Mark Davidson

Teaching interests

Courses Taught:

• Advanced Surfzone Dynamics
• Waves and Beaches
• Estuaries and Shelf Seas
• Physical Oceanography
• Underwater Acoustics
• Scientific Diving
• Surf Science
• Applied Marine Science (MSc)

 

Staff serving as external examiners

External PhD Examiner:

• Roger Phillips. 2010. University of East Anglia
• Mitchel Harley. 2009. University of New South Wales.
• Irene M.J. van Enckevort. 2001 Daily to yearly nearshore bar behaviour. University of Utrecht, Netherlands.
• Asuncion Baquerizo Azofra. 1995. Reflexion del Oleaje en Playas, University of Cantabria, Spain.

Internal Examiner:

• Amaia Ruiz de Alegria Arzaburu. 2010. Measuring and modelling annual, seasonal and storm-induced morphological response on a gravel beach.
• Andrew N. Saulter. 2000. Analysis of infragravity frequency sediment transport on macrotidal beaches.

 

Research interests

I am a Associate Professor (Reader) in Coastal Processes within the School of Marine Science and Engineering. My main research interests are in the fields of coastal and estuarine, hydo- and morpho- dynamics. My work in this area includes in-situ measurement, video remote sensing and numerical modelling.

My PhD was in Physical Oceanography, focusing on infragravity oscillations on high-energy dissipative beaches. Following this I was involved in two research programmes as a post-doctoral researcher. The first of these, the British Beach and Nearshore Dynamics (B-BAND) programme, focussed on improving our understanding of sediment transport processes on beaches of varied morphology through the application of in-situ measurements. The second programme also involved using full-scale in-situ measurements to examine the processes of wave reflection from a variety of different coastal structures. Whilst still involved in in-situ measurements, my main research focus has turned to remote sensing the coastal zone using video techniques. I have been the principal investigator for the University of Plymouth on the EU funded I.N.D.I.A. project, which utilised the coastal video systems to examine the morphodynamic evolution of a coastal inlet in southern Portugal. An interest in coastal remote sensing and large-scale, long-term coastal evolution has also facilitated my involvement in the US Office of Naval Research, NICOP project that that centred on intermediate scale coastal behaviour. I lead the coastal video research in the University of Plymouth and co-ordinated the £1.3M European (CoastView) project aimed at developing coastal video systems in support of coastal zone management. This project involved 13 institutions form six countries, including universities and national-scale coastal managers. Since the successful completion of the CoastView project coastal video research continues to be strongly supported by the scientific community and was recently co-investigator on two EPSRC programmes which investigated a Risk-based Framework for Predicting Beaches in the Long term (RF PEBL), and the large-scale morphodynamic impacts of shore parallel breakwaters in areas of high tidal range (LEACOAST2).

 

UoP Research group membership

Centre for Coastal and Ocean Science and Engineering (CCOSE) 
Coastal Processes 

Other research

NB For Journal Publications - see Selected Publications 

 

Selected Conference Publications:

