Martin Stokes

Teaching interests

 

Current teaching areas / interests:

• Fieldwork (Stage 1 SW England, Stage 2 SE Spain, Stage 3/4 Morocco, Sicily)
• Geomorphology (EAR218)
• Sedimentology (EAR112, EAR212 )
• Remote Sensing (EAR114)
• Professional Skills (EAR310, EAR319)
• Terrain Evaluation (EAR514)

 Module leader:

• EAR216 / 217 Fieldwork, Techniques and Skills
• EAR218 Long Term Landscape Development
• EAR514 Terrain Evaluation

 

 Teaching / Administrative Roles & Responsibilities:

• Stage 3 Professional Skills delivery (PDP / employability)
• Earth Sciences scheme manager / co-ordinator

 

Research interests

 

Research Group:  Centre for Research in Earth Sciences

http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/esc

General interests include the sedimentology and geomorphology of Late Cenozoic alluvial fans, bedrock river systems, fluvial terrace sequences and Late Quaternary shore platforms / marine terraces. Research in these areas typically involves the analysis of key controlling mechanisms (tectonics, climate, eustacy) and quantifying rates of change using radiometric dating techniques.

Current Research Projects / Themes:    

• Landsliding in SW England (funded by NERC / British Geological Survey)
• Alluvial fan and pluvial lake response to tectonic and climatic base-level changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, Nevada, USA.(funded by NERC, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Geological Society of London, British Geomorphological Research Group)
• River gorge (transverse drainage) and bedrock meander belt development in the High Atlas fold-thrust belt, Morocco (funded by National Geographic, the Royal Geographical Society, Quaternary Research Association, National Geographic)
• Chronologies of Late Cenozoic fluvial incision and river capture events  in the Almeria of SE Spain using cosmogenic exposure dating and OSL age determinations (funded by NERC) 
• Late Cenozoic drainage evolution of the River Tejo, Portugal (funded by the Portuguese government)
• Controls on Late Quaternary coastal range front sedimentation and erosion, Southern Coast Ranges, California, USA (funded by British Geomorphological Research Group)
• Geology and geomorphology of the Jbel Nafusah region, Libya (funded by the Libyan government)
• Cosmogenic exposure dating of fluvial terraces (funded by NERC, National Geographic)
• Geomorphology of the Western desert, Iraq (funded by Iraqi government)

 

 

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

• Alfandi, E. 2012. Early Mesozoic stratigraphy, sedimentology and structure of the Gharian area, north-western Libya.
• Meikle, C. 2009. Late Pleistocene Drainage Evolution of the Rio Almanzora, SE Spain. NERC PhD, University of Newcastle. (co-supervisor)
• Foster, C. 2007. The distribution, nature and causes of landsliding in Devon & Cornwall. PhD University of Plymouth.
• Sharples, M. 2005. Testing the isotope signal from fossil Crassostrea longirostris oysters as a palaeoclimate reconstruction tool. MSc University of Plymouth.
• Hannant, K.P. 2003. Pliocene mangroves in Southeast Spain: Fossil Evidence and Palaeoclimatic Implications. MRes, University of Plymouth.
• Coventry, K.A. 2003. Specification development for the use of Devon cob in earthen construction. PhD, University of Plymouth.

Current students

• Samantha Ilott - Quantifying river capture related fluvial incision and landsliding using insitu cosmogenic exposure dating. University of Plymouth. NERC funded studentship.
• Martin Geach - River capture and landscape development, Tabernas Basin, SE Spain. University of Plymouth funded studentship.
• Waleed Hamed - Geomorphology of the Western desert, Iraq. University of Plymouth. Iraqi Government Funded Studentship.

 

Grants & contracts

 

Research Funding from: 

• NERC
• British Geological Survey (NERC)
• Royal Society
• National Geographic
• British Council
• Royal Geographical Society
• Quaternary Research Association
• British Geomorphological Research Group
• Geological Society of London
• Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) University of Plymouth
• Portuguese government (funding as an international expert)
• National Geographic

Recent funding successes as principal investigator:

• 2009 - $18,740 - National Geographic: "Patterns and rates of uplift driven fluvial incision within the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains of NW Africa"
• 2009 - €2,500 - British Council Treaty of Windsor Programme: "Patterns, timing and mechanisms of landscape development along the Portuguese Atlantic margin: insights from cosmogenic exposure dating of river terrace landforms in the Mondego River Basin"
• 2007 - £43,000 - NERC: "Quantifying river capture related fluvial incision and landsliding using in situ cosmogenic exposure dating"

 

 

Publications

 

Peer Review Articles (Chronological) 

STOKES, M., Cunha, P.P., Martins, A.A. 2012. Techniques for analysing Late Cenozoic river terrace sequences. Geomorphology. doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.03.022

STOKES, M., GRIFFITHS, J.S., MATHER, A.E. 2012. Palaeoflood estimates of Pleistocene coarse grained river terrace landforms (Río Almanzora, SE Spain). Geomorphology 149-150, 11-26.

