Dr Tim O'Hare
Profiles

Dr Tim O'Hare

Deputy Head of School

School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Biography

Biography

Associate Professor in Ocean Science

Qualifications

Certificate of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, University of Plymouth [1993-1994].
PhD: Sand Bar Evolution Beneath Partially-Standing Waves: Laboratory Experiments and Model Simulations, School of Ocean Science, University of Wales, Bangor [1988-1992]. 
MSc (Distinction): Physical Oceanography, School of Ocean Science, University of Wales, Bangor [1987-1989]. 
MA (Hons): Physics, University of Oxford [1984-1987]. 2017 -: Deputy Head, School of Biological and Marine Sciences
2017 -: Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer), School of Biological and Marine Sciences
2015 - 2016: Associate Head (Teaching and Learning), School of Marine Science and Engineering
2010 - 2016: Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Ocean Science, School of Marine Science and Engineering
2009 - 2010: Acting Deputy Head (Marine Sciences), School of Marine Science and Engineering
2009 - 2010: Senior Lecturer in Ocean Science, School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth
2006 - 2009: Associate Head (Teaching and Learning), School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
2006 - 2007: Associate Head, School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
2006 - 2009: Senior Lecturer in Ocean Science, School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
2003 - 2006: Principal Lecturer in Ocean Science, School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth 
1997 - 2003: Principal Lecturer in Ocean Science, Institute of Marine Studies, University of Plymouth. 
1997 - 2000: Director of Undergraduate Programmes, Institute of Marine Studies, University of Plymouth
1994 - 1997: Senior Lecturer in Ocean Science, Institute of Marine Studies, University of Plymouth
1993 - 1994: Lecturer in Ocean Science, Institute of Marine Studies, University of Plymouth
1992 - 1993: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor and Institute of Marine Studies, University of Plymouth, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council
1988 - 1992: PhD student, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council
1987 - 1989: MSc student (Physical Oceanography), School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council
1984 - 1987: Undergraduate student (Physics), Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford

Professional membership

Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society(FRMetS)
Member of the Institute of Physicswith Chartered Physicist status (MInstP CPhys)

Roles on external bodies

Elected Member of the Council of the Challenger Society for Marine Science (September 2007 - September 2010).
Editor of Challenger Wave - newsletter of the Challenger Society for Marine Science (September 2008 - September 2010). 
Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

My teaching is focused mainly on introductory physical oceanography and meteorology. Over the years I have also taught a wide variety of other subjects including aspects of atmospheric modelling, fluid statics and dynamics, underwater acoustics, personal development, use of information technology and Visual Basic programming. I am currently Module Leader for two modules - OS102: Physical and Chemical Processes of the Ocean (Stage 1/Level 4), OS208: Meteorology (Stage 2/Level 5).My teaching has been recognised by students via the University of Plymouth Students' Union led Student and Staff Teaching and Representation (SSTAR) Awards as follows:
2011: won the 'Most Innovative Use of Teaching Methods' Award
2012: nominated for the 'Most Inspirational Teaching' Award, short-listed for the 'Most Useful Feedback' Award,
2014: nominated for the 'Innovative Use of Teaching Methods' Award and the 'Inspirational Teaching' Award
2017: nominated for the 'Innovative Use of Teaching Methods' Award and the 'Inspirational Teaching' Award
2020: won the 'Creative Teaching' Award
Between June 2015 and December 2016 I was Associate Head (Teaching and Learning) for the School of Marine Science and Engineering and had responsibility for overseeing the operation and quality assurance of all taught programmes deliver by the School.
In 2013-14 I made a significant contribution to the Approval of a revised suite of Marine Science degree programmes, writing the Approval Document.
In 2012-2013 I successfully led the Marine Science Subject Group through an internal Periodic Review of its programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Between January 2010 and December 2013 I was Scheme Manager and Admissions Tutor for the Marine Sciences Degree Scheme (B.Sc. Ocean Exploration and B.Sc. Ocean Science) overseeing all aspects of the management and operation of these programmes.
During the period 2006-2009 I was Associate Head (Teaching and Learning) for the School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences and had responsibility for overseeing the operation and quality assurance of all taught programmes deliver by the School. This included successfully leading the School through an internal Periodic Review of its entire suite of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2007-2008.
Previously, I have acted as Marine Sciences Scheme Manager (2006), Programme Leader for the BSc Ocean Science (2004-2005), Subject Tutor for the same programme (1995-1997) and was Director of Undergraduate Programmes in the Institute of Marine Studies (1997-2000). The latter role involved managing the Marine Studies Modular Degree Scheme taken by around 650 students each year and included leading the re-writing and re-validation of the entire degree scheme (1997-1998). 

