- A529 Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584772
- M.Stokes@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Dr Martin Stokes
Associate Head of School - Graduate Outcomes
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
Qualifications
Overview:
I am an Earth scientist with published research interests in international scientific journals (e.g. Geomorphology, Geological Society of London, Geological Society of America, Nature Comms., Quaternary Research) examining fluvial/coastal/tectonic geomorphology, sedimentology and long-term landscape development in the UK, Western Mediterranean, North Africa and the USA.
Employment / education:
- 2019 - associate head - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
- 2019 - editor in Chief: Geomorphology (Elsevier)
- 2017 - senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- 2010 - current: Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Geological Sciences
- 2006 - visiting researcher Calpoly San Luis Obispo / UCSB Rancho Marino Reserve (California, USA)
- 1997-2010 Lecturer in Geological Sciences
- 1997 PhD Physical Geography, University of Plymouth
- 1992 BSc (Hons) Physical Geology and Geomorphology, University of Liverpool (First Class)
Professional membership
Professional membership of:
- British Society for Geomorphology (BSG)
- Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS)
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS)
- British Sedimentological Research Group (BSRG)
- International Quaternary Association (INQUA)
- Fluvial Archives Group (FLAG) - a research group of the Quaternary Research Association (QRA) Quaternary Research Association (QRA)
- International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS)
- Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Roles on external bodies
- Past editorial board member for the Elsevier journal 'Geomorphology'.
- Former member of the Engineering Group of the Geological Society of London working party on 'Hot Deserts': (Walker, 2012).
- NERC Peer Review College Member 2008-ongoing - grant reviewing, grant panel member, services review group member.
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Current teaching areas / interests:
- Fieldwork (UK, Europe, North Africa, North America)
- Geomorphology
- Sedimentology
- Remote Sensing
- Professional Skills / employability
Module leader:
- APIE 217 and 316 Earth Science Placements
- GEOL2007 Long Term Landscape Development
Teaching / administrative roles and responsibilities:
- Stage 4 Professional Skills delivery (PDP / employability)
- Earth Sciences employability lead
Staff serving as external examiners
External examiner: Brighton University undergraduate Earth Science programmes - 2015-2019
External advisor for approval / re-approval / validation of undergraduate Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences and Science access courses, e.g. Liverpool John Moores University (2009).
Research
Research
Research interests
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 (UK, SE Spain, Morocco)
- Alluvial fans in mountain front and confined valley settings (USA, SE Spain, Morocco)
- Alluvial fans as indicators of volcanic island denudation (Cape Verde)
- River gorge development (transverse drainage) (Iberia, Morocco)
- Bedrock meander belt development (Morocco)
- Chronologies of Late Cenozoic landscape development using OSL and cosmogenic exposure dating (Iberia, Morocco, Cape Verde)
Research groups
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
- Xiaohong Zhao 2017. Holocene palaeohydrology of the Yongding River, China. Beijing Normal University. (co-supervisor)
- Martin Geach 2015. River capture and landscape development, Tabernas Basin, SE Spain. PhD University of Plymouth.
- Waleed Hamed 2015. Geomorphology of the Western desert, Iraq. PhD University of Plymouth.
- Samantha Ilott 2013.Cosmogenic dating of fluvial terraces in the Sorbas Basin, SE Spain. PhD University of Plymouth.
- Alfandi, E. 2012. Early Mesozoic stratigraphy, sedimentology and structure of the Gharian area, north-western Libya. PhD University of Plymouth.
- 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.
