- Room 109, Kirkby Lodge, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 585969
- william.blake@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Professor Will Blake
Professor of Catchment Science
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
- Soil erosion
- River pollution
- Catchment science
- River basin science
- Agriculture
- Land and water degradation
- UN Sustainable Development Goals and the environment
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
I am Professor of Catchment Science with interests in soil erosion, its downstream impacts and associated land management challenges. I specialise in development and application of environment forensic/diagnostic approaches to solve complex sediment and pollution problems from catchment to coast.
I undertake research, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in river basin science and physical geography.
Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute.
Director of the University of Plymouth Consolidated Radioisotope Facility (CoRiF).
Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Qualifications
1994: BSc (Hons) Earth Science, Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
1995: MSc Recent Environmental Change, Department of Geography, University of Liverpool, UK
2000: PhD, Department of Geography, University of Exeter, UK. "Using Be-7 as a tracer in sediment budget investigations" with Professor Des Walling and Dr Qingping He
2001–2002: Postdoctoral research Assistant, Department of Geography, University of Wales Swansea, UK
NERC URGENT programme "Mobilisation and tranfer of heavy metals between ecosystem compartments in the Lower Swansea Valley, an urban regeneration zone", with Professors Rory Walsh and Mike Barnsley
2002–2003: Postdoctoral research officer, Department of Geography, University of Wales Swansea, UK
"The erosional consequences of varying degrees of fire-induced soil water repellency in the Sydney Forest Fires region", NERC-funded Recognised-Researcher with Drs Shakesby and Doerr (UWS), Wallbrink (CSIRO, Australia) and Humphreys (Maquarie University, Australia)
2007: Visiting Scientist, CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Australia
2003–present: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth
Professional membership
- Fellow of Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)
- International Association for Sediment Water Science (IASWS)
- International Association of Hydrological Science (IAHS)
- British Society for Geomorphology (BSG)
Roles on external bodies
Member of UN FAO/IAEA Coordinated Research Project D1.50.17 on “Nuclear Techniques for a Better Understanding of the Impact of Climate Change on Soil Erosion in Upland Agro-ecosystems”
Formerly on International Association for Sediment Water Science Board of Directors
Highlights
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Overview
I teach on the following subjects with a strong emphasis on linking teaching to my research:
Hillslope hydrology and soil erosion
River basin fine sediment dynamics from catchment to coast
Environmental pollution (especially sediment quality and legacy impacts of mining)
Catchment science and management
Catchment ecosystem services
Geohazards: wildfire
Geographical science methods
Wherever possible, my class teaching of process theory is supported by field- and laboratory-based practicals e.g. rainfall simulation to explore impacts agriculture on overland flow and soil erosion or quantification of the environmental quality of streams to assess the effectiveness of catchment sensitive farming.
I have run overseas fieldtrips to the rainforest of Malaysian Borneo where I work on logging impacts on river sediments. I am keen to offer students opportunity to gain professional catchment science experience and regularly employ undergraduate and masters students within my research programmes to assist with field sampling and laboratory analysis. This includes training students to work to ISO9001:2008 standard in the University Consolidated Radioisotope Facility of which I am Director.
I undertake research project supervision on BSc (Hons) Geography and related programmes and MSc projects within the 'Sustainable Environmental Management' and Environmental consultancy' programmes
Research
Research
Research interests
I am Professor of Catchment Science with interests in soil erosion, its downstream impacts and associated land management challenges. I specialise in development and application of environment forensic/diagnostic approaches to solve complex sediment and pollution problems from catchment to coast.
My current research in East Africa and Latin America focuses on how natural science and social science data can be integrated to underpin the co-design of pathways to land management change. These interdisciplinary programmes build on previous research in South East Asia and Australia on impacts of logging and wildfire on hydrological processes, soil erosion and sediment and nutrient flux. I also work extensively on UK river basin management problems in mixed agricultural systems.
My applied environmental forensics research is facilitated through knowledge exchange, mentoring and capacity building activities within joint UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Coordinated Research Programmes (2008 to present) on sediment tracing and fingerprinting techniques to support food and water security.
I have received research funding in excess of £2m from UKRI, EU FP7, H2020, Royal Society, NGOs and UK governmental organisations.