Staff serving as external examiners

MSc Applied Physical Oceanography, School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor [2005-2009]
Research

Research

Research interests

My research has been focused primarily on developing simplified models of the behaviour of coastal morphodynamical systems. Examples of such systems that I have studied include sand ripples, beach cuspsand systems of offshore (surf zone) sand bars. Although complex behaviour is commonly observed in such systems, relatively simple descriptions of the underlying physics of key processes can be sufficient to capture the critical components of the behaviour of the system, provided that feedback between evolving morphological features and key processes is incorporated. My personal interest is primarily, though not exclusively, in developing models that challenge or elucidate our understanding of the behaviour of these systems, rather than the development of quantitative models with predictive capability.

Research groups

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Bergsma, EWJ., 2016Al Mehrezi, A., 2016, Local Meteorology and its Effect on Electromagnetic Wave Propagation over the Southern Coast of the Arabian Gulf
Tinker, J., 2009, Measuring and modelling of cross-shore sediment transport and profile evolution on natural beaches
Marino-Tapia, I., 2003, Cross-shore sediment transport processes on natural beaches and their relation to sand bar migration patterns
Saulter, A.N., 2000, Analysis of infragravity frequency sediment transport on macrotidal beaches
Coco, G., 1999, Mechanisms for the formation of rhythmic topography in the nearshore region

