Stephen Howe

Assessing how climate change will impact Cumbrian coastal lines with a focus on critical infrastructure for freight and energy material transport

Name: Stephen Howe
Primary Supervisor: Prof Neil Macdonald
Year: 1
Discipline: Environmental Science
Presentation type: 3 Minute Thesis
Project Title: Assessing how climate change will impact Cumbrian coastal lines with a focus on critical infrastructure for freight and energy material transport

Abstract:

The key purpose in this first year of research is to produce a wider understanding of the research area, and the key coastal, fluvial and estuarine risks that are posed. The primary focus will be on setting up a regional coastal model on DELFT-3D, using wind, wave, and tide data to simulate SLR and coastal flooding at three key points (2030, 2050, 2080). These dates have been requested by Network Rail, who have also provided valuable data such as track lidar at 1m resolution, CERDs points, and historical locations of railway floods.

This research is vital due to the transport of energy materials, understanding the risks posed to this stretch of railway, and subsequently protecting vulnerable locations, is crucial to the UK’s goal of reaching net-zero.

By producing a regional model, the identification of vulnerable areas will produce foundations for further study over the next years of my research. Any problem areas that are highlighted by the model outputs can be investigated in greater detail. This methodology also allows the research to be malleable and change direction depending on initial results and the needs of Network Rail. Alongside this modelling, I will also be producing a literature review that will contribute to my thesis, I am aiming to have a first draft completed by the end of year 1, but this document will continue to evolve through the course of the research project.