For information on current/recent research projects please follow links below:
IMIXSED Project and SEDiLINK Project [EC Horizon 2020]
Jali Ardhi [GCRF] project [UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund, NE/P015603/1; NE/R009309/1]
Making soil erosion understandable and governable at the river basin scale for food, water and hydropower sustainability in Latin America [NERC/Newton/CONICYT, Chile: NE/R015597/1]
SIGMA: Peru [UKRI/ CONCYTEC/Newton project, Peru]
Grants & contracts
2019-2020
Identifying fine sediment inputs to key freshwater pearl mussel populations
Funding body: SEPA
Collaborators: APEM Ltd [Meadows]
2019-2021
Societal Impacts of Glacier Melt in the Andes (SIGMA): Peru
Funding body: NERC
Collaborators: co-I with Clason (PI), Morera and others
2018-2020
Making soil erosion understandable and governable at the river basin scale for food, water and hydropower sustainability in Latin America
Funding body: NERC /CONICYT
Collaborators: PI with Bravo (co-PI) and Kelly
2018-2019
Averting a “tragedy of the commons” in Maasai land: Exploring predictors of communal land degradation and developing pathways to change in Northern Tanzania
Funding body: British Academy
Collaborators: Co-I with Anna Rabinovich (PI, Exeter), Ndakidemi (NM-AIST), Nasseri (Schumacher
2017-2019
‘Jali Ardhi [Care for the Land] project: Realising land management change in degraded Maasai grazing lands’ (NE/R009309/1)
Funding body: NERC
Collaborators: (PI) with Ndakidemi, Munishi, Mtei (Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania); Gilvear, Roberts, Wilson (PU); Rabinovich (Exeter); Nasseri and Rae (Schumacher College);
2018-2020
Validating hierarchical mixing models within a catchment sediment budget context. PhD Scholarship (Luis Alberto Ovando Fuentealba)
Funding body: CONICYT Chile
Collaborators: DoS for Luis Ovando
2017-2018
Glacier recession as a source of environmental pollutants (GRASP)
Funding body: INTERACT
Collaborators: co-I with Clason (PI) and Mills
Socio-ecological resilience to soil erosion driven by extreme events: past, present and future challenges in East Africa (aka Jali Ardhi [Care for the land] project)
Funding body: RCUK/Dfid Global Challenges Research fund
Collaborators: (PI) with Ndakidemi, Munishi, Mtei (Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania); Gilvear, Roberts, Wilson (PU); Rabinovich (Exeter); Nasseri and Rae (Schumacher College);
2016-2016
Assessing the suitability of potential Freshwater Pearl Mussel translocation sites in the River Clun (phase 2)
Funding body: Natural England
Collaborators: with Taylor (PI), Comber, Goddard and Westcountry Rivers Trust
2016-2017
Comprehensive illustrated guideline on the advanced use of Be-7 as soil tracer for assessing erosion and sedimentation rates
Funding body: UN FAO/IAEA
Collaborators: PI with Taylor, Iurian and Mabit
2015-2016
Assessing the suitability of potential Freshwater Pearl Mussel translocation sites in the River Clun
Funding body: Natural England
Collaborators: with Taylor (PI), Comber, Goddard and Westcountry Rivers Trust
Temporal and spatial patterns of phosphorus concentration across the ditch system of West Sedgemoor SSSI
Funding body: Natural England
Collaborators: with Taylor (PI), Goddard and Comber
2015-2017
Sediment linkage between land, river and sea: evaluating impacts of historic mining on sediment quality in the coastal zone
Funding body: Horizon 2020 (EC)
Collaborators: with Andra Iurian (MSC Research Fellow)
Integrating isotopic techniques with Bayesian modelling for improved assessment and management of global sedimentation problems
Funding body: Horizon 2020 (EC)
Collaborators: PI with Pascal Boeckx (UGent) plus Navas (CSIC), Smith (Liverpool) and NM-AIST (Tanzania) and Jimma University (Ethiopia)
2011 - 2015
Sources and quality of fine sediment in degraded Freshwater Pearl Mussel habitats (Clun)
Funding body: Natural England
Collaborators: PI (Plymouth) with APEM Ltd (Stone – Project manager), Taylor, Goddard and Hailey
2012 - 2015
Sources and quality of fine sediment in degraded river habitats (Mease )
Funding body: Natural England
Collaborators: PI (Plymouth) with APEM Ltd (Fraser – Project manager), Comber, Taylor, Smith and Hailey
2012 - 2014
Transfer of fallout radiocaesium through river networks impacted by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident (across 2 linked contracts)
Funding body: University of Tsukuba
Collaborators: with Smith (Liverpool) and Onda (Tsukuba)
2012 - 2013
Fine sediment and pollution in southwest rivers (Taw and Teign)
Funding body: Westcountry Rivers Trust
Collaborators: PI with Comber and Taylor
2012
Wrong connections: water quality problems in urban nature reserves
Funding body: PU Community Research Award
Collaborators: PI with Downs, Smith, Taylor, Solman
Environmental monitoring of salt marsh restoration
Funding body: Environment Agency
Collaborators: Co-I with Masselink (PI), Hanley, Blake, et al.