Grants & contracts

O'Hare, T.J., and Pannell, M.A., The Marine Sciences Forum, £3,000, University of Plymouth Teaching Fellowship Award [2006-2007]
Russell, P.E., Masselink, G., and O'Hare, T.J., Cross-shore sediment transport and profile evolution on natural beaches (X-SHORE), £199,955, Natural Environment Research Council. [2004-2007].
O'Hare, T.J., and Huntley, D.A., Human Interaction with Large Scale Coastal Morphological Evolution (HUMOR), £73,900, European Commission. [2001-2004]. 
Huntley, D.A., Bird, P.A, and O'Hare, T.J., Surf and Swash Zone Mechanics (SASME), £93,000, European Commission. [1997-2000].
Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Bergsma E, Conley DC, Davidson MA, O'Hare TJ & Almar R (2019) 'Storm event to seasonal evolution of nearshore bathymetry derived from shore-based video imagery' Remote Sensing , DOI Open access
Scott T, Masselink G, O'Hare T, Saulter A, Poate T, Russell P, Davidson M & Conley D (2016) 'The extreme 2013/2014 winter storms: Beach recovery along the southwest coast of England' Marine Geology 382, 224-241 , DOI Open access
Bergsma EWJ, Conley DC, Davidson MA & O'Hare TJ (2016) 'Video-based nearshore bathymetry estimation in macro-tidal environments' MARINE GEOLOGY 374, 31-41 Author Site , DOI Open access
Conley D, Masselink G, Russell P & O'Hare T (2013) 'PROCEEDINGS OF THE 12TH INTERNATIONAL COASTAL SYMPOSIUM ICS2013 PLYMOUTH DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM 9th TO 12th APRIL 2013 Volume I PREFACE' JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH XIII-XIII
Tinker J, O'Hare T, Masselink G, Butt T & Russell P (2009) 'A cross-shore suspended sediment transport shape function parameterisation for natural beaches' CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH 29, (16) 1948-1960 , DOI
Butt T, Tinker J, Masselink G, O'Hare T & Russell P (2009) 'Field Observations of Sediment Fluxes in the Inner-Surf and Swash Zones' JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH 25, (4) 991-1001 , DOI
Austin M, Masselink G, O'Hare T & Russell P (2009) 'Onshore sediment transport on a sandy beach under varied wave conditions: Flow velocity skewness, wave asymmetry or bed ventilation?' MARINE GEOLOGY 259, (1-4) 86-101 , DOI
Masselink G, Austin M, Tinker J, O'Hare T & Russell P (2008) 'Cross-shore sediment transport and morphological response on a macrotidal beach with intertidal bar morphology, Truc Vert, France' MARINE GEOLOGY 251, (3-4) 141-155 , DOI
Davidson MA, O'Hare TJ & George KJ (2008) 'Tidal modulation of incident wave heights: Fact or fiction?' JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH 24, (2B) 151-159 , DOI
Masselink G, Buscombe D, Austin MJ, O Hare T & Russell PE (2008) 'Sediment trend models fail to reproduce sediment transport patterns on an intertidal beach' Sedimentology 55, 667-687
Marino-Tapia IJ, Russell PE, O'Hare TJ, Davidson MA & Huntley DA (2007) 'Cross-shore sediment transport on natural beaches and its relation to sandbar migration patterns: 1. Field observations and derivation of a transport parameterization' Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 112, (C3)
Marino-Tapia IJ, O'Hare TJ, Russell PE, Davidson MA & Huntley DA (2007) 'Cross-shore sediment transport on natural beaches and its relation to sandbar migration patterns: 2. Application of the field transport parameterization' Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 112, (C3)
Masselink G, Austin MJ, O'Hare TJ & Russell PE (2007) 'Geometry and dynamics of wave ripples in the nearshore zone of a coarse sandy beach' Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 112, (C10)
Austin MJ, Masselink G, O'Hare TJ & Russell PE (2007) 'Relaxation time effects of wave ripples on tidal beaches' Geophysical Research Letters 34, (16)
Masselink G, Auger N, Russell P & O'Hare T (2007) 'Short-term morphological change and sediment dynamics in the intertidal zone of a macrotidal beach' Sedimentology 54, (1) 39-53
Huntley DA, Coco G & O'Hare TJ (2006) 'Abstracted modelling as a tool for understanding and predicting coastal morphodynamics' Journal of Coastal Research 1, 21-27
O'Hare TJ, Ostrowski R, Emsley SM & Huntley DA (2006) 'Application of two coastal profile evolution models to Lubiatowo, Poland and La barrosa, Spain,' Archives of Hydro-Engineering and Environmental Mechanics, , . 53, 3-35
O'Hare TJ & Huntley DA (2006) 'Comment on 'Morphologic properties derived from a simple cross-shore sediment transport model'' by N.G. Plant, B.G. Ruessink, and K.M. Wijnberg' Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans 111, (C7)
Baldock TE, O'Hare TJ & Huntley DA (2004) 'Long wave forcing on a barred beach' Journal of Fluid Mechanics 503, 321-343
Coco G, Huntley DA & O'Hare TJ (2001) 'Regularity and randomness in the formation of beach cusps' Marine Geology 178, (1-4) 1-9
Coco G, Huntley DA & O'Hare TJ (2000) 'Investigation of a self-organization model for beach cusp formation and development' JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS 105, (C9) 21991-22002 , DOI
Baldock TE, Huntley DA, Bird PAD, O'Hare T & Bullock GN (2000) 'Breakpoint generated surf beat induced by bichromatic wave groups' COASTAL ENGINEERING 39, (2-4) 213-242 , DOI
