Dr Sophie Ward
Research Fellow; Senior Research Officer in Bio-Physical Modelling
Room: 107 Marine Centre Wales Phone: 01248 383978
Email: sophie.ward@bangor.ac.uk
Web: ResearchGate;
I am a physical oceanographer with expertise in ocean modelling. I have experience of applying models to a broad range of research topics including marine renewable energy, past climate conditions, marine biosecurity and the aquaculture industry.
I worked for several years as a physical oceanographer on the SEACAMS 2 project, conducting collaborative RD&I projects with the marine renewable energy sector in Wales. I am currently a numerical modeller working on the ECOSTRUCTURE and Cockles projects, as well as the Shellfish Centre and Menai Offshore Subsurface Shellfish Systems projects, which are focussed on the shellfish industry around the Welsh Coast.
I graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences (Physics and Environmental Science) from the University of Bath in 2007, after which I worked as a Graduate Environmental Consultant in North Wales. I then undertook a MSc in Applied Physical Oceanography, followed by a PhD in Physical Oceanography, both at Bangor University. The focus of my PhD project was on simulating changes in Northwest European shelf sea tides due to sea-level rise since the Last Glacial Maximum, and exploring the use of seabed sediment grain size as a proxy for past tidal current conditions.
Particular areas of research interest include: numerical modelling (physical, biophysical and biogeochemical/ecosystem), sediment dynamics, sea-level rise and climate change, marine renewable energy.
Qualifications
- PhD: A new proxy for constraining palaeotidal simulations of the northwest European shelf seas
Bangor University, 2010–2015 - Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE)
2013 - MSc: Applied Physical Oceanography
Bangor University, 2009–2011 - BSc: Natural Sciences
University of Bath, 2004–2007
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
I have a range of research interests in which PhD projects could be developed. Please contact me by email in the first instance regarding any of the following areas:
- Tidal modelling (past, present or future)
- Marine renewable energy
- Dispersal of marine organisms (including invasive species and aquaculture)
- Ocean biogeochemical modelling.
Publications
2020
- PublishedNon-linear landscape and cultural response to sea-level rise
Barnett, R., Charman, D. J., Johns, C., Ward, S., Bevan, A., Bradley, S. L., Cambridge, K., Fyfe, R. M., Gehrels, W. R., Hatton, J., Khan, N. S., Marshall, P., Maezumi, S. Y., Mills, S., Mulville, J., Perez, M., Roberts, H. M., Scourse, J. D., Shepherd, F. & Stevens, T., 4 Nov 2020, In : Science Advances. 6, 45, eabb6376.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedThe challenges of constraining shelf sea tidal models using seabed sediment grain size as a proxy for tidal currents
Ward, S., Scourse, J., Yokoyama, Y. & Neill, S., Dec 2020, In : Continental Shelf Research. 205, 104165.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2019
- PublishedAdvance and retreat of the marine-terminating Irish Sea Ice Stream into the Celtic Sea during the Last Glacial: Timing and maximum extent
Scourse, J., Saher, M., Van Landeghem, K., Lockhart, E., Purcell, C., Callard, S. L., Roseby, Z., Allison, B., Pieńkowski, A., Ó Cofaigh, C., Praeg, D., Ward, S., Chiverrell, R. C., Moreton, S., Fabel, D. & Clark, C., 1 Jun 2019, In : Marine Geology. 412, p. 53-68
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedTracking Holocene palaeostratification and productivity changes in the Western Irish Sea: A multi-proxy record
Woods, M. A., Wilkinson, I. P., Leng, M. J., Riding, J. B., Vane, C. H., Lopes dos Santos, R. A., Kender, S., De Schepperd, S., Hennissen, J. A. I., Ward, S. L., Gowing, C. J. B., Wilby, P. R., Nichols, M. D. & Rochelle, C. A., 15 Oct 2019, In : Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 532
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2018
- PublishedThe role of megatides and relative sea level in controlling the deglaciation of the British-Irish and Fennoscandinavian ice sheets
Scourse, J., Ward, S., Wainwright, A., Bradley, S. L. & Uehara, K., Feb 2018, In : Quaternary Science. 33, 2, p. 139-149
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedTidal range energy resource and optimization – past perspectives and future challenges
Neill, S., Angeloudis, A., Robins, P., Walkington, I., Ward, S., Masters, I., Lewis, M., Piano, M., Avdis, A., Piggott, M., Aggidis, G., Evans, P., Adcock, T., Zidonis, A., Ahmadian, R. & Falconer, R., Nov 2018, In : Renewable Energy. 127, November, p. 763-778
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedTidal stream resource characterisation in progressive versus standing wave systems
Ward, S., Robins, P., Lewis, M., Iglesias, G., Hashemi, M. R. & Neill, S., 15 Jun 2018, In : Applied Energy. 220, p. 274-285
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2017
- PublishedCharacteristics of the velocity profile at tidal-stream energy sites
Lewis, M., Neill, S., Robins, P., Hashemi, M. R. & Ward, S., Dec 2017, In : Renewable Energy. 114, Part A, p. 258-272
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedComparison of 4- and 5-beam acoustic Doppler current profiler configurations for measurement of turbulent kinetic energy
Togneri, M., Jones, D., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Ward, S., Piano, M. & Masters, I., 5 Sep 2017, In : Energy Procedia. 125, p. 260-267
