Dr eugene farrell

Research Interests

My research background is in physical geography, with a focus on process geomorphology in coastal and river environments. My research projects usually rely on the design and implementation of instrumented field experiments to measure the spatial and temporal variability of geomorphic processes e.g. sand transport by wind or waves. As we increasingly stress our coastlines and watersheds we continue to ask ourselves if Humans can co-exist with natural landforms? The answer has to be Yes, but in the knowledge that these ’natural systems’ wont be fully natural; they will be impacted by human action; and they will be hosting a myriad of interests that are often conflicting. A driving motivation of my research is the conviction that informed decision making must be based upon empirical data as we try to predict how these natural systems will respond to short- and long-term change.

Field Project Experience

• Evaluating the geomorphological and sedimentological effects of a beach nourishment using dredged material for restoring bayside sediment processes, (Sailors Haven Marina, New York, USA)
• Hydrodynamic modeling of beaches and reef platforms in Torres Strait islands (Torres Strait, Australia)
• Charactering mass-flux profiles in aeolian saltation (Jericoacoara, Brazil)
• Wave induced setup behind a detached breakwater (Marina di Pisa, Italy).
• Morphodynamic response to two cobble beaches during an El Nino season (Malibu and San Pedro, CA, USA)
• The generation of cusps on gravel beaches: an evaluation of edge waves and self organization hyotheses (Malin Head, Republic of Ireland)
• The formation and behavior of aeolian streamers (Guadalupe, CA, USA)
• Coherent structures and aeolian saltation (Shoalhaven Heads, NSW, Australia)
• Aeolian saltation: field measurments and numerical simulations (Pismo Beach, CA, USA)
• Tracing beach nourishment material in the surf zone to mitigate impact of dumped material on nearshore benthos (Carlsbad, CA, USA).
• Shoreline erosion by boatwakes along the Savannah River (Fort Pulaski, GE, USA)
• Wave transformation over a rock platform (Belinho, Portugal)
• Quantifying levee erosion in the Sacramento River Delta (CA, USA)
• Shear stress partitioning of bed roughess: a field investigation (Green River, UT, USA)
• Sediment oscillations in the swash zone (Point Mugu, CA, USA)

Selected Publications

Farrell, E.J. and Sherman, D.J. (submitted). Estimates of the Schmidt Number for vertical flux distributions of wind-blown sand. Journal Of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 65.

Sherman, D.J.; Houser, C.; Ellis, J.T.; Farrell, E.J.; Li, B.; Maia, L.P. (submitted). Characterization of aeolian streamers using time-average videography. Journal Of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 65.

Farrell, E.J., D.J. Sherman, Ellis, J., and B.Li. (2012). Vertical distribution of grain size for wind blown sand. Aeolian Research, 7, 51-61.

Sherman, D.J., B. Li, Ellis, J.E., Farrell, E.J., Maia, L.P., Granja, H (2012). Recalibrating aeolian sand transport models. Earth Surface Processes And Landforms, doi: 10.1002/esp.3310.

Ellis, J.T., Sherman, D.J., Farrell, E.J., and Li, B. (2012) Temporal and spatial variability of aeolian sand transport: implications for field measurements. Aeolian Research, 3, 379-387. 

Sherman, D.J., S. Quiring, B. Li, and Farrell, E.J. (2010). Benchmarking the war against global warming. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 100(4), 1013-1024.

Li, B., D.J. Sherman, D.J., Farrell, E.J., and J.T. Ellis, (2010). Variability of the apparent von Kármán parameter during aeolian saltation. Geophysical Research Letters, 37, L15404, doi: 1029/2010GL044068.

Ellis, J.T., B. Li, Farrell, E.J.  and D.J. Sherman, (2009). Protocols for characterizing  aeolian mass- 
flux profiles. Aeolian Research 1, 19-26.

Farrell, E.J., H. Granja, L. Cappietti, J.T. Ellis, B. Li, and D.J. Sherman, (2009). Wave transformation across a rock platform, Belinho, Portugal. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 56, 44-48.

Li, B., H. Granja, Farrell, E.J, J.T. Ellis, and D.J. Sherman, (2009). Aeolian saltation at Esposende beach. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 56, 327-331.

Sherman, D.J., and Farrell, E.J. (2008). Aerodynamic roughness lengths over moveable beds: comparison of wind tunnel and field data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, F02S08, doi:10.1029/2007JF000784.

Farrell, E.J., and Sherman, D.J., (2004). Aeolian transport models: scaling differences in field and laboratory experiments. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 39, 384-389.

Pranzini, E. and Farrell, E.J., (2004).  A review of shoreline evolution and protection strategies along the Liguria-Toscana coastline, Italy. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 39,842-847.

Selected Proceedings and Book Chapters:

Sherman, D.J., B. Li,  Farrell, E.J., J.T. Ellis, W.D. Cox, L.P. Maia, P.H.G.O. and P.M. Sousa, (2011). Measuring aeolian saltation: a comparison of sensors. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 59, 280-290.

Farrell, E.J. and Sherman, D.J., (2003). Process-scaling issues for aeolian transport modeling in field and wind tunnel experiments: roughness length and mass flux distributions. In: E. Özhan (ed.), MedCoast ’03: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment. Ankara, MEDCOAST,  pp. 1457-1468.

Pranzini, E., Farrell., E.J., and Steinhardt, S., (2003). Use of a reflective groin in a pocket beach. In: E. Özhan (ed.), MedCoast ’03: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment. Ankara, MEDCOAST,  pp. 1741-1752.

Cappietti, L., Cammelli, C., Farrell, E.J., Ferri, S., Aminti, P., and Pranzini, E., (2003). A case of updrift erosion induced by a harbour breakwater. In: E. Özhan (ed.), MedCoast ’03: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment. Ankara, MEDCOAST,  pp. 1707-1718.

Undergraduate Teaching:

TI 313: Specialism I: Physical Geography

Ti 251: Theory & Practice

TI 151: Principles of Physical Geography