Evaluating sediment accretion rates on restored saltmarshes using fallout Be-7
Funding body: PU Marine Institute
Collaborators: PI with Taylor, Hanley, Masselink and White
2011-2013
Quantifying sources and residence times of contaminated sediment in human-impacted river basins: an integrated approach
Funding body: EU FP7
Collaborators: with Smith (Marie Curie Research Fellow)
2010
Evaluating potential use of Compound Specific Stable Isotopes (CSSIs) as sediment tracing tools
Funding body: Westcountry Rivers Trust and UoP
Collaborators: PI with Couldrick (WRT)
Carbon storage in restored wetlands (River Fal, Cornwall)
Funding body: Westcountry River Trust
Collaborators: PI with Couldrick (WRT)
2009
Carbon management in moorlands; effects of drainage and re-wetting on carbon sequestration
Funding body: Seale Hayne Educational Trust
Collaborators: PI with Charman and Parry
The catastrophic Victoria wildfires: impact of extreme burn severity on the soil system
Funding body: Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Collaborators: Co-I with Doerr (PI), Shakesby and University of Melbourne
Development and test of new cost-effective monitoring technologies and planning design for restoration of wetlands – MONITECH
Funding body: Danish Research Council
Collaborators: Co-I with Kronvang (PI) and others
2008
Particulate-associated contaminants in agricultural estuaries (PhD studentship)
Funding body: Iraqi Ministry for Education
Collaborators: Director of studies with Masselink and Keith-Roach
7Be biogeochemistry and role as a tracer in catchment systems (PhD studentship)
Funding body: Westcountry Rivers Trust and UoP
Collaborators: Director of Studies with Keith-Roach
2007
Wildfire, soil erosion and impacts on downstream aquatic resources: evidence form the burnt Evrotas river basin, southern Peloponese, Greece
Funding body: Natural Environment Research Council
Collaborators: Athens Institute of Soil Science; Hellenic Centre for Marine research
Establishing Dominant Sediment Sources Within The Furze Brook Study Catchment’
Funding body: Environment Agency
“Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Tropical Rainforest Systems and Conservation in Sabah”
Funding body: Earthwatch Institute
Collaborators: Co-I with Swansea University, University of Singapore and Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Estuarine siltation in Devon and Cornwall: the role of agricultural land use
Funding body: The Seale-Hayne Educational Trust
Collaborators: co-I with Gehrels and others (PI)
2006
Wildfire, soil erosion and future climates of extremes in Australia
Funding body: Royal Society
Collaborators: PI with Wallbrink (CSIRO)
Establishing baseline patterns and trends of floodplain sedimentation downstream of a selectively logged tropical rainforest catchment
Funding body: Royal Geographical Society
Collaborators: PI with Walsh (Swansea)
Effects of Land Use on Physical and Genetic Soil Structure
Funding body: Seale Hayne Educational Trust
Collaborators: Co-I with Petticrew PI, Moody and Bradley
Developing decision support tools for soil conservation within agricultural river basins PhD studentship
Funding body: Westcountry Rivers Trust and SSB UoP
Collaborators: Director of Studies with A. Williams
2005
Evaluating the role of buffer strips in the protection of aquatic habitats
Funding body: Seale Hayne Educational Trust
Collaborators: PI with Petticrew and Brassley
Avon Estuary Siltation Research Project
Funding body: South Hams Society
Collaborators: PI with Gehrels and Masselink
2003
Impacts of wildfire on effective sediment particle size
