Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2003/00888
Peat mass movements and geomorphological impacts of an extreme rainfall event - 19 September 2003, County Mayo, Ireland.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr AP Dykes, University of Huddersfield, Division of Geographical Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor J Warburton, Durham University, Geography
- Grant held at:
- University of Huddersfield, Division of Geographical Sciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Freshwater
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Science Topics:
- Earth Surface Processes
- Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
- Hydrological Processes
- Soil science
- Abstract:
- The geomorphological impacts of extreme storms are difficult to assess unless they can be studied in detail in the immediate aftermath of the event. The impacts of such events may be unusual or entirely unexpected in their nature. The severe storm of 19 September 2003 in Co. Mayo, Ireland, caused around 35 significant landslides within 3 hours in an area of less than 3 square kms. Most failures involved peat slopes, which are generally rarely-studied geomorphological events but in this instance and in many other locations had a devastating impact on the local community. This research aims to establish the specific factors responsible for these peat failures, and to determine the nature and severity of the related geomorphological impacts of the storm in terms of sediment budgets and the impacts on the local community. Peat slope failures are becoming increasingly recognised as common and potentially damaging events in parts of the UK as well as Ireland, particularly as consequences of extreme weather events that are predicted to become more common as climate change progresses. This project is therefore directly concerned with a key UK environmental issue ('environmental risks and hazards') identified by NERC as a specific research focus. The work will be undertaken as a collaboration between peat mass movement experts at the Universities of Huddersfield and Durham. This will involve intensive field data collection on and around Dooncarton Mountain, Co. Mayo followed by analysis and modelling of peat properties and behaviour in the laboratories at Huddersfield and Durham. PS: At the time of writing a major peat slide (> 70 acres) has been reported from Slieve Aughty in County Galway (17 October 2003)
- Period of Award:
- 1 Feb 2004 - 28 Feb 2005
- Value:
- £17,590 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2003/00888
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Urgency
This grant award has a total value of £17,590
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £8,084 | £5,435 | £1,572 | £2,500 |
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