Environmental Research Institute

• Climate Change

• Establishing and analysing climate records (palaeo-ecological and historical) for the Highlands and Islands.
• Developing local scale projections and predictions of climate change in the Highlands and Islands
• Estimating carbon storage and fluxes in the marine and terrestrial environment. †
• Evaluating the climatology of extreme weather *
• Understanding and responding to the effects of climate change on health, economics and society
• Understanding the inter-relationships of climate change, energy consumption and generation *

• Statistical Analysis - Utilising weather and palaeoecological data, local and global, for better understanding and prediction
• Earth Observation - Advancing the interpretation of satellite data * †
• Local Data Collection - Building on the sparse network of meteorological stations and other data collection methods in the Highlands & Islands †
• Numerical Modelling of the Environment - Using models to fill gaps in direct measurements of meteorology, hydrology and landscape change *
• Climate Impacts and Public Engagement - Explaining change, promoting behavioural change and building adaptive capacity in the region through public engagement

• Prof. Stuart Gibb
• Dr Neil James
• Dr Peter Bowyer
• Dr Jason McIlvenny
• Dr Lonneke Goddijn-Murphy
• Dr Angus Jackson
• Prof. John McClatchey
• Dr David Woolf
• Dr Elizabeth Masden
• Mrs Barbara Bremner

Current Students

• Ms Irina Foss
• Ms Gwenna Corbel
• Ms. Georgia Kalantzi

Graduated Students

• MS Rosalind Pidcock
• Chris Jeffery
• David Cole
• Elizabeth Jones

Publications:

• Goddijn-Murphy, L., D. K. Woolf, and A. H. Callaghan (2011), Parameterizations and algorithms for oceanic whitecap coverage, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 41(4), 742-756, doi: 10.1175/2010JPO4533.1.
• Coll J, Gibb SW,Price MF, McClatchey J, Harrison J. (2010) Developing site scale projections of climate change in the Scottish Highlands Climate Research, 45:71-85
• Goddijn-Murphy, L. and D.K. Woolf (2009) "Advantages of high resolution mapping of tidal currents in the Pentland Firth, using underway ADCP measurements". Proceedings CD, AiA 2009. “ADCPs in Action", San Diego, California, 5-7 October 2009.
• Jeffery, C.D, I.S. Robinson, D.K. Woolf and C.J. Donlon. 2008. The response to phase-dependent wind stress and cloud fraction of the diurnal cycle of SST and air-sea CO2 exchange. Ocean Modelling, 23, 33-48. doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2008.03.003
• Fangohr, S. and D.K.Woolf. 2007. Comparing parameterizations of gas transfer velocity and their effect on the regional and global marine CO2 budgets, Journal of Marine Systems, 66(1-4), 195-203.
• Woolf, D.K., I. Leifer, P. Nightingale, T-S. Rhee, P. Bowyer, G. Caulliez, G. de Leeuw, S. Larsen, M. Liddicoat, J. Baker, and M.O. Andreae. 2007. Modelling of bubble-mediated gas transfer; fundamental principles and a laboratory test, Journal of Marine Systems, 66(1-4), 71-91.
• Rhee, T.S., P.D. Nightingale, D.K. Woolf, G. Caulliez, P. Bowyer and M.O. Andreae. 2007. Influence of energetic wind and waves on gas transfer in a large wind-wave tunnel facility. Journal of Geophysical Research, 112, C05027 (16 pages), doi:10.1029/2005JC003358.
• Jeffery, C.D, D.K. Woolf, I.S. Robinson and C.J. Donlon. 2007. 1-Dimensional modelling of convective CO2 exchange in the Tropical Atlantic. Ocean Modelling, 19, 161-182. doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2007.07.003.
• Corbel G., Allen J.T. , Woolf D.K. and Gibb S.,  Wind trends in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland 1960 - 2004 and their relation to the North Atlantic Oscillation, AMS 87th Annual Meeting, 19th Conference on Climate Variability and Change, San Antonio, Texas, January 2007. Presentation available at: http://ams.confex.com/ams/87ANNUAL/techprogram/paper_119274.htm
• McClatchey, J. 2007. Developing a carbon neutral island. Sustainability - Creating the Culture , Inverness, 31 October - 1 November 2007, SDRC Conference CD.
• Woolf, D. and I. Robinson. 2007. The stormy Atlantic. Chapter in Our Changing Planet: The View From Space. Edited by M. D. King, C. L. Parkinson, K. C. Partington and R. G. Williams. Cambridge University Press, pp. 172-175. (ISBN-13: 9780521828703)
• Woolf, D.K. and N. Ward. 2006. Thermal imagery of surface renewal phenomena. In Marine Surface Films: Chemical Characteristics, Influence on Air-Sea Interactions, and Remote Sensing, edited by Martin Gade, Heinrich Hühnerfuss, and Gerald M. Korenowski. Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany, pp. 225-238.
• Tsimplis, M.N., A.G.P. Shaw, R.A. Flather and D.K. Woolf. 2006. The influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation on the sea level around the northern European coasts reconsidered: the thermosteric effects. Philosophical Transactions: Mathematical,Physical & Engineering Sciences, 364, 845-856, doi: 10.1098/rsta2006.1740.
• Bargeron, C.P., D.J. Hydes, D.K. Woolf, B.A. Kelly-Gerreyn and M.A. Qurban. 2006. A regional analysis of new production on the Northwest European shelf using oxygen fluxes and a ship-of-opportunity. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 69(3-4),478-490. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2006.05.015
• Wolf, J. and D.K.Woolf. 2006. Waves and climate change in the north-east Atlantic. Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L06604, doi:10.1029/2005GL025113.
• Woolf, D.K., C. Gommenginger, N. Sykes, M.A. Srokosz and P.G. Challenor. 2006. Satellite and other long-term data sets on wave climate; application to the North Atlantic region. Full Proceedings of World Renewable Energy Congress IX, MT11, Elsevier, ISBN 008 44671 X.
• Woolf, D.K., J. Coll, S. Gibb and P.G. Challenor. 2004. Sensitivity of ferry services to the Western Isles of Scotland to changes in wave climate. In Proceedings of OMAE’04, 23rd International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, ASME.
• McClatchey, J 2004 "Global Climates" pp 56-79 and "Regional and Local Climates" pp 80-96 in Holden, J (ed) "Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment" London, Pearson
• Arciszewska, C, and McClatchey, J, 2001 "Evaluation of meteorological data requirements of ADMS-Urban for modelling pollution in Northampton, England" International Journal of Environment and Pollution 16 (1-6): 357-365 Sp. Iss. SI 2001
• Brunsdon, C, McClatchey, J, Unwin, D J, 2001 "Spatial variations in the average rainfall/altitude relationship in Great Britain: an approach using geographically weighted regression" International Journal of Climatology, 21 (4), 455-466