Funding body: Royal Society
Collaborators: PI with Droppo (Canada)
2002
Impacts on water quality by sediments and nutrients released during extreme bushfires
Funding body: Sydney Catchment Authority
Collaborators: Co-I with Wallbrink PI, Doerr, Chafer, Humphreys and Shakesby
Downstream impacts of commercial logging in tropical rainforests of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
Funding body: Royal Society
Collaborators: with Walsh (Swansea)
2001
The erosional consequences of varying degrees of fire-induced soil water repellency in the Sydney Forest Fires region
Funding body: NERC
Collaborators: researcher Co-I with Doerr, Shakesby PI, Humphreys and Wallbrink
Publications
Publications
Key publications
54 Palazon L, Gaspar G, Latorre B, Blake WH, Navas A (2014) Evaluatingthe importance of surface soil contributions to reservoir sediment in alpineenvironments: a combined modelling and fingerprinting approach in thePosets-Maladeta Natural Park. Solid Earth; 5:963–978. DOI:10.5194/se-5-963-2014
53 Mabit L, M Benmansour, JM Abril, DE Walling, KMeusburger, AR Iurian, C Bernard, S Tarján, PN Owens, WH Blake, C Alewell(2014) Fallout 210Pb as a soil and sediment tracer in catchmentsediment budget investigations: a review. Earth-Science Reviews 138,335-351
52 Taylor A, Blake WH,Keith-Roach MJ (2014) Estimating Be-7 enrichment in soil particle sizefractions for erosion and deposition modelling. Journal of Soils andSediments 14 (11), 1886-1893
51 Jha AN,Blake WH, Millward GE (2014) Preface: environmental radioactivity: implicationsfor human and environmental health. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity,133, 1-4
50 Woodbridge J. Davies HJ, Blake WH,Fyfe RM (2014)Exploring recent environmental change in an uplandcatchment using evidence from reservoir sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology52 (3), 229-244
49 Smith HG, Blake WH, Taylor A (2014).Modelling particle residence times in agricultural river basins using asediment budget model and fallout radionuclide tracers. Earth SurfaceProcesses and Landforms, 39 (14), 1944-1959
48 Yamashiki Y, Onda Y, Smith HG, Blake WH,Wakahara T, Igarashi Y, Matsuura Y and Yoshimura K (2014) Initial flux ofsediment-associated radiocesium to the ocean from the largest river impacted byFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Scientific Reports: 4: 3714
47 Smith HG and Blake WH (2014)Sediment fingerprinting in agricultural catchments: a critical re-examinationof source discrimination and data corrections. Geomorphology, 204:177-191 doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.08.003
46 E Leorri, A Cearreta, M Jesús Irabien, AGarcía-artola, DR Corbett, E Horsman, WH Blake, JA Sanchez-Cabiza (2014).Anthropogenic disruptions of the sedimentary record in coastal marshes:Examples from the southern Bay of Biscay (N. Spain). Continental ShelfResearch, DOI: 10.1016/j.csr.2013.08.016
45 Eagling J, Worsfold PJ, Blake WH andKeith-Roach MJ (2013). Influence of sediment redox conditions on uraniummobilisation during saline intrusion. Chemical Geology, 357: 158–163
44. Eagling J, Worsfold PJ, Blake WH andKeith-Roach MJ (2013) Fate of 90Sr and U(VI) in Dounreay sediments followingsaline inundation and erosion. Chemosphere: 92(8):911-7. DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.02.059
43. LeorriE, S Mitra, M Jesús Irabien, AR Zimmerman, WH Blake, Al Cearreta (2013).A 700 year record of combustion-derived pollution in northern Spain: Tools toidentify the Holocene/Anthropocene transition in coastal environments. Scienceof the total Environment 470-471: 240-247,dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.09.064
