Honorary Research Fellow
- About
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- School/Department
- School of Geosciences
Qualifications
- B.A. (dual hons) Prehistory & Archaeology and Geography1978 - University of Sheffield
- PhD Quaternary Geomorphology of the Assynt Area, NW Scotland1983 - University of Edinburgh
- Research
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Research Overview
Quaternary geomorphology of NW Scotland, with specific interests in glaciation, cave formation and cave deposits.
Research Specialisms
- Geomorphology
- Quaternary Studies
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
Current research has focused on reassessment and extending U/Th disequilibrium dating of speleothems from caves in the Assynt area to help identify periods of past speleothem growth which are confined to non-glacial periods, in turn helping to improve understanding of the dynamics of the last ice sheet to cover the area.
Past Research
My PhD research was concerned with the Quaternary geomorphology of the Assynt area in NW Scotland, which included studying the speleology of caves within the Cambrian dolostone there. There was particular focus on microerosional features on rock surfaces (glacial striae patterns and so-called 'friction cracks'), glacial erratics' distribution and mapping of glacial features to identify the phases of glacial advance and retreat. The karst geomorphology looked at speleogenesis, dating periods of speleothem growth and cave clastic sediment deposition with reference to the Quaternary history of the region; this included a reassessment of unpublished material from the Creag nan Uamh caves which includes one of Scotland's most important Late Pleistocene faunas.
Collaborations
A member of the 'PALaEoScot' research project, headed by Prof. Kate Britton.