Current:

• "Towards a vulnerability assessment for the UK Coastline". - 2000-2003. Funded by Tyndall Centre (UK Research Councils). Led by National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, with partners in ERI, University of Southampton, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory and University of East Anglia.
• "Clim-ATIC" (preliminary - 2007; main 2008-2011). - Funded by NPP, EU. Led by UHI with partners / associate partners in Sweden (Lyksele Municipality, Umeå University, Åre Municipality, Association of local authorities in the County of Vasterbotten), Finland (The Lapland Regional Environment Centre, Finnish Forest Research Institute - Rovaniemi Research Unit, Thule Institute at University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, Finnish Environmental Institute, The Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, City of Rovaniemi, Municipality of Kittilä, Municipality of Kolari), Norway (Western Norway Research Institution, County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane, Flora Municipality, County of Sogn og Fjordane) and Greenland (Arctic Technology Centre, Sisimiut Municipality, Greenland Innovation Center [Nuta aliorfik]). Scottish Associate Partners include Cairngorms National Park Authority and Forestry Commission Scotland.
  http://www.clim-atic.org/
• "CoastAdapt" (preliminary - 2007-2008; proposed main 2008-2011). - Funded by NPP, EU. Led by Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) with ERI, Aberdeen Institute Coastal Science and Management, Scottish Natural Heritage, Outer Hebrides Coastal Marine Partnership, Scottish Crofting Foundation and Visit Scotland as Scottish partners / associate partners. Additional partners/ associate partners in Northern Island University of Ulster - Centre for Coastal & Marine Research and The National trust - Northern Ireland Regional Office) , Republic of Ireland (University College Cork - Centre for Coastal & Marine Resources Centre and Kerry County Council), Norway (Northern Research Institute - Norut, Hammerfest Municipality and West Finnmark Council) and Iceland (Institute for Sustainable Development)
• Centre for observation of Air-Sea Interaction and fluXes (CASIX). - A NERC Centre of Excellence for Earth Observation. 2003-2008. PML, Plymouth, NOCS, UK Met Office, POL, UEA, Bangor, Edinburgh and Leicester.
  http://web.pml.ac.uk/casix/index.htm
• National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO). - 2008-2014. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding.
  http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/areas/earthobs/nceo.asp
• John Coll, PhD studentship (2001-7) - "Assessing the regional impacts of climate change in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland" supervised by Gibb & Harrison (Dundee). UHI studentship
• Gwenna Corbel, PhD studentship (2004-) - "Boundary layer wind fields over the Highlands and Islands of Scotland: linking the North Atlantic Oscillation to the regional impacts of climate change" supervised by Woolf, Allen (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton - NOCS) & Gibb. UHI Studentship
• Chris Jeffery, PhD studentship (2004-). - "Convective gas exchange in the Tropical Atlantic". NERC Studentship (CASIX quota) supervised by Woolf, Robinson (NOCS) & Donlon (CASE, UK Met Office)
• Charlene Bargeron, PhD studentship (2005-). - "Scaling the impact of ocean margins on the global carbon cycle". NERC Studentship (NOCS Quota) supervised by Hydes (NOCS) & Woolf
• David Coles, PhD studentship (2005-). - "Acoustic verification of model for oceanic bubble cloud evolution, including gas flux". NERC Studentship (UK SOLAS Tied) supervised by Leighton (Southampton), Woolf & Srokosz (NOCS)
• Elizabeth Jones, PhD studentship (2006-). - "Remote sensing as a tool for quantifying oceanic CO2 sinks and sources". NERC Studentship (CASIX quota) supervised by Bakker (UEA), Watson (UEA) & Woolf
• Georgia Kalantzi, PhD Studentship (2006-). - "Can new wave measurements from space help to improve wave modelling?" NOC Studentship supervised by Woolf, Srokosz (NOCS) & Gommenginger (NOCS). National Oceanography Centre, Southampton funding.
• Irina Foss, PhD Studentship (2006-). - "The influence of sea temperatures on the seasonal and decadal predictability of Scottish climate" UHI studentship (ARC; HIE, ERDF and UHI funding) supervised by Woolf, Gagnon & Merchant (Edinburgh)
• Rosalind Pidcock, PhD Studentship (2007-). - "How is ocean phytoplankton survival controlled by mesoscale eddies and fronts" NERC studentship (NOCS Quota) supervised by Allen, Robinson, Bibby, Sanders, Martin (all NOCS) & Woolf (CASE supervisor)

• * These priorities and sub themes are closely allied to theme "Renewable Energy and the Environment"
  † These priorities and sub themes linked to themes "Biogeochemistry" and "Ecology and Ecosystems"