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
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2023) 'Analyzing drainage basin orientation and its relationship to active fold growth (Handun anticline, Zagros, Iran)' Geomorphology 426, , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Key factor(s) triggering erosion in a semi-arid environment (Western High Atlas of Morocco)' Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 9, (1) 735-747 , DOI
(2022) 'Constraining a model of punctuated river incision for Quaternary strath terrace formation' Geomorphology 414, , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Post-rift geomorphological evolution of a passive continental margin (Paraíba region, northeastern Brazil): Insights from river profile and drainage divide analysis' Geomorphology 414, , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Adaptation of the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) to soil loss modeling in a semi-arid watershed: a case study from western high atlas, Morocco' Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 8, (4) 4775-4792 , DOI Open access
(2021) '30-year record of Himalaya mass-wasting reveals landscape perturbations by extreme events' Nature Communications 12, (1) , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Temporal Variations in Landslide Distributions Following Extreme Events: Implications for Landslide Susceptibility Modeling' Journal of geophysical research. Earth surface 126, (7) , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Soil erosion assessment in a semi-arid environment: a case study from the Argana Corridor, Morocco' Environmental Earth Sciences 79, (18) , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Alluvial fans on volcanic islands: A morphometric perspective (São Vicente, Cape Verde)' Geomorphology 107356-107356 , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Rock strength and structural controls on fluvial erodibility: Implications for drainage divide mobility in a collisional mountain belt' Earth and Planetary Science Letters 538, 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Coseismic and monsoon-triggered landslide impacts on remote trekking infrastructure, Langtang Valley, Nepal' Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 159-166 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Mechanisms and age estimates of continental-scale endorheic to exorheic drainage transition: Douro River, Western Iberia' Global and Planetary Change 181, 102985-102985 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Anatomy, Age and Origin of an Intramontane Top Basin Surface (Sorbas Basin, Betic Cordillera, SE Spain)' Quaternary , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Automated mapping of relict patterned ground: An approach to evaluate morphologically subdued landforms using unmanned-aerialvehicle and structure-from-motion technologies' Progress in Physical Geography , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Which DEM is best for analysing fluvial landscape development in mountainous terrains?' Geomorphology 310, 168-168 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Controls on dryland mountain landscape development along the NW Saharan desert margin: Insights from Quaternary river terrace sequences (Dadès River, south-central High Atlas, Morocco)' Quaternary Science Reviews , DOI Open access
(2017) 'The application of geomorphic indices in terrain analysis for ground engineering practice' Engineering Geology , DOI Open access
(2016) 'New data on the chronology of the Vale do Forno sedimentary sequence (Lower Tejo River terrace staircase) and its relevance as a fluvial archive of the Middle Pleistocene in western Iberia' Quaternary Science Reviews , DOI Open access
(2016) 'River terraces and alluvial fans: The case for an integrated Quaternary fluvial archive' Quaternary Science Reviews 166, 74-90 , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Tectonic and lithological controls on fluvial landscape development in Central-Eastern Portugal: Insights from long profile tributary stream analyses' Geomorphology , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Extracting palaeoflood data from coarse-grained Pleistocene river terrace archives: an example from SE Spain' Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 41, (13) 1991-2004 , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Ten years on: what can Google Earth offer the Geoscience community?' Geology Today 31, (6) 216-221
(2015) 'Controls on modern tributary-junction alluvial fan occurrence and morphology: High Atlas Mountains, Morocco' Geomorphology , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Exceptional river gorge formation from unexceptional floods' Nature Communications 6, (0) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Single-grain and multi-grain OSL dating of river terrace sediments in the Tabernas Basin, SE Spain' Quaternary Geochronology Publisher Site , DOI Open access
(2015) 'An integrated field and numerical modelling study of controls on Late Quaternary fluvial landscape development (Tabernas, SE Spain)' Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Publisher Site , DOI
(2015) 'Mapping landslides at different scales' Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 48, (1) 29-40 , DOI
