Dr Martin Austin

Senior Lecturer in Ocean Sciences

Contact info

Office: 211 Marine Centre Wales     Phone: 01248 382803

Email: m.austin@bangor.ac.uk

Web: Google Scholar     ResearchGate     ORCID

Twitter: @mart_austin

I am an observational oceanographer and specialise in the hydro- and morpho-dynamics of the inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal regions of the coastal ocean. My present research at Bangor includes:

  • The turbulent flow dynamics around sub-sea cables that causes seabed scour and subsequent cable failure. This ESPRC-funded research works in collaboration with three industry partners from the Marine Renewable Energy sector. It aims to reduce costs within the industry, where cable failures in 2014-17 cost the sector £250M.  
  • The dynamics of large-scale turbulent motions in tidally energetic regions. This EPSRC- and NRN-funded work seeks to quantify large-scale turbulent motions and assess the impacts on tidal energy extraction and infrastructure. Observational field experiments are being undertaken in the Menai Strait and around north Wales, and include industry collaborators from UK, Europe and the USA.
  • WASP - Waves Across Shore Platforms. EPSRC-funded grant investigating wave attenuation processes across rocky shore platforms at multiple sites across the UK and New Zealand to produce a new numerical modelling tool.
  • Nearshore inter- to sub-tidal sediment exchange caused by the interaction of wave-driven nearshore currents, tidal currents and cross-shelf currents. This is linked to the Crown Estates Anglesey Tidal Test Site, with particular interest in nearshore sub-sea cable pathways, and encompasses field measurements of the full water column velocity, turbulence and sediment profiles. Autonomous Coastal Observatory buoy units are being deployed to support this work in  spring 2018.

 

I graduated from Plymouth University in 2002 with a BSc in Ocean Science and completed my PhD in gravel beach morphodynamics at Loughborough University in 2005. I have subsequently been a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at: Plymouth University (2005 - 2007, Cross-shore sediment transport on sandy beaches); Loughborough University (2007, Dust generation on an Arctic pro-glacial flood plain); before returning once again to Plymouth (2007 - 2010, Impacts of offshore wave energy arrays on seabed and shoreline processes; and 2010 - 2013, Dynamics of rip currents and implication for beach safety).  Research Areas

  1. Alongshore fluid motions in the swash zone of a sandy and gravel beach

    Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., Russell, P. E., Turner, I. L. & Blenkinsopp, C. E., Aug 2011, In: Coastal Engineering. 58, 8, p. 690-705

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  2. Published

    Macrotidal rip current experiment : circulation and dynamics

    Austin, M. J., Scott, T. M., Brown, J. W., Brown, J. A. & Macmahan, J. H., 2009, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 2009, 56, p. 24-28

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  3. Published

    Rip Current Prediction: Development, Validation, and Evaluation of an Operational Tool

    Austin, M. J., Scott, T. M., Russell, P. E. & Masselink, G., 1 Oct 2013, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 29, 2, p. 283-300 18 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  4. Published

    Onshore sediment transport on a sandy beach under varied wave conditions: Flow velocity skewness, wave asymmetry or bed ventilation?

    Austin, M., Masselink, G., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P. E., 15 Apr 2009, In: Marine Geology. 259, 1-4, p. 86-101

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  5. Observations of morphological change and sediment transport on a steep gravel beach

    Austin, MJ. & Masselink, G., 30 May 2006, In: Marine Geology. 229, 1-2, p. 59-77

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  6. Published

    Comment on: “Is ‘re-mobilisation’ nature restoration or nature destruction? A commentary”, by Delgado-Fernandez et al.

    Austin, M. & Walker-Springett, G., 13 Jan 2021, In: Journal of Coastal Conservation. 25, 1, 10.

    Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

  7. Swash-groundwater interaction on a steep gravel beach

    Austin, M. J. & Masselink, G., Dec 2006, In: Continental Shelf Research. 26, 20, p. 2503-2519

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  8. Published

    Water-level controls on macro-tidal rip currents

    Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., Scott, T. M. & Russell, P. E., 16 Dec 2013, In: Continental Shelf Research. 75, p. 28-40

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  9. Published

    The effect of bedform dynamics on computing suspended sediment fluxes using optical backscatter sensors and current meters

    Austin, M. J. & Masselink, G., Mar 2008, In: Coastal Engineering. 55, 3, p. 251-260

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  10. Published

    Morphological change and sediment dynamics of the beach step on a macrotidal gravel beach

    Austin, M. J. & Buscombe, D., 31 Mar 2008, In: Marine Geology. 249, 3-4, p. 167-183

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. Published

    Coastal sand dunes: storms and (over-)stabilisation

    Austin, M. & Walker-Springett, G., 1 Nov 2021, Geography Review, 35, 2, p. 8-13 6 p.

    Research output: Contribution to specialist publicationArticle

  12. Published

    Rip currents are a natural hazard along our coasts - here's how to spot them

    Austin, M., 27 Jul 2016, The Conversation.

    Research output: Contribution to specialist publicationArticle

  13. Relaxation time effects of wave ripples on tidal beaches

    Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P. E., 28 Aug 2007, In: Geophysical Research Letters. 34, 16, p. 1-5 5 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  14. Published

    Temporal observations of rip current circulation on a macro-tidal beach

    Austin, M., Scott, T., Brown, J., Brown, J., MacMahan, J., Russell, P. E. & Masselink, G., 31 May 2010, In: Continental Shelf Research. 30, 9, p. 1149-1165

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  15. Groundwater dynamics in coastal gravel barriers backed by freshwater lagoons and the potential for saline intrusion: Two cases from the UK

    Austin, M. J., Masselink, G., McCall, R. T. & Poate, T. G., Aug 2013, In: Journal of Marine Systems. 123-124, p. 19-32

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Dust generation on a proglacial floodplain, West Greenland

    Bullard, J. E. & Austin, M. J., Jun 2011, In: Aeolian Research. 3, 1, p. 43-54

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  17. Published

    Grain size selection in seagrass beds

    Conley, D., Austin, M., Davidson, I., Buscombe, D. & Masselink, G., 17 Jun 2017.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  18. Published

    Exploring regional coastal sediment pathways using a coupled tide-wave-sediment dynamics model

    Davies, A. G., Robins, P., Austin, M. & Walker-Springett, G., 15 Jan 2023, In: Continental Shelf Research. 253, 104903.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. Published

    The need for a people’s perspective when exploring climate change and cultural heritage

    Forino, G., Yorke, L., Robinson, G., Austin, M., Sieradzan, K. & Hewitt, J., 28 Jun 2023, Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers .

    Research output: Other contributionpeer-review

  20. Published

    Turbulence and Coherent Structure Characterisation in a Tidally Energetic Channel

    Lucas, N., Austin, M., Rippeth, T., Powell, B. & Wakonigg, P., Jul 2022, In: Renewable Energy. 194, p. 259-272

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. Published

    Mean Lagrangian flow behavior on an open coast rip-channeled beach: A new perspective

    MacMahan, J., Brown, J., Brown, J., Thornton, E., Reniers, A., Stanton, T., Henriquez, M., Gallagher, E., Morrison, J., Austin, M. J., Scott, T. & Senechal, N., 15 Jan 2010, In: Marine Geology. 268, 1-4, p. 1-15

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  22. Published

    Sediment trend models fail to reproduce small-scale sediment transport patterns on an intertidal beach

    Masselink, G., Buscombe, D., Austin, M., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P., 20 Nov 2007, In: Sedimentology. 55, 3, p. 667-687

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. Published

    Role of wave forcing, storms and NAO in outer bar dynamics on a high-energy, macro-tidal beach

    Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., Scott, T., Poate, T. & Russell, P., 2 Aug 2014, In: Geomorphology. 226, p. 76-93

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  24. Geometry and dynamics of wave ripples in the nearshore zone of a coarse sandy beach

    Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., O'Hare, T. J. & Russell, P. E., 24 Oct 2007, In: Journal of Geophysical Research. 112, C10

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  25. Published

    Cross-shore sediment transport and morphological response on a macrotidal beach with intertidal bar morphology, Truc Vert, France

    Masselink, G., Austin, M., Tinker, J., O'Hare, T. & Russell, P. E., 6 Jun 2008, In: Marine Geology. 251, 3-4, p. 141-155