Pritchard M, Huntley DA & O'Hare TJ (2000) 'Mixing in a small tidal estuarine plume' Proceedings of the International Conference on Estuarine and Coastal Modeling 931-946
Coco G, O'Hare TJ & Huntley DA (1999) 'Beach cusps: A comparison of data and theories for their formation' JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH 15, (3) 741-749
Thuresson AK, Turner A, Nimmo M & OHare TJ (1996) 'The influence of changing environmental conditions on the partitioning of nickel in rivers and estuaries: A comparison between predicted results and field data' ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 211, 58-GEOC
OHARE TJ & HUNTLEY DA (1994) 'BAR FORMATION DUE TO WAVE GROUPS AND ASSOCIATED LONG WAVES' MARINE GEOLOGY 116, (3-4) 313-325 , DOI
OHARE TJ & DAVIES AG (1993) 'SAND-BAR EVOLUTION BENEATH PARTIALLY-STANDING WAVES - LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS AND MODEL SIMULATIONS' CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH 13, (11) 1149-1181 , DOI
OHARE TJ & DAVIES AG (1993) 'A COMPARISON OF 2 MODELS FOR SURFACE-WAVE PROPAGATION OVER RAPIDLY VARYING TOPOGRAPHY' APPLIED OCEAN RESEARCH 15, (1) 1-11 , DOI
OHARE TJ & DAVIES AG (1992) 'A NEW MODEL FOR SURFACE-WAVE PROPAGATION OVER UNDULATING TOPOGRAPHY' COASTAL ENGINEERING 18, (3-4) 251-266 , DOI
WARMAN CG, OHARE TJ & NAYLOR E (1991) 'VERTICAL SWIMMING IN WAVE-INDUCED CURRENTS AS A CONTROL MECHANISM OF INTERTIDAL MIGRATION BY A SAND-BEACH ISOPOD' MARINE BIOLOGY 111, (1) 49-54 , DOI
OHARE TJ & DAVIES AG (1990) 'A LABORATORY STUDY OF SAND-BAR EVOLUTION' JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH 6, (3) 531-544
Letters
OHARE T & WARMAN C (1991) 'PEAS ARE PERFECT' NEW SCIENTIST 132, (1797) 65-65
Books
Conley D, Masselink G, Russell P & O'Hare T (2013) PREFACE.
Conference Papers
Bergsma EWJ, Conley DC, Davidson M, O'Hare TJ & Holman RA (2014) 'AN ASSESSMENT OF VIDEO-BASED BATHYMETRY ESTIMATION IN A MACRO TIDAL ENVIRONMENT' Coastal Engineering Research Council 38-38 , DOI
Masselink G, Austin M, Russell P & O'Hare T (2009) 'FIELD INVESTIGATIONS OF WAVE RIPPLE DYNAMICS IN THE SHALLOW NEARSHORE OF TWO SANDY BEACHES' 1533-+
Tinker J, Russell PE, Masselink G, O'Hare T, Butt T, Ganderton P & Gallagher E (2006) 'Field measurements of velocity moment shape functions' Proceedings 30th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, San Diego, World Scientific 3987-3999
Baldock TE & O'Hare TJ (2005) 'Energy transfer and dissipation during surf beat conditions' 1212-1224
Mariño-Tapia I, O'Hare TJ, Russell PE, Davidson MA & Huntley DA (2005) 'Sand bar dynamics from a parametric morphodynamic model' 2755-2766
Tapia IM, O'Hare TJ, Russell PE, Davidson MA & Huntley DA (2003) 'ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE BAR MIGRATION MODELLED WITH AN ENERGETICS-TYPE SEDIMENT TRANSPORT MODEL' Proceedings of the 28th International Conference World Scientific Publishing Company , DOI
Baldock TE, O'Hare TJ, Huntley DA, Chan STH, Bird PAD & Bullock GN (2003) 'SURF BEAT KINEMATICS INDUCED BY RANDOM WAVES' Proceedings of the 28th International Conference World Scientific Publishing Company , DOI
Pannell MA, O'Hare TJ & Huntley DA (2002) 'Modelling of sand ripple development by self-organization in unsteady flow conditions' in McKee Smith J Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2002 (Cardiff). World Scientific (Singapore) 2837-2849
O'Hare TJ, Baldock TE, Huntley DA, Bird PD & Bullock GN (2001) 'Free longwave shortwave interaction in a surf zone' in Edge BL Proceedings 27th International Conference on Coastal Engineering Sydney American Society of Civil Engineers 1448-1461
Mariño-Tapia I, Russell PE, O'Hare TJ, Davidson MA, Saulter AN, Miles JR & Huntley DA (2001) 'Relationship between vertical wave asymmetry and the fourth velocity moment in the surf zone: implications for sediment transport' in Edge BL; Hemsley JM Proceedings 4th International Symposium Waves 2001 San Francisco 1295-1305
Baldock TE, Huntley DA, Bird PD, O'Hare TJ & Bullock GN (2001) 'Surf beat generation by a time-varying breakpoint' in Edge BL Proceedings 27th International Conference on Coastal Engineering Sydney American Society of Civil Engineers 1398-1411
Coco G, Huntley DA, Masselink G, O'Hare TJ & Pattiaratchi CB (2000) 'Fractal behaviour in nearshore processes' 27th International Conference on Coastal Engineering Sydney, Australia 2901-2913
Coco G, Huntley DA & O'Hare TJ (1999) 'Beach cusp formation: Analysis of a self-organisation model' 2190-2205
Saulter AN, O'Hare TJ & Russell PE (1997) 'Analysis of infragravity wave-driven sediment transport on macrotidal beaches' 1033-1042
Fisher PR, O'Hare TJ & Huntley DA (1997) 'Morphological effect of spring-neap tidal variations on macrotidal beaches' 476-485
Fisher PR & O’Hare TJ (1997) 'Modelling Sand Transport and Profile Evolution on Macrotidal Beaches' 25th International Conference on Coastal Engineering American Society of Civil Engineers , DOI
Simmonds DJ, O’Hare TJ & Huntley DA (1997) 'The Influence of Long Waves on Macrotidal Beach Morphology' 25th International Conference on Coastal Engineering American Society of Civil Engineers , DOI
OHARE T (1994) 'The role of long waves in sand bar formation - A model exploration' 74-88
Other Publications
O'Hare T Teaching by doodling. 21-+