• Siegle, E., Huntley, D.A., and Davidson, M.A., (2003), Sediment transport patterns and morphodynamics at a complex inlet system. Proceedings of the International Conference on Coastal Sediments 2003. ISBN 981-238-422-7.
• Thain, R. H. & A. D. Priestley. 2002. Sound speed variability across an estuarine front. Proceedings of the Undersea Defence Technology conference, La Spezia, Italy.
• Mariño-Tapia,I., Russell,P.E., O'Hare,T.J., Davidson,M.A., Saulter,A.N., Miles,J.R., & Huntley,D.A., "Relationship between vertical wave asymmetry and the fourth velocity moment in the surf zone: implications for sediment transport," in Proc. of the 4th Int. Symp. Waves 2001 (San Francisco), 1295-305.
• Mariño-Tapia,I., Russell, P.E., O'Hare, T.J., Davidson, M.A., Saulter, A., Miles, J., Huntley, D.A. 2001, Relationship between vertical wave asymmetry and the fourth velocity moment in the surfzone: Implications for sediment transport. Ocean Wave Measurement & Analysis, Vol 2, 1295-1305
• Mallet, C., Kingston, K.S., Davidson, M.A. & Huntley, 2000, The use of video in the study of sandbar dynamics, Proc. Marine Sandwave Dynamics, Lille, France, 23 & 24 March, 1-6.
• Kingston, K.S. & Davidson, M.A., 1999, Artificial neural network model of sandbar location for a macro-tidal beach, Perranporth, UK, IAHR Symposium on river coastal & estuarine modelling, Genoa, Italy, 227-236
• Davidson M.A., Huntley D.A., Holman R.A. & George, K., 1997. The evaluation of large-scale (km) intertidal beach morphology on a macrotidal beach using video images, Proc. Conf. Coastal Dynamics '97, (Plymouth). 385-394
• Davidson M.A., Bird, P.A., Huntley D.A. & Bullock G.N., 1996. Prediction of wave reflection from rock structures: An integration of field & laboratory data. Proc. International Conf. on Coastal Eng., (Orlando). 2077-2086.
• Huntley D.A., Simmonds D.J. & Davidson M.A., 1995 Estimation of frequency-dependent reflection coefficients using current and elevation sensors. Proc. Conf. Coastal Dynamics '95, (Gdansk, Poland). 57-68.
• Bird P.A., Davidson M.A., Illic, S., Bullock G.N., Chadwick A.J., Axe P. & D.A. Huntley,1995. Wave reflection, transformation and attenuation characteristics of rock island breakwaters. Proc. Conf. Coastal Structures and Breakwaters '95, (London).
• Davidson M.A., Bird P.A., Bullock G.N. & D.A. Huntley, 1994. Wave reflection: Field measurements, data analysis and theoretical developments. Proc. Conf. Coastal Dynamics '94, (Barcelona). 642-655
• Bird P.A., Davidson M.A., Bullock G.N. & D.A. Huntley, 1994. Wave measurements near reflective structures. Proc. Conf. Coastal Dynamics '94, (Barcelona). 701-711
• Davidson M.A., Russell P.E., Cramp A. & J. Hardisty, 1992. An overview of the British Beach And Nearshore Dynamics (B-BAND) experiment. Proc. 23rd International Conf. on Coastal Eng., (Venice). 1987-2000
• Foote Y., Huntley D.A., Davidson M.A., Russell P.E., Hardisty J. & A. Cramp, 1992. Incident wave groups and long waves in the nearshore zone. Proc. 23rd International Conf. on Coastal Eng., (Venice). 974-989
• Russell P.E., Davidson M.A., Huntley D.A., Hardisty J., Cramp A. & G. Lloyd 1991. The British Beach And Nearshore Dynamics (B-BAND) programme. Proc. Coastal Sediments '91, Am. Soc. Civ. Eng. (New York), 371-384.

Consultancy:

• Bournemouth DC - Boscombe artificial surfing reef
• Environment Agency - Coastal video monitoring project
• Valeport Ltd, Dartmouth – Design of wave recorder software for the analysis of wave statistics
• Peterhead Port Authority – Modification of Peterhead Harbour
• Brixham Port Authority – Modification of Brixham Harbour

 

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Successful Ph.D. Completions:

• Suzana Ilic. 1999. Transformation of Multidirectional Seas
• Ken Kingston. 2003. Application of complex adaptive systems approaches to coastal systems.
• Ismael Marino Tapia. 2003. Cross-shore sediment transport processes on natural beaches and their relation to sandbar migration patterns.
• Eduardo Siegle. 2003. Sediment transport and morphodynamics at an estuary mouth: A study using remote sensing and numerical modelling.
• Marcos Bernardes. 2005. Modelling the long-term morphodynamic evolution of estuaries.
• Richard Thain. 2005. Understanding and prediction of tidal intrusion fronts.
• Daniel Buscombe. 2008. Shingle beach morphodynamics.
• Nigel Aird. Coastal sediment dynamics.
• Iain Failey - Video monitoring of shoreline response to offshore segmented breakwaters

Current PH.D. Students:

• Emma Rendal - Artificial surfing reefs 

 

Grants & contracts

Research Grants:

• Australian Research Council (Co-investigator) Observation Network: monitoring and forecasting coastal erosion in a changing climate, (£199,788). Status: ongoing
• EU THESEUS (Co-investigator) (approx £500,00). Status: ongoing
• E.P.S.R.C. A Risk-based Framework for Predicting Long-term Beach Evolution (RF PEBL). (Value: £423,123)
• E.P.S.R.C. Large scale morphodynamic impacts of segmented shore-parallel breakwaters on coasts and beaches (LEACOAST2). (Value: £345,203)
• EU Framework V CoastView Project (Co-ordinator). The development of coastal video monitoring systems in support of Coastal Zone Management (current). (Value: £1.34M)
• EU INDIA, (Principal Investigator). Inlet Dynamics Initiative Algarve. (Value: £130,000)
• EU SWAMIEE (Co-investigator). Sediment & Water Movements in Industrialised Estuarine Environments. (Value: £167,000)
• NICOP, Naval International Co-operative Opportunities in Science & Tech. Programme, (Co-investigator). Intermediate-scale coastal behaviour. (Value: £740,000)

 

Publications

Selected Journal Publications

 

• Davidson, M.A., Turner, I.L., and R.T. Guza, 2011. The effect of temporal wave averaging on the performance of an empirical shoreline evolution model. Coastal Engineering. Volume 58, Issue 8, August 2011, Pages 802-805
• Davidson, M.A., Lewis, R.P. and Turner, I.L., 2010. Forecasting seasonal to multi-year shoreline change, Coastal Eng. (2010), doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2010.02.001
• Davidson, M.A. and Turner, I.L. (2009). A behavioural-template beach profile model for predicting seasonal to interannual shoreline evolution. Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface 114, (F110.1029/2006JC00379910.1029/2007JF000888)
• Fairley, I., Davidson., M.A., Kingston, K., Dolphin. T. and Phillips, R., 2009. Empirical Orthogonal function analysis of shoreline change behind two different designs of detached breakwater. Coastal Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2009.08.001.
• Davidson, M.A., Morris, B.D. and Turner, I.L. (2009). A simple numerical model for inlet sedimentation at intermittently open-closed coastal lagoons. J. Continental Shelf Research - DOI information: 10.1016/j.csr.2008.10.005).
• Fairley, I., Davidson and Kingston, K., 2009. The morphodynamics of a beach protected by detached breakwaters in a high energy tidal environment. Journal Coastal Research, SI 56, 607-611. ICS2009 (Proceedings). ISSN 0749-0258.
• A.R. Carrasco, O. Ferreira, M. Davidson, A. Matias, J.A. Dias. 2008., An evolutionary categorisation model for backbarrier environments. Marine Geology 251, 156-166
• Davidson,M.A., O'Hare, T.J., and George, K.J. 2007. Tidal modulation of incident wave heights; fact or fiction? J. Coastal Res. DOI: 10.2112/06-0754
• Fairley, I.A. and Davidson, M.A., 2007. A two-dimensional wave flume investigation into the effect of multiple vertical steps on the form of breaking waves. J. Coastal Res.DOI: 10.2112/06-0718.
• Davidson, M.A., Van Koningsveld, M. de Kruif, A. Rawson, J. Holman, R. Lamberti, A., Medina, R.Kroon, A. and Aarninkhof, S. 2007. The CoastView project: Developing video-derived Coastal State Indicators in support of coastal zone management. Coastal Engineering. Vol 54, Nos. 6-7, 463-476. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2007.01.007
• Medina, R., Marino-Tapia, I., Osorio, A., Davidson, M. and Martin, F.L., 2007. Management of dynamic navigational channels using video techniques. Coastal Engineering. Vol 54, Nos. 6-7, 523-538. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2007.01.008
• Smit, M.W.J., Aarninkhof, S.G.J., Wijnberg,K.M., González, M., Kingston, K.S., Southgate, H.N., Ruessink, B.G., Holman, R.A., Siegle, E., Davidson, M. & Medina, R. 2007. The role of video imagery in predicting daily to monthly coastal evolution. Coastal Engineering. Vol 54, Nos. 6-7, 539-554. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2007.01.009
• Van Koningsveld, M., Davidson, M.. Huntley, D., Medina, R., Aarninkhof, S., Jiménez,  J., Ridgewell, J. and de Kruif, A., 2007. A critical review of the CoastView project: Recent and future developments. Coastal Engineering. Vol 54, Nos. 6-7, 567-576. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2007.01.006
• Jiménez, J.A., Osorio, A., Marino-Tapia, I., Davidson, M.A., Medina, R., Kroon, A., Archetti, R., Ciavola, P. and Aarnikhof, S.G.J. Beach recreation planning using video-derived coastal state indicators. Coastal Engineering. Vol 54, Nos. 6-7, 507-522. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2007.01.012.
• Kroon A., Davidson M.A., Aarninkhof S.G.J., Archetti R., Armaroli C., Gonzalez M.,
  Medri S, Osorio A, Aagaard, T., Holman R.A., Spanhoff R., 2007. Application of remote sensing video systems to coastline management problems. Coastal Engineering.  Vol 54, Nos. 6-7, 493-506. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2007.01.004