42. Taylor A, Blake WH, Keith-Roach MJ,Mabit L. (2013). Assumptions and challenges in the use of fallout beryllium-7as a soil and sediment tracer in river basins. Earth Science Reviews, 126:85-95, doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2013.08.002
41. Leorri, E., Cearreta, A.,García-Artola, A., Irabien, M.J., Blake, W.H., (2013). Relativesea-level rise in the Basque coast (N Spain): Different environmentalconsequences on the coastal area. Ocean & Coastal Management, 77: 3-13, .doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2012.02.007
40. Smith, H.G., Blake, W.H., Owens, P.N. (2013). Determiningsediment sources following wildfire: a review of the application of sedimenttracers in burned forest environments. Hydrological Processes, 27: 943-958,DOI: 10.1002/hyp.9537
39. Parry L. Charman D, Blake WH (2013)Comparative dating of recent peat deposits using fallout radionuclides andSpheroidal Carbonaceous Particles (SCPs) at a local and landscape scale. QuaternaryGeochronology, 15, 11-19, doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2013.01.002
38. Wharton G, Kronvang B, Ogrinc N, Blake WH(2012). Interactions between sediments and water: perspectives on the 12thInternational Association for Sediment Water Science Symposium. Journal ofSoils Sediments. 12:1497–1500, DOI 10.1007/s11368-012-0606-x
37. Eagling J, Worsfold PJ, Blake WH, Keith-Roach MJ (2012).Mobilization of Tc from reduced sediments during seawater inundation andintrusion. Environmental Science and Technology 6; 46(21):11798-803.doi: 10.1021/es3025935.
36. Smith, H.G., Blake, W.H.,Owens, P.N. 2012. Application of sediment tracers to discriminate sedimentsources following wildfire. In: M. Stone, A. Collins, M. Thoms (eds.), Wildfireand water quality: processes, impacts and challenges. IAHS Publication No.354, IAHS Press, Wallingford, pp. 81-89.
35. Owens PN, Blake WH,Giles TR, Williams ND (2012) Determining the effects of wildfire on sedimentsources using 137Cs and unsupported 210Pb: the role oflandscape disturbances and driving forces. Journal of Soils and Sediments,12:982–994, DOI 10.1007/s11368-012-0497-x
34. Taylor A, Blake WH,Keith-Roach MJ, Couldrick L (2012). Sorption behaviour of beryllium-7 andimplications for its use as a sediment tracer. Geoderma, 187–188, 16–23,doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.04.013
33. Taylor A, Blake WH,Keith-Roach MJ, Couldrick L (2012). Optimisation of beryllium-7 gamma analysisfollowing BCR sequential extraction. Analytica Chimica Acta 720: 91– 96
32. Blake WH, Ficken KJ,Taylor P, Russell MA, Walling DE (2012). Tracing crop-specific sediment sourcesin agricultural catchments. Geomorphology, 139–140, 322–329
31. RPD Walsh, K Bidin, WHBlake, NA Chappell, MA Clarke, I Douglas, R Ghazali, AM Sayer, J. Suhaimi,W Tych and KV Annammala, (2011). Long-term responses of rainforest erosionalsystems at different spatial scales to selective logging and climatic change. Phil.Trans. R. Soc. B, 27 , 366(1582), 3340-3353
30. Blake W.H., Theocharopoulos S.P., Skoulikidis N., Clark P., TountasP., R. Hartley, Amaxidis Y. (2010). Wildfire impacts on hillslope sediment andphosphorus yields. Journal of Soils andSediments, 10(4), 671-682 ISSN: 1439-0108
29. Leorri, E., Cearreta, A.,Corbett, R., Blake, W., Fatela, F., R. Gehrels, M. J. Irabien, (2010).Identification of suitable areas for high-resolution sea-level studies in SWEurope using commonly applied 210Pb models. Geogaceta, 48,35-38. ISSN0213-683X
