zoe elliott  

PhD Candidate (2011 to date) Bachelor of Engineering in Coastal Engineering, Griffith University, Australia (2002-2006)
Room: Email:	114, Geography Dept z.elliott1nuigalway.ie

Working Title:

Understanding the sediment transport dynamics of maërl debris on a high conservation value beach system

Research Description:

The central problem this research is concerned with is addressing the scientific knowledge gap that exists in much of our understanding of coastal systems, more specifically to improve our understanding of the underlying physical processes of rarely studied, high conservation beach systems such as the red algae beaches of Mannin Bay, which are partly made up of maërl debris (National Parks and Wildlife Service., 2003)
In Ireland, research has been undertaken into various aspects of maërl beds including spatial distribution and the related fauna and flora (De Grave et al., 2000). However, the sediment transport dynamics of maërl debris in terms of the nearshore zone and also the beach growth rates of the backshore zone have not been widely explored. This research investigates the characteristics of maërl debris sediments and how they behave under changing environmental conditions, such as fluctuations in current and wave action.

Supervisors:

Dr Kevin Lynch (NUIG)
Dr Marie Mahon (NUIG)
Associate Professor Charles Lemckert (Griffith University, Australia)

Research Cluster:

Research Interests:

• Sediment transport dynamics
• Sustainable coastal management
• Coastal surveying 
• Tropical cyclones/storm surge

Teaching Involvement:

Presentations: 

2011: “ Understanding the sediment transport dynamics of a maërl debris beach system” Poster Presentation, Ryan Institute Research Day, June 9th