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  26. Published

    Modelling incident-band and infra gravity wave dynamics on rocky shore platforms

    McCall, R. T., Masselink, G., Austin, M., Poate, T. & Jager, T., Jun 2017, p. 1658-1669.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  27. Published

    Characterizing the Marine Energy Test Area (META) in Wales, UK

    Neill, S., Fairley, I., Rowlands, S., Young, S., Hill, T., Unsworth, C., King, N., Roberts, M., Austin, M., Hughes, P., Masters, I., Owen, A., Powell, B., Reeve, D. E. & Lewis, M., 1 Mar 2023, In: Renewable Energy. 205, p. 447-460

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  28. Published

    Morphodynamic variability of high-energy macrotidal beaches, Cornwall, UK

    Poate, T., Masselink, G., Russell, P. & Austin, M., 1 Apr 2014, In: Marine Geology. 350, p. 97-111

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  29. Published

    The role of bed roughness in wave transformation across sloping rock shore platforms

    Poate, T. G., Masselink, G., Austin, M., Dickson, M. & McCall, R. T., Jan 2018, In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 123, 1, p. 97-123

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  30. Published

    Infragravity wave generation on shore platforms: bound long wave versus breakpoint forcing

    Poate, T. G., Masselink, G., Austin, M., Inch, K., Dickson, M. & McCall, R. D., 1 Feb 2020, In: Geomorphology. 350, 106880.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  31. Published

    Boundary layer dynamics in the swash zone under large-scale laboratory conditions

    Ruju, A., Conley, D., Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., Puleo, J., Lanckriet, T. & Foster, D., 1 Jul 2016, In: Coastal Engineering. 113, July, p. 47-61

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  32. Published

    Controls on macrotidal rip current circulation and hazard

    Scott, T., Masselink, G., Austin, M. J. & Russell, P., 15 Feb 2014, In: Geomorphology. 214

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  33. Published

    Rip current hazards on large-tidal beaches in the United Kingdom

    Scott, T. M., Russell, P. E., Masselink, G., Austin, M. J., Wills, S. & Wooler, A., 9 May 2011, Rip Currents: Beach Safety, Physical Oceanogaphy, and Wave Modeling. Leatherman, S. & Fletemeyer, J. (eds.). CRC Press, p. 225-242 18 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

  34. Published

    Dynamics of rip currents associated with groynes — field measurements, modelling and implications for beach safety

    Scott, T., Austin, M. J., Masselink, G. & Russell, P., 30 Oct 2015, In: Coastal Engineering. 107, p. 53-69

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  35. Published

    The annual cycle of energy input, modal excitation and physical plus biogenic turbulent dissipation in a temperate lake

    Simpson, J., Woolway, I., Scannell, B., Austin, M., Powell, B. & Maberly, S. C., Jun 2021, In: Water Resources Research. 57, 6, 2020WR029441.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  36. Published

    Groundwater fluxes and flow paths within coastal barriers: Observations from a large-scale laboratory experiment (BARDEX II)

    Turner, I. L., Rau, G. C., Austin, M. J. & Andersen, M. S., Jul 2016, In: Coastal Engineering. 113, p. 104-116

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. Coastal sand barrier hydrology - observations from the BARDEX II prototype-scale laboratory experiment

    Turner, I. L., Rau, G. C., Andersen, M. S., Austin, M. J., Puleo, J. A. & Masselink, G., 2013, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 65, S2, p. 1886-1891

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  38. Published

    Field measurements of cable self-burial in a sandy marine environment

    Unsworth, C., Austin, M., Van Landeghem, K., Couldrey, A., Whitehouse, R., Lincoln, B., Doole, S. & Worrall, P., Sept 2023, In: Coastal Engineering. 184, 22 p., 104309.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  39. Published
  40. Published

    Renewable infrastructure in a field of dunes: changes to near bed turbulence & sediments

    Unsworth, C., Austin, M., Van Landeghem, K., Couldrey, A. & Whitehouse, R., 1 Jan 2023, p. 299-306. 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

  41. Published
  42. Published

    The UK’s first climate refugees: why more defences may not save this village from rising sea levels

    Ward, S. & Austin, M., 31 Mar 2023, The Conversation.

    Research output: Contribution to specialist publicationArticle