28. Garcia-Artola, A., Cearreta,A., Leorri, E., Irabien, M., & Blake, W.H. (2009). Coastalsalt-marshes as geological archives of recent sea-level changes. Geogaceta,47, 109-112, ISSN0213-683X
27. Wilkinson S.N., Wallbrink P.J.,Hancock G.J., Blake W.H., ShakesbyR.A., Doerr S.H. (2009) Fallout radionuclide tracers identify a switch insediment sources and transport-limited sediment yield following wildfire in aeucalypt forest. Geomorphology. 110(3-4), 140-151
26. MasselinkG, Cointre L, Williams J, Gehrels R, BlakeW (2009) Tide-driven dune migration and sediment transport on an intertidalshoal in a shallow estuary in Devon, UK. MarineGeology, 262(1), 82-95
25. Blake WH, Wallbrink PJ, Wilkinson S, Humphreys GS, Doerr SH,Shakebsy RA, Tomkins K. (2009). Deriving hillslope sediment budgets inwildfire-affected forests using fallout radionuclide tracers. Geomorphology. 104, 105-116
24. Blake,W. H., Wallbrink P. J. and Droppo I.G. (2009) Sediment aggregation andimplications for water quality in wildfire-affected river basins. Marine andFreshwater Research. 60, 653–659
23. Tomkins, K. M., G. S. Humphreys, A. F. Gero, R. A. Shakesby, S. H.Doerr, P. J. Wallbrink, and W. H. Blake(2008), Postwildfire hydrological response in an El Niño–SouthernOscillation–dominated environment, Journalof Geophysical Research, 113, F02023, doi:10.1029/2007JF000853
22. Walsh, R.P.D., Blake, W.H., Garbett-Davies, H.R., James, J.G.,Dyrynda, P., Barnsley, M.J. (2007). Downstream changes in bed-sediment andstreamwater metal concentrations along a watercourse in a rehabilitatedpost-industrial landscape in South Wales. Water, Air andSoil Pollution, 181 (1-4): 107-113
21. Tomkins K. M., Humphreys G.S., Wilkinson, M. T., Fink, D., Hesse, P. P., Doerr, S. H., Shakesby, R. A.,Wallbrink, P. J., Blake W. H.(2007). Contemporary versus long-termdenudation along a passive plate margin: the role of extreme events. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32(7),1013-1031 ISSN: 0197-9337
20. Shakesby R.A., Wallbrink P.J., Doerr S.H., English P.M., ChaferC.J., Humphreys G.S., Blake W.H.,Tomkins K.M. (2007). Distinctiveness of wildfire effects on soil erosion insouth-east Australian eucalypt forests assessed in a global context. Forest Ecology and Management 238, 347–364. ISSN: 0378-1127
19. Blake, W. H., I. G. Droppo, G. S. Humphreys, S. H.Doerr, R. A. Shakesby, and P. J. Wallbrink (2007), Structural characteristicsand behavior of fire-modified soil aggregates, Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, F02020, doi:10.1029/2006JF000660.
18. Blake, W.H., Walsh, R.P.D., Reed, J., Barnsley, M.J. and Smith J. (2007)Impacts of landscape remediation on theheavy metal pollution dynamics of a lake surrounded by non-ferrous smelterwaste. Environmental Pollution, 148,268-280
17. Blake, W.H., Walsh, R.P.D., Sayer, A.M. & Bidin, K. (2006). Quantifyingfine-sediment sources in primary and selectively-logged rainforest catchmentsusing geochemical tracers. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution: Focus 6: 615–623. ISSN 1567-7230
16. Owens, P.N., Blake, W.H. & Petticrew, E.L. (2006). Changes in sediment sources following wildfire in mountainousterrain: a paired-catchment approach, British Columbia, Canada. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus 6:637–645. ISSN 1567-7230
15. Blake W.H., Wallbrink, P.J., Doerr, S.H., Shakesby, R.A.,Humphreys, G.S., English, P., Wilkinson, S., (2006). Using geochemicalstratigraphy to indicate post-fire sediment and nutrient fluxes into a watersupply reservoir, Sydney, Australia. In: Rowan J. (Ed) Sediment Dynamics and the Hydromorphology of Fluvial Systems. IAHSPublication 306, pp 363-370, ISSN 0144-7815
