Dr Martin Austin
Senior Lecturer in Ocean Sciences
Office: 211 Marine Centre Wales Phone: 01248 382803
Email: m.austin@bangor.ac.uk
Web: Google Scholar ResearchGate ORCID
Twitter: @mart_austin
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).
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:
- 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.
- WASP - Waves Across Shore Platforms. EPSRC-funded grant investigating wave attenuation processes across rocky shore platforms at multiple sites across the UK and New Zealand to produce a new numerical modelling tool.
- Nearshore inter- to sub-tidal sediment exchange caused by the interaction of wave-driven nearshore currents, tidal currents and cross-shelf currents. This is linked to the Crown Estates Anglesey Tidal Test Site, with particular interest in nearshore sub-sea cable pathways, and encompasses field measurements of the full water column velocity, turbulence and sediment profiles. Autonomous Coastal Observatory buoy units are being deployed to support this work in spring 2018.
Research Areas
Qualifications
- PhD: Swash-groundwater interactions on a natural gravel beach
Loughborough University, - BSc: Ocean Sciences
University of Plymouth,
Teaching and Supervision
PhD Students
- 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 ONS-1001 and OSX-3006, and contribute to OSX-1000, OSX-2000, OSX-2004, DXX-2007, OSX-3000, OSX-3007, and DXX-3018.
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
Project 1:
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.
Project 2:
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.
Publications
2020
- PublishedInfragravity wave generation on shore platforms: bound long wave versus breakpoint forcing
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
2018
- PublishedThe role of bed roughness in wave transformation across sloping rock shore platforms
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
2017
- PublishedGrain size selection in seagrass beds
Conley, D., Austin, M., Davidson, I., Buscombe, D. & Masselink, G., 17 Jun 2017.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - PublishedModelling incident-band and infra gravity wave dynamics on rocky shore platforms
McCall, R. T., Masselink, G., Austin, M., Poate, T. & Jager, T., Jun 2017, p. 1658-1669.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
2016
- PublishedRip currents are a natural hazard along our coasts - here's how to spot them
Austin, M., 27 Jul 2016, The Conversation.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article - PublishedBoundary layer dynamics in the swash zone under large-scale laboratory conditions
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 - PublishedGroundwater fluxes and flow paths within coastal barriers: Observations from a large-scale laboratory experiment (BARDEX II)
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
2015
- PublishedDynamics of rip currents associated with groynes — field measurements, modelling and implications for beach safety
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
2014
- PublishedRole of wave forcing, storms and NAO in outer bar dynamics on a high-energy, macro-tidal beach
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 - PublishedMorphodynamic variability of high-energy macrotidal beaches, Cornwall, UK
Poate, T., Masselink, G., Russell, P. & Austin, M., 1 Apr 2014, In : Marine Geology. 350, p. 97-111
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedControls on macrotidal rip current circulation and hazard
Scott, T., Masselink, G., Austin, M. J. & Russell, P., 15 Feb 2014, In : Geomorphology. 214
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2013
- PublishedWater-level controls on macro-tidal rip currents
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 - PublishedRip Current Prediction: Development, Validation, and Evaluation of an Operational Tool
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 - PublishedGroundwater dynamics in coastal gravel barriers backed by freshwater lagoons and the potential for saline intrusion: Two cases from the UK
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 - PublishedCoastal sand barrier hydrology - observations from the BARDEX II prototype-scale laboratory experiment
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
2011
- PublishedAlongshore fluid motions in the swash zone of a sandy and gravel beach
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 - PublishedDust generation on a proglacial floodplain, West Greenland
Bullard, J. E. & Austin, M. J., Jun 2011, In : Aeolian Research. 3, 1, p. 43-54
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedRip current hazards on large-tidal beaches in the United Kingdom
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
- PublishedTemporal observations of rip current circulation on a macro-tidal beach
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 - PublishedMean Lagrangian flow behavior on an open coast rip-channeled beach: A new perspective
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
2009
- PublishedOnshore sediment transport on a sandy beach under varied wave conditions: Flow velocity skewness, wave asymmetry or bed ventilation?
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 - PublishedMacrotidal rip current experiment : circulation and dynamics
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
2008
- PublishedCross-shore sediment transport and morphological response on a macrotidal beach with intertidal bar morphology, Truc Vert, France
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 - PublishedMorphological change and sediment dynamics of the beach step on a macrotidal gravel beach
Austin, M. J. & Buscombe, D., 31 Mar 2008, In : Marine Geology. 249, 3-4, p. 167-183
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedThe effect of bedform dynamics on computing suspended sediment fluxes using optical backscatter sensors and current meters
Austin, M. J. & Masselink, G., Mar 2008, In : Coastal Engineering. 55, 3, p. 251-260
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2007
- PublishedSediment trend models fail to reproduce small-scale sediment transport patterns on an intertidal beach
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 - PublishedGeometry and dynamics of wave ripples in the nearshore zone of a coarse sandy beach
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 - PublishedRelaxation time effects of wave ripples on tidal beaches
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
2006
- PublishedSwash-groundwater interaction on a steep gravel beach
Austin, M. J. & Masselink, G., Dec 2006, In : Continental Shelf Research. 26, 20, p. 2503-2519
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedObservations of morphological change and sediment transport on a steep gravel beach
Austin, MJ. & Masselink, G., 30 May 2006, In : Marine Geology. 229, 1-2, p. 59-77
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Projects
-
Measurable metrics for characterisation of large-scale turbulent structures in tidal races
01/07/2017 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)
-
Characterisation of large-scale turbulent structures
01/03/2017 – 01/08/2017 (Finished)
-
KESS II Phd with Nortek UK- BUK2108
01/03/2017 – 30/09/2020 (Active)
-
Waves Across Shore Platforms (WASP)
01/08/2014 – 12/08/2017 (Finished)
Other Grants and Projects
-
Measurable metrics for characterisation of large-scale turbulent structures in tidal races for the marine tidal energy industry
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council -
Waves Across Shore Platforms
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council