• Mariño-Tapia, I. J., T. J. O'Hare, P E. Russell, M. A. Davidson, and D. A. Huntley. 2007, Cross-shore sediment transport on natural beaches and its relation to sandbar migration patterns: 2. Application of the field transport parameterization, J. Geophys. Res., 112, C03002, DOI:10.1029/2005JC002894.
• Siegle, E., Huntley, D.A. and Davidson, M.A., 2007. Coupling video imaging and numerical modelling for the study of inlet morphodynamics. Marine Geology. Vol. 236, Issue 3-4, 143-163.
• Bernardes, M.E.C., Davidson, M.A., Dyer, K.R. & George, K.J., 2006. Towards medium-term (order of months) morphodynamic modelling of the Teign estuary, UK. Ocean Dynamics 56: 186-197 DOI 10.1007/s10236-005-0039-9
• Siegle, E., Huntley, D.A. & Davidson, M.A., 2004. Physical controls on the dynamics of inlet sandbar systems. Ocean Dynamics 54, 360-373
• Balouin, Y., Morris, B.D., Davidson, M.A. & Howa, H., 2004. Morphological Evolution of an Ebb-Tidal Delta Following a Storm Perturbation: Assessments from Remote Sensed Video Data & Direct Surveys. J. Coastal Res. 20, 1. 415-423.
• Thain, R., Priestley, D. & Davidson, M.A., 2004. The formation of a tidal intrusion front in the mouth of a macrotidal estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Science 61, 161-172.
• Siegle, E., Huntley, D.A. & Davidson, M.A., 2004. Tidally modulated sediment transport processes on a shore-attached bar. Journal of Coastal Research. SI 39. ICS 2004. Brazil. ISSN 0749-0208
• Davidson, M.A., S.G.J. Aarninkhof, M. Van Koningsveld and R.A. Holman. 2004. Developing Coastal Video Monitoring Systems In Support of Coastal Zone Management. JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH 1: 49-56 Sp. Iss. 39.
• Morris, B.D., Davidson, M.A., Huntley, D.A., 2004. Estimates of the seasonal morphological evolution of the Barra Nova Inlet using video techniques, Continental Shelf Research, 24/2, 263-278.
• Van Koningsveld, M. ; M.A. Davidson; D.A. Huntley., 2004. “Matching Science with Coastal Management Needs; The Search for Appropriate Coastal State Indicators. Journal of Coastal Research, 399–411.
• Siegle, E., Huntley, D.A. & Davidson, M.A., 2002, Modelling water surface topography at a complex inlet system – Teignmouth, UK. Journal of Coastal Research, SI36, 675-685
• Ruessink, B.G., Enckevort, I.M.J., Kingston, K.S., Davidson, M.A., 2002, Analysis of observed two- and three-dimensional nearshore behaviour. Chapter in book. The behaviour of straight sandy coast on the time scale of storms and seasons. Ed. L.C. van Rijn, B.G. Ruessink and J.P.M. Mulder.
• Morris, B.D. & Davidson, M.A., 2001. Measurements of the response of a coastal inlet using video-monitoring techniques, Marine Geology 175, 251-272.
• Woodd-Walker, A.S., Kingston, K. (PhD student) & Gallienne, C., 2001, Using neural networks to predict surface zooplankton biomass along a 50oN to 50oS transect of the Atlantic. J. Plankton Research, Vol. 23 No. 8, 875-881.
• Kingston, K.S., B.G. Ruessink, I.M.J. van Enckevort, M.A. Davidson, 2000. Artificial neural network correction of video estimates of sandbar location, Chapter in book. The behaviour of straight sandy coast on the time scale of storms and seasons. Ed. L.C. van Rijn, B.G. Ruessink and J.P.M. Mulder.
• Kingston, K.S., B.G. Ruessink, I.M.J. van Enckevort, M.A. Davidson, 2000. Artificial neural network correction of remotely sensed sandbar location, Marine Geology 169, 1-2. 137-160
• Ruessink, B.G., I.M.J. van Enckevort, K.S. Kingston, M.A. Davidson, 2000. Analysis of observed two- and three-dimensional nearshore bar behavior, Marine Geology 169, 1-2. 161-183
• Davidson, M.A., Kingston, K. & Huntley, D.A. 2000, New solution for directional wave analysis in reflective wave fields. J. Waterways, Ports, Coastal and Ocean Engineering. 126, No.4, 173-181
• Davidson, M.A. & Huntley, D.A. & Bird, P.A., 1998, A practical method for the estimation of directional wave spectra in reflective wave fields, Coastal Engineering, 33, 91-116.
• Huntley, D.A. & Davidson, M.A., 1998. Estimation of directional waves near a reflector. J. Waterways, Ports, Coastal and Ocean Engineering. 124, No. 6, 321-319
• Davidson, M.A., Bird, P.A., Bullock, G.N. & D.A. Huntley, 1996. A new non-dimensional number for the analysis of wave reflection from rubble mound breakwaters. Coastal Engineering, 28, 93-129
• Hardisty J., Davidson M.A., Russell P.E., Huntley D.A. & J.P. Hoad, 1993. Numerical experiments with gravity and infragravity waves on a macrotidal beach profile. J. of Coastal Research 15 215-229
• Huntley D.A., Davidson M.A., Russell P.E., Foote Y., & J. Hardisty, 1993. Long waves and sediment movement on beaches; recent observations and implications for modelling. J. of Coastal Research 15
• Davidson M.A., Russell P.A., Huntley D.A., J. Hardisty, 1993. Tidal asymmetry in suspended sand transport on a macrotidal intermediate beach. Marine Geology 110, 333-353.

