat requirements of the Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus). MSc CONS
Martin, T (2003) Vocal individuality of the Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus). MSc CONS

Courses

Office hours

Term I 13/14: tbc
Term II 13/14: sabbatical leave

Postgraduate [course materials available on moodle]

G065: Environmental GIS
G100: Coastal change
G120: Models in environmental science
Research students
PhD research opportunities projects

Undergraduate [course materials available on moodle]

2002: Methods in physical geography
2005: Geomorphology
3004: Coastal & estuarine environments

Resources

Field class | photos