(2014) 'Transient fluvial incision as an indicator of active faulting and Plio-Quaternary uplift of the Moroccan High Atlas' Tectonophysics 633, 16-33 , DOI Open access
(2014) 'The application of geospatial interpolation methods in the reconstruction of Quaternary landform records' Geomorphology 216, 234-246 , DOI
(2014) 'Initial paleohydrological observations from the Paleocene-Eocene boundary at Esplugafreda and Berganuy in northern Spain' Rendiconti online della Società Geologica Italiana 31, 54-55 , DOI
(2014) 'Using river long profiles and geomorphic indices to evaluate the geomorphological signature of continental scale drainage capture, Duero basin (NW Iberia)' Geomorphology 206, 250-261 , DOI
(2012) 'Landscape evolution and engineering geology: results from IAEG Commission 22' BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 71, (4) 605-636 , DOI
(2012) 'Techniques for analysing Late Cenozoic river terrace sequences' GEOMORPHOLOGY 165, 1-6 , DOI
(2012) 'Palaeoflood estimates of Pleistocene coarse grained river terrace landforms (Rio Almanzora, SE Spain)' Geomorphology 149-150, 11-26 , DOI
(2012) 'Hazards and the desert ground model' Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 25, 97-142 , DOI
(2012) 'Processes and landforms in deserts' Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 25, 33-95 , DOI
(2012) 'Soil and rock description characteristics' Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication 25, 143-157 , DOI
(2011) 'Research resource review' Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment 35, (2) 267-269 , DOI
(2010) 'Field mapping and GIS visualisation of Quaternary river terrace landforms: an example from the Rio Almanzora, SE Spain' JOURNAL OF MAPS 6, (1) 531-542 , DOI
(2010) 'K-feldspar IRSL dating of a Pleistocene river terrace staircase sequence of the Lower Tejo River (Portugal, western Iberia)' QUATERNARY GEOCHRONOLOGY 5, (2-3) 176-180 , DOI
(2010) 'Field mapping and GIS visualisation of Quaternary river terrace landforms: an example from the Río Almanzora, SE Spain' Journal of Maps 6, (1) 531-542 , DOI
(2009) 'Late Quaternary landscape development along the Rancho Marino coastal range front (south-central Pacific Coast Ranges, California, USA)' JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE 24, (7) 728-746 , DOI
(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, (1) 2-20 , DOI
(2008) 'Generation, transport and preservation of armoured mudballs in an ephemeral gully system' GEOMORPHOLOGY 100, (1-2) 104-119 , DOI
(2008) 'Plio-Pleistocene drainage development in an inverted sedimentary basin: Vera basin, Betic Cordillera, SE Spain' GEOMORPHOLOGY 100, (1-2) 193-211 , DOI
(2008) 'Engineering geomorphological input to ground models: an approach based on Earth systems' QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY 41, 73-91 , DOI
(2007) 'Calcrete 'fossilisation' of alluvial fans in SE Spain: The roles of groundwater, pedogenic processes and fan dynamics in calcrete development' Geomorphology 85, (1-2) 63-84
(2006) 'Late Pleistocene highstand and recession of a small, high-altitude pluvial lake, Jakes Valley, central Great Basin, USA' Quaternary Research 65, (1) 179-186
(2005) 'Assessment of some spatial and temporal issues in landslide initiation within the Rio Aguas Catchment, South-East Spain' Landslides 2, (3) 183-192
(2003) '‘Anatomy’ of a fossil landslide from the Pleistocene of SE Spain' Geomorphology 50, 135-149
(2003) 'Anatomy of a 'fossil' landslide from the Pleistocene of SE Spain' Geomorphology 50, (1-3) 135-149
(2003) 'Long-term landscape development in southern Spain' Geomorphology 50, (1-3) 1-2
(2003) 'Tectonic origin and evolution of a transverse drainage: the Rio Almanzora, Betic Cordillera, Southeast Spain' Geomorphology 50, (1-3) 59-81
(2002) 'Quaternary landscape evolution: A framework for understanding contemporary erosion, southeast Spain' Land Degradation & Development 13, (2) 89-109
(2000) 'Quantifying long-term catchment changes of alluvial fan systems' GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN 112, (12) 1825-1833 , DOI
(2000) 'Response of Plio-Pleistocene alluvial systems to tectonically induced base-level changes, Vera Basin, SE Spain' JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 157, 303-316 , DOI
(2000) 'Quantifying long-term catchment changes of alluvial fan systems' Bulletin of the Geological Society of America 112, (12) 1825-1833 , DOI
(1999) 'The impact of Quaternary sea-level and climatic change on coastal alluvial fans in the Cabo de Gata ranges, southeast Spain' GEOMORPHOLOGY 28, (1-2) 1-22 , DOI
Books
(2005) Alluvial fans: Geomorphology, Sedimentology, Dynamics. Geological Society, London
Chapters
(2018) 'Desert Environments' Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series Springer International Publishing 211-213 , DOI
(2017) 'Desert Environments' Selective Neck Dissection for Oral Cancer Springer International Publishing 1-2 , DOI
(2017) 'Bedrock structural control on catchment scale connectivity and alluvial fan processes, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco' in Ventra D; Clarke LE Geology and Geomorphology of Alluvial and Fluvial Fans: Terrestrial