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedTidal stream resource assessment uncertainty due to flow asymmetry and turbine yaw misalignment
Piano, M., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Robins, P., Hashemi, R., Davies, A., Ward, S. & Roberts, M., Dec 2017, In : Renewable Energy. p. 1363-1375
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2016
- PublishedResearch priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)
Roche, RC., Walker-Springett, K., Robins, PE., Jones, J., Veneruso, G., Whitton, TA., Piano, M., Ward, SL., Duce, CE., Waggitt, JJ., Walker-Springett, G., Neill, S., Lewis, M. & King, J., 1 Dec 2016, In : Renewable Energy. 99, December, p. 1327-1341 15 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedSensitivity of palaeotidal models of the northwest European shelf seas to glacial isostatic adjustment since the Last Glacial Maximum
Ward, S., Neill, S., Scourse, J., Bradley, S. L. & Uehara, K., 1 Nov 2016, In : Quaternary Science Reviews. 151, p. 198-211
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2015
- PublishedCharacterising the spatial and temporal variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over the northwest European shelf seas
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J. & Ward, S. L., 1 Jun 2015, In : Applied Energy. 147, p. 510-522
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedCharacterizing the tidal energy resource of the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone (UK), using TELEMAC-2D and field observations
Piano, M., Ward, S. L., Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J., Davies, A. G., Powell, B. I., Owen, A. W. & Hashemi, R. M., 15 Oct 2015.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - PublishedClassifying seabed sediment type using simulated tidal-induced bed shear stress
Ward, S. L., Neill, S. P., Van Landeghem, K. J. & Scourse, J. D., 30 May 2015, In : Marine Geology. 367, p. 94-104
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2013
- PublishedBriefing: Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference 2012
Green, M., Davies, A. G., Bowers, D. G., Zhu, F., Ward, S. L. & Porter, K., Sep 2013, In : Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 166, 3, p. 101-108
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedModelling tides and sea-level rise: To flood or not to flood
Pelling, H. E., Green, J. A. M. & Ward, S. L., Mar 2013, In : Ocean Modelling. 63, p. 21-29
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article - PublishedSimulated Late-glacial and Holocene relative sea-level and palaeotidal changes on the Isles of Scilly: a new approach for assessing changes in the areal extent of the inter-tidal zone
Mortimer, T. A., Scourse, J. D., Ward, S. L. & Uehara, K., 31 Dec 2013, In : Geoscience in South-West England. 13, 2, p. 152-158
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
2012
- PublishedTides, sea-level rise and tidal power extraction on the European shelf
Ward, S. L., Green, J. A. M. & Pelling, H. E., Aug 2012, In : Ocean Dynamics. 62, 8, p. 1153-1167
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Projects
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01/02/2018 – 01/08/2019 (Finished)
Description
The NRN-LCEE was a bold, innovative pan-Wales initiative for Welsh research funded by Welsh Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) as part of Sêr Cymru 1; comprising of partners from Bangor, Aberystwyth, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea Universities, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology at Bangor, British Geological Survey Wales, and UK MetOffice. The NRN-LCEE aimed to promote excellent collaborative and interdisciplinary research within Wales into the sustainable use of natural resources for the provision of energy, water, food, and other ecosystem services; and explicitly encouraged interdisciplinary research across departments, universities, research centres, industry and third sector parties. As such, the NRN-LCEE was the catalyst to bring a diverse set of talented researchers and partners into new collaborations, in order to conduct innovative research that was highly pertinent on an international research agenda.
Links:
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01/04/2017 – 31/05/2017 (Finished)
Other Grants and Projects
PRIMaRE Early Career Researcher Travel Grant, for attendance at Marine Evidence 2019 conference.
Bangor University Early Career Researcher Award: secured the maximum award amount of £1500 for developing a project titled Changing tides: implications of palaeo- and future tidal-range changes in eastern Canada.
NRN-LCEE Returning Fellowship: secured £6000 from the National Research Network for Low Carbon Energy and Environment, available to academics returning from a period of leave (e.g. parental leave) for developing new collaborations for research.
Contract research: secured €76,000 industry-sponsored research project.
JSPS Summer School 2013 Fellowship (British Council): selected to attend a 10-week research placement funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. My host institute was the Center for East Asian Ocean-Atmosphere Research, Kyushu University (June-August 2013).
£6969 grant awarded by the NERC Radiocarbon Facility (December 2012).
Summer School on Fluid Dynamics of Sustainability and the Environment (formerly GEFD): bursary for half of the course fees, DAMTP, University of Cambridge (September 2012).