 

Reports & invited lectures

Invited & Keynote Presentations:

• Invited speaker: Institute of Civil Engineers (Plymouth Oct. 2008, Exeter January, 2009)
• Invited speaker at the Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology. London (November 2005)
• Invited keynote speaker at the European Land Ocean Intereation Conference in Portoroz, Slovenia. (November 2004)
• Guest Editor for a special issue of Coastal Engineering detailing the outcomes of the CoastView Project.
• American Geophysical Union, Portland Oregon, U.S.A. Invited Speaker (January 2004)
• International Coastal Symposium, Itaja, Brazil, (Invited to give a short course and to lead a round table discussion. (2004).
• Invited Rapporteur at the European Land Ocean Interaction Conference in Gdansk, Poland. (March 2003)
• Invited Speaker, Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council, Coastal Zone Networks Conference (COZONE). 25th June, King’s College, London.
• Britannia Royal Naval College. Invited Speaker (2001, 2002, 2003)
• Teign Estuary Partnership. Invited Speaker (2003, 2004)
• University of Lancaster (Department of Geography). Invited Speaker. 2002.

 

Links

• Coastal Processes Research Group Website
• The CoastView Website
• Centre for Coastal Dynamics & Engineering (C-CoDE)

 Interests:

Surfing, Snowboarding, Diving (H.S.E. V Professional Diver), Triathlon, Long Distance Running (www.eastcornwallharriers.com),