GRIFFITHS, J.S., GOUDIE, A.S., STOKES, M., FOOKES, P.G. 2012. Processes and Landforms in Deserts. In: WALKER, M. (ed) Hot Deserts: Engineering, Geology and Geomorphology. Geological Society Engineering Geology Special Publication 25, 33-95.

GRIFFITHS, J.S., STOKES, M. 2012. Hazards and the Desert Ground Model. In: WALKER, M. (ed) Hot Deserts: Engineering, Geology and Geomorphology. Geological Society Engineering Geology Special Publication 25, 97-140.

STOKES, M., GRIFFITHS, J.S., CHARMAN, J.H., EPPS, R.J. 2012. Soil and Rock Description and Characteristics. In: WALKER, M. (ed) Hot Deserts: Engineering, Geology and Geomorphology. Geological Society Engineering Geology Special Publication 25, 143-157.

MEIKLE, C.D., STOKES, M., MADDY, D. 2010. Field mapping and GIS visualisation of Quaternary river terrace landforms: an example from the Rio Almanzora, SE Spain. Journal of Maps, v2010, 531-542. 10.4113/jom.2010.1100.

MARTINS, A., CUNHA, P.P., BUYLAERT, J-P., HUOT, S., MURRAY, A.S., STOKES, M. 2010. K-Feldspar IRSL dating of a Pleistocene river terrace staircase sequence of the Lower Tejo River in Portugal (western Iberia). Quaternary Geochronology 5, 176-180. 

STOKES, M., GARCIA, A.F. 2009. Late Quaternary landscape development along the Rancho Marino coastal range front (south-central Pacific Coast Ranges, California, USA). Journal of Quaternary Science 24, 728-746. 

STOKES, M., MATHER, A.E., BELFOUL, A., FARIK, F. 2008. Active and passive tectonic controls for transverse drainage and river gorge development  in a collisional mountain belt (Dades Gorges, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco). Geomorphology 102, 2-20.

STOKES, M. 2008. Plio-Pleistocene drainage evolution in an inverted sedimentary basin: Vera Basin, Betic Cordillera, SE Spain. Geomorphology 100, 191-211.

MATHER, A.E., STOKES, M., PIRRIE, D., HARTLEY, R. 2008. Generation, transport and preservation of armoured mudballs in an ephemeral gully system. Geomorphology 100, 104-119. 

GRIFFITHS, J.S. & STOKES, M. 2008. Geomorphological input to engineering ground models: an approach based on earth systems. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 41, 73-91.

STOKES, M., NASH, D. & HARVEY, A.M. 2007. Calcrete ‘fossilisation’ of alluvial fans in SE Spain: groundwater vs pedogenic processes for calcrete development. Geomorphology, 85, 63-84.

GARCIA, A.F. & STOKES, M. 2006. Late Pleistocene highstand and recession of a small, high-altitude pluvial lake, Jakes Valley, central Great Basin, USA. Quaternary Research, 65, 179-186. 

GRIFFITHS, J S, HART, A B, MATHER, A.E, & STOKES, M. 2005. Assessment of some spatial and temporal issues in landslide initiation within the Rio Aguas catchment, Southeast Spain. Landslides, 2, 183-192.

STOKES, M. & MATHER, A.E. 2003. Tectonic origin and evolution of a transverse drainage: the Rio Almanzora, Betic Cordillera, SE Spain. Geomorphology, 50, 59-81.

MATHER, A.E., GRIFFITHS, J.S. & STOKES, M. 2003. Anatomy of a fossil landslide from the Pleistocene of SE Spain. Geomorphology, 50, 135-150.

MATHER, A.E., STOKES, M. & GRIFFITHS, J.S. 2002. Quaternary landscape evolution: a framework for understanding contemporary erosion, SE Spain. Land Degradation and Development. 13, 1-21.

STOKES, M., A.E. MATHER & A.M. HARVEY. 2002. Quantification of river capture induced base-level changes and landscape development, Sorbas Basin, SE Spain. In: JONES, S.J. & FROSTICK, L.E. (eds) Sediment Flux to Basins: Causes, Controls and Consequences. Geological Society, London Special Publication, 191, 23-35. 

MATHER, A.E., HARVEY, A.M. & STOKES, M. 2000. Quantifying long-term catchment changes of alluvial fan systems. Geological Society of America, Bulletin. 112, 1825-1833.

STOKES, M. & MATHER, A.E. 2000. Response of Plio-Pleistocene alluvial systems to tectonically induced base-level changes, Vera Basin, SE Spain. Geological Society of London. 157, 303-316.

HARVEY, A.M., GOY, J.G., MATHER, A.E., SILVA, P., STOKES, M. & ZAZO, C. 1999. Impact of Quaternary sea-level and climate change on coastal alluvial fans in the Cabo de Gata ranges, SE Spain. Geomorphology, 28, 1-22.