14. Blake, W.H., Wallbrink, P.J., Doerr, S.H., Shakesby, R.A. &Humphreys, G.S. 2006. Magnetic enhancement in fire-affected soil and itspotential for sediment-source ascription. EarthSurface Processes and Landforms 31, 249–264. ISSN: 0197-9337
13. Doerr, S.H., Shakesby, R.A.,Blake, W.H., Chafer, C.J.,Humphreys, G.S., Wallbrink, P.J. (2006). Effects of differing wildfire severities on soil wettability andimplications for hydrological response. Journal of Hydrology. 319: 295-311 ISSN: 0022-1694
12. Blake, W.H., Droppo, I.G., Wallbrink P.J., Doerr, S.H., Shakesby,R.A., Humphreys, G.S. (2005). Impacts ofwildfire on effective sediment particle size: implications for post-firesediment budgets. In: Walling D.E. and Horowitz A. J. (Eds) Sediment Budgets 1. IAHS Publication291, 143-150. ISBN 1-901502-87-2
11. Wallbrink, P.J., Blake, W.H., Doerr, S.H., Shakesby,R.A., Humphreys, G.S., English, P. (2005). Using tracer based sediment budgets to assess redistribution of soil andorganic material after severe bush fires. In: Walling D.E. and Horowitz A. J.(Eds) Sediment Budgets 2. IAHSPublication 292 223-230. ISBN1-901502-92-9
10. Doerr, S.H., Blake, W.H., , Shakesby, R.A.,Stagnitti, F., Vuurens, S.H., Humphreys, G.S. & Wallbrink, P. , 2004, Heating effects on water repellencyin Australian eucalypt forest soils and their value in estimating wildfire soiltemperatures. International Journalof Wildland Fire, 13(2), 157-163, ISSN: 1049-8001
9. Blake, W.H., Wallbrink, P.J., Doerr, S.H., Shakesby, R.A. &Humphreys, G.S., 2004, Sediment redistribution following wildfire in the Sydneyregion, Australia: a mineral magnetic tracing approach. In: Golosov V., BelayevV. and Walling D.E. (eds) SedimentTransfer through the Fluvial System, IAHS Publication 288, pp 52-59 ISBN 1-901502-67-8
8. Shakesby, R.A., Chafer,C., Doerr, S.H., Blake, W.H.,Humphreys, G.S. and Wallbrink, P.J. (2003). Fire severity, water repellencycharacteristics and hydrogeomorphological changes following the Christmas 2001Sydney forest fires. Australian Geographer. 34, 147-175
7. Blake, W.H., Walsh, R.P.D. andBarnsley, M.J. (2003). Relating mineralmagnetic measurements to sediment quality in a remediated, contaminatedcatchment: the significance of heavy metal delivery mode and water-sedimentexchange dynamics in a small urban lake. Journal Physique, 107, 193 – 196
6. Blake, W.H., Walsh, R.P.D., Barnsley, M.J., Palmer, G.,Dyrynda, P. and James, J.G. (2003) Impacts of storm flow on heavy metalconcentrations in a small industrialised catchment. Hydrological Processes, 17, 1923-1939
5. Blake, W.H., Walling, D.E. and He, Q. (2002). The use of 7Be as a tracer insediment budget investigations. Geografiska Annaler 84A(2), 89 – 102
4. Walling, D.E., He, Q. and Blake, W.H., 2000. River floodplains as phosphorus sinks. TheRole of Erosion and Sediment Transport in Nutrient and Contaminant Transfer.IAHS Publ. No. 263: 211-218.
3. Walling, D.E., He, Q. and Blake, W.H., 1999. Use of 7Be and 137Csmeasurements to document short- and medium-term rates of water-induced soilerosion on agricultural land. Water Resources Research 35 (12):3865-3874.
2. Blake, W.H., Walling, D.E. and He, Q. 1999. Fallout 7Be as a tracer in soilerosion investigations. Applied Radiation and Isotopes 51:599-605.
1. Blake, W.H., Plater, A.J. and Boyle, J. 1998. Seasonal trends in the uranium-series characteristics of contemporarywaters and sediment from Hawes Water, Cumbria, UK. Journal of Palaeolimnology 20: 1-14.
Key publications are highlighted
Journals