Emma Tompkins (UoS), Sally Brown (EA), Ivan Haigh (UoS)
To apply for this project please click here. Tick programme type – Research, tick Full-time or Part-time, select Academic year – ‘2024/25, Faculty Environmental and Life Sciences’, search text – ‘PhD Ocean & Earth Science (FLOOD CDT)’. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the project and supervisor(s) you are interested in applying for. if you have any problems please contact I.D.Haigh@soton.ac.uk.
To apply for this project please click here. Tick programme type – Research, tick Full-time or Part-time, select Academic year – ‘2024/25, Faculty Environmental and Life Sciences’, search text – ‘PhD Ocean & Earth Science (FLOOD CDT)’. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the project and supervisor(s) you are interested in applying for. if you have any problems please contact I.D.Haigh@soton.ac.uk.
Rationale:
The number of extreme events that can initiate flood risk in the UK is increasing, due to climate change and other factors (e.g., increased population and development in flood prone areas and aging infrastructure). This means adaptation to flooding needs to be scaled up to ensure that according to the Environment Agency’s 2020 FCERM strategy we will be ‘a nation ready for, and resilient to, flooding and coastal change – today, tomorrow and to the year 2100’ (Environment Agency, 2020). One of the Environment Agency’s core ambitions is that households understand their risk, know their responsibility and how to take appropriate action. Enabling a greater public understanding of flood risk, knowing who is responsible, and taking action is a continuous education processes that is universally recognised by government, universities, consultancies etc. Groups lacking this knowledge are often less frequently flooded or those in a flood zone but protected by defences (e.g, London). Lack of knowledge can occur because there are many ways to adapt, even when flood sources are different; and information on how to adapt is not assembled in one easily accessible place that is fit for a particular service user and fit for the nature of flooding that will occur (e.g. lead-in time from forecast, slow response catchments, responding to long-term flood risk). Service users can be largely unaware of adaptation methods that can substantially reduce risk, and the first steps to behaviour change cannot be initiated. It also means missed opportunities to adapt and what adaptation or preventative measures that work place given the nature of the flood.
Methodology:
This multidisciplinary PhD brings together natural and engineering science, with social sciences to explore ‘how are households and small businesses adapting to floods in England), addressing FLOOD-CDT themes. This will be achieved by:
a) Evaluating types of flood forecast and predictions (that enable adaptation conditions)
b) Assessing who the end users are (questionnaire).
c) Determining types of adaptation available and how they can be used based on a) & b); and analyse the quality and nature of the proxy data on adaptations by region and flood type to assess feasibility of creating a nationwide dataset of adaptation using these sources. Related to: RT6 Community engagement, policy and regulation: innovation in co-developing effective understanding, communication and engagement about flood risk and impacts to improve flood preparedness
d) Create an evidence base on adaptation at all stages of the disaster risk reduction cycle (including risk mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) drawing on Big Data sources (internet search terms and local demand for disaster risk mitigation products and services) complemented with qualitative research.
Location:
University of Southampton
Background Reading:
- Brown, S. et al. Transitions in modes of coastal adaptation: addressing blight, engagement and sustainability. Frontiers in Marine Science 10, doi:10.3389/fmars.2023.1153134 (2023).
- Porter, J. J., Dessai, S. & Tompkins, E. L. What do we know about UK household adaptation to climate change? A systematic review. Climatic change 127, 371-379 (2014).
- Tompkins, E. L., et al. Documenting the state of adaptation for the global stocktake of the Paris Agreement. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 9, e545 (2018).
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