Dr Mark Smith

Lecturer
BSc., M.Res, and Ph.D. (Durham University) Photograph of Dr Mark Smith.

Contact

Email: mark.smith@aber.ac.uk
Office: E5
Phone: +44 (0)1970 622 646
Fax: +44 (0)1970 622 659

Responsibilities

  • Director of Undergraduate Recruitment
  • BSc Geography Admissions Tutor
  • Geography Ambassadors Scheme Co-ordinator
  • IGES Marketing & Newsletter

Teaching Areas

Module Co-ordinator:

  • EA20110 Environmental Management (Level 2)
  • GG30220 Monitoring and Modelling Hydrological Systems (Level 3)

Contribute to:

  • GG13020  Key Skills for Geographers (Level 1)
  • GG22100 Geography Tutorial (Level 2)
  • GG22400 Geography Fieldwork (Level 2)
  • GG34040 Geography Dissertation (Level 3)

Postgraduate Supervision:

  • Zöe Kershaw
  • Joseph Pearce
  • Joanna Matthews
  • Richard Williams

Research

Group Affiliation

Research Interests

My research interests are focussed on two main areas: (i) parameterisation of the surface roughness of complex topographies across a wide range of process environments and (ii) coupling basic hydrological models with models of malaria transmission. Underlining both these research threads is an appreciation of the structural and functional connectivity of patterns and processes within hydrology and geomorphology at various scales with the aim of invoking this analytical concept to understand nonlinearities and thresholds within water and sediment transfer systems.

 (i)      