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 graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Bath in 2007, where my major subjects were Physics and Environmental Sciences. Following that, I worked for two years as a Graduate Environmental Consultant in North Wales. In 2009-2010 I undertook an MSc in Applied Physical Oceanography, followed by a PhD in Physical Oceanography (2010-2014), both at Bangor University. The focus of the PhD 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.
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 project, as well as the Shellfish Centre and Menai Offshore Subsurface Shellfish Systems projects, which are focussed on the shellfish industry around the Welsh Coast.
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
- A new proxy for constraining palaeotidal simulations of the northwest European shelf seas PhD (Bangor University)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE)
- Applied Physical Oceanography MSc (Bangor University)
- Natural Sciences BSc (University of Bath)
Publications
2019
- Tracking Holocene palaeostratification and productivity changes in the Western Irish Sea: A multi-proxy recordWoods, MA, Wilkinson , IP, Leng, MJ, Riding, JB, Vane, CH, Lopes dos Santos, RA, Kender, S, De Schepperd, S, Hennissen, JAI, Ward, SL, Gowing, CJB, Wilby, PR, Nichols, MD & Rochelle, CA 2019, 'Tracking Holocene palaeostratification and productivity changes in the Western Irish Sea: A multi-proxy record', Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.06.004
- Advance and retreat of the marine-terminating Irish Sea Ice Stream into the Celtic Sea during the Last Glacial: Timing and maximum extentScourse, J, Saher, M, Van Landeghem, K, Lockhart, E, Purcell, C, Callard, SL, Roseby, Z, Allison, B, Pieńkowski, A, Ó Cofaigh, C, Praeg, D, Ward, S, Chiverrell, RC, Moreton, S, Fabel, D & Clark, C 2019, 'Advance and retreat of the marine-terminating Irish Sea Ice Stream into the Celtic Sea during the Last Glacial: Timing and maximum extent', Marine Geology, vol. 412, pp. 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2019.03.003
2018
- Tidal range energy resource and optimization – past perspectives and future challengesNeill, 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 2018, 'Tidal range energy resource and optimization – past perspectives and future challenges', Renewable Energy, vol. 127, no. November, pp. 763-778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.05.007
- Tidal stream resource characterisation in progressive versus standing wave systemsWard, S, Robins, P, Lewis, M, Iglesias, G, Hashemi, MR & Neill, S 2018, 'Tidal stream resource characterisation in progressive versus standing wave systems', Applied Energy, vol. 220, pp. 274-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.059
- The role of megatides and relative sea level in controlling the deglaciation of the British-Irish and Fennoscandinavian ice sheetsScourse, J, Ward, S, Wainwright, A, Bradley, SL & Uehara, K 2018, 'The role of megatides and relative sea level in controlling the deglaciation of the British-Irish and Fennoscandinavian ice sheets', Journal of Quaternary Science, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 139-149. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3011
2017
- Characteristics of the velocity profile at tidal-stream energy sitesLewis, M, Neill, S, Robins, P, Hashemi, MR & Ward, S 2017, 'Characteristics of the velocity profile at tidal-stream energy sites', Renewable Energy, vol. 114, no. Part A, pp. 258-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.096
- Tidal stream resource assessment uncertainty due to flow asymmetry and turbine yaw misalignmentPiano, M, Neill, S, Lewis, M, Robins, P, Hashemi, R, Davies, A, Ward, S & Roberts, M 2017, 'Tidal stream resource assessment uncertainty due to flow asymmetry and turbine yaw misalignment', Renewable Energy, pp. 1363-1375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.023
- Comparison of 4- and 5-beam acoustic Doppler current profiler configurations for measurement of turbulent kinetic energyTogneri, M, Jones, D, Neill, S, Lewis, M, Ward, S, Piano, M & Masters, I 2017, 'Comparison of 4- and 5-beam acoustic Doppler current profiler configurations for measurement of turbulent kinetic energy', Energy Procedia, vol. 125, pp. 260-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.08.170
2016
- Research 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 2016, 'Research priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)', Renewable Energy, vol. 99, no. December, pp. 1327-1341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.08.035
- Sensitivity of palaeotidal models of the northwest European shelf seas to glacial isostatic adjustment since the Last Glacial MaximumWard, S, Neill, S, Scourse, J, Bradley, SL & Uehara, K 2016, 'Sensitivity of palaeotidal models of the northwest European shelf seas to glacial isostatic adjustment since the Last Glacial Maximum', Quaternary Science Reviews, vol. 151, pp. 198-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.08.034
2015
- Characterizing the tidal energy resource of the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone (UK), using TELEMAC-2D and field observationsPiano, M, Ward, SL, Robins, PE, Neill, SP, Lewis, MJ, Davies, AG, Powell, BI, Owen, AW & Hashemi, RM 2015, 'Characterizing the tidal energy resource of the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone (UK), using TELEMAC-2D and field observations' Paper presented at 22nd Telemac & Mascaret User Conference, STFC Laboratory, Daresbury, Warrington, UK, 3/01/01, .
- Characterising the spatial and temporal variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over the northwest European shelf seasRobins, PE, Neill, SP, Lewis, MJ & Ward, SL 2015, 'Characterising the spatial and temporal variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over the northwest European shelf seas', Applied Energy, vol. 147, pp. 510-522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.03.045
- Classifying seabed sediment type using simulated tidal-induced bed shear stressWard, SL, Neill, SP, Van Landeghem, KJ & Scourse, JD 2015, 'Classifying seabed sediment type using simulated tidal-induced bed shear stress', Marine Geology, vol. 367, pp. 94-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2015.05.010
2013
- Simulated 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 zoneMortimer, TA, Scourse, JD, Ward, SL & Uehara, K 2013, 'Simulated 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', Geoscience in South-West England, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 152-158.
- Briefing: Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference 2012Green, M, Davies, AG, Bowers, DG, Zhu, F, Ward, SL & Porter, K 2013, 'Briefing: Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference 2012', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering, vol. 166, no. 3, pp. 101-108. https://doi.org/10.1680/maen.2012.28
- Modelling tides and sea-level rise: To flood or not to floodPelling, HE, Green, JAM & Ward, SL 2013, 'Modelling tides and sea-level rise: To flood or not to flood', Ocean Modelling, vol. 63, pp. 21-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2012.12.004
2012
- Tides, sea-level rise and tidal power extraction on the European shelfWard, SL, Green, JAM & Pelling, HE 2012, 'Tides, sea-level rise and tidal power extraction on the European shelf', Ocean Dynamics, vol. 62, no. 8, pp. 1153-1167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-012-0552-6
Projects
- NRN-LCEE Returning Fellowship
Other Grants and Projects
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).