and Planetary Perspectives The Geological Society of London , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Spatial characteristics of the Pliocene to modern alluvial fan successions in the uplifted sedimentary basins of Almería, SE Spain: review and regional synthesis' Geological Society of London 65-77 , DOI
(2014) 'The Late Neogene to Quaternary Drainage Evolution of the Uplifted Neogene Sedimentary Basins of Almería, Betic Chain' in Gutiérrez F; Gutiérrez M Landscapes and Landforms of Spain Springer 37-61 Publisher Site , DOI
(2009) 'Marine to Continental Transition' A Field Guide to the Neogene Sedimentary Basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 186-224 , DOI
(2009) 'The Development of the Neogene Basins' A Field Guide to the Neogene Sedimentary Basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 29-133 , DOI
(2009) 'Uplift, Dissection and Landform Evolution: The Quaternary' A Field Guide to the Neogene Sedimentary Basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 225-322 , DOI
(2005) 'A review of alluvial fan research' in Harvey AM; Mather AE; Stokes M Alluvial Fans: Geomorphology, Sedimentology, Dynamics Geological Society Special Publication 251, London 1-8
(2002) 'Quantification of river-capture-induced base-level changes and landscape development, Sorbas Basin, SE Spain' Sediment Flux to Basins: Causes, Control and Consequences Geological Society Special Publications 23-35
(2001) 'Marine to Continental Transition' A Field Guide to the Neogene Sedimentary Basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain 186-224 , DOI
(2001) 'The Development of the Neogene Basins' A Field Guide to the Neogene Sedimentary Basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain 29-133 , DOI
(2001) 'Uplift, Dissection and Landform Evolution: The Quaternary' A Field Guide to the Neogene Sedimentary Basins of the Almería Province, SE Spain 225-322 , DOI
(2001) 'Late Pliocene Gilbert-type fan-deltas of the Vera Basin' in Mather AE; Harvey AM; Martin JM; Braga JC A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology of the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almeria Province, SE Spain 189-200
(2001) 'Plio-Pleistocene alluvial environments of the Sorbas and Vera Basins' in Mather AE; Harvey AM; Martin JM; Braga JC A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology if the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almeria Province, SE Spain 212-224
(2001) 'Plio-Pleistocene alluvial environments of the Sorbas and Vera Basins' in MATHER A; HARVEY A; MARTíN JM; BRAGA J 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 Blackwell Scientific 212-224
(2001) 'Plio-Pleistocene regional deformation' in Mather AE; Harvey AM; Martin JM; Braga JC A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology of the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almeria Province, SE Spain 115-126
(2001) 'The landforms of the coastal zone' in Mather AE; Harvey AM; Martin JM; Braga JC A Field Guide to the Geology and Geomorphology of the Neogene sedimentary basins of the Almeria Province, SE Spain Blackwell Scientific 303-322
Conference Papers
(2018) 'Catchment changes in response to tectonics and climate: using river terraces and DEM data in the southern High Atlas Mountains (Morocco)' WGSG 2018 4th Meeting of the Working Group on Sediment Generation, Dublin Open access
(2016) 'When did the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains get high? Constraints on neo- and active tectonics from fluvial geomorphology and palaeoaltimetry' 7th International INQUA Meeting on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archeoseismology Crestone, CO 81131 USA 5-/-0/20166-/-0/2016, DOI Open access
(2005) 'Alluvial fans: geomorphology, sedimentology, dynamics — introduction. A review of alluvial-fan research' Geological Society of London 1-7 , DOI
(2004) 'Construction design data provided by the investigation of geomorphological processes and landforms' in Jardine RJ; Potts DM; Higgins KG Advances in Geotechnical Engineering: the Skempton Conference, Thomas Telford, London 1292-1303
(1999) 'Small-scale mass movement failures in Early to Mid Pleistocene fluvial deposits in the Vera Basin, South-east Spain' 9th International Conference and Field Trip on Landslides Bristol, England 9-/-0/19999-/-0/1999137-145
Presentations and posters
'Chronology for mountainous river terraces: OSL/IRSL and rock dating techniques applied to carbonate-rich terraces in the Atlas Mountains' Open access
'Fluvial archives of NW African climate and tectonic evolution, Atlas Mountains, central Morocco' Open access
'Palaeo river long profile reconstruction in a fold-and-thrust belt: river terraces as archives of Quaternary incision and aggradation in the Atlas Mountains' Open access
Other Publications
Geomorphic markers of Quaternary tectonics in Westernmost Iberia: insights from the Lower Mondego River terraces (central Portugal). , DOI
Marine terrace staircases of western Iberia: uplift rate patterns from rocky limestone coasts of central Portugal (Cape Espichel and Raso). , DOI
Patterns and controls on fluvial incision in the lower Douro River (Western Iberia) following endorheic-exorheic drainage reorganization. , DOI
Salt dome morphology: a quantitative analysis of diapiric process-based classification schemes. , DOI
Personal
Personal
Conferences organised