Edited Books

HARVEY, A.M., MATHER, A.E. & STOKES, M. 2006. Alluvial fans. Geological Society, London  Special Publication. 251. 

GRIFFITHS, J.S., STOKES, M. & THOMAS, R (Eds) (1999). Landslides. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference and Field Trip on Landslides. Balkema.

MATHER, A.E. & STOKES, M. (Eds) (1999) BSRG/BGRG SE Spain Field Meeting Guide Book. University of Plymouth, England. 178pp.

MATHER, A.E. & STOKES, M. (Eds) (1996) 2nd Cortijo Urra Field Meeting, SE Spain: Field Guide. University of Plymouth. England.  

Chapters in Edited Books

HARVEY, A.M., MATHER, A.E. & STOKES, M. 2006. Alluvial fans: geomorphology, sedimentology, dynamics - introduction. A review of alluvial fan research. In: HARVEY, A.M., MATHER, A.E. & STOKES, M. (Eds) Alluvial fans. Geological Society, London  Special Publication 251, 1-7.

STOKES, M. 2001. Late Pliocene Gilbert-type fan-deltas of the Vera Basin. In: MATHER, A.E., HARVEY, A.M. MARTíN, J.M. & BRAGA, J.C. (Eds) A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology of the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain. International Association of Sedimentologists Fieldguide Series, 1. 189-200. Blackwell Scientific.

HARVEY, A.M., STOKES, M. & MATHER, A.E. 2001. The landforms of the coastal zone. In: MATHER, A.E., HARVEY, A.M. MARTíN, J.M. & BRAGA, J.C. (Eds) A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology of the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain. International Association of Sedimentologists Fieldguide Series, 1. 303-322. Blackwell Scientific.

MATHER, A.E. & STOKES, M. 2001. Plio-Pleistocene alluvial environments of the Sorbas and Vera Basins: In: MATHER, A.E., HARVEY, A.M. MARTíN, J.M. & BRAGA, J.C. (Eds) A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology of the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain. International Association of Sedimentologists Fieldguide Series, 1. 212-224. Blackwell Scientific.

MATHER, A.E. & STOKES, M. 2001. Plio-Pleistocene regional deformation. In: MATHER, A.E., HARVEY, A.M. MARTíN, J.M. & BRAGA, J.C. (Eds) A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology of the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain. IAS Fieldguide Series, 1. 115-126. Blackwell Scientific.

Contributions to published conference proceedings

GRIFFITHS, J. S., MATHER, A. E., STOKES, M. 2004. Construction design data provided by the investigation of geomorphological processes and landforms. in: Jardine, R.J. & Higgins, K.G. (eds) Advances in geotechnical engineering: The Skempton Conference. Thomas Telford. Vol.2, 1292-1303.

Miscellaneous contributions to:

BRAGA, J.C. (Ed) 2003. Geology of the arid zone of Almeria, South East Spain.Southern State Water Company and Environmental Agency of the Andalucia Province Council Publication. ISBN: 84-933537-0-1.

 

Reports & invited lectures

 

• Tectonic controls for transverse drainage and river gorge development. Geological Society of Hong Kong, January 2007.
• Active and passive tectonic controls for the creation of transverse drainage: an example from the Dades Gorge of the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Invited talk, University of Liverpool, June 2005.
• Tectonics and landscape development in SE Spain. California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo, USA. February 2002.

 

Conferences organised

FLAG 2010, Portugal - co-convenor

7th International Association of Geomorphologists meeting, Melbourne, Australia, July 2009 - session chair

Alluvial Fans 2007, Banff, Canada - session chair.

BSRG Continental session chair, Aberdeen, Dec 2007.

Alluvial Fans 2003 – Co-convernor of a BSRG/BGRG meeting on alluvial fans held in

SE Spain .

7th International Fluvial Sedimentology Meeting, Nebraska USA, 2001 – Co-convenor of a symposia entitled “'Tectonically induced rates of change in alluvial systems”.

British Sedimentary Research Group 2001 – Co-convenor of the Annual General Meeting in Plymouth. 

BSRG/BGRG SE SpainField Meeting, Sept 1999 – Co-convenor

BSRG/BGRG SE Spain Field Meeting, Sept 1996 – Co-convenor

 

 

Other academic activities

 

 

Additional information

 

Journal Peer Reviews

I have reviewed articles for the following International journals:

Geology, Geological Magazine, Geological Society of London, Geomorphology ,The Holocene,  International Journal of Earth Sciences, Journal of Sedimentary Research (SEPM), Land Degradation, Proceedings of the Geologists Association, Quaternary Research, Quaternary Science Reviews, Sedimentary Geology, Sedimentology.

Grant refereeing
 

• Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund
• Swiss National Science Foundation
• NERC (Small, Standard, Partnership, New Investigators, Services Review Group)
• NSF (National Science Funding for USA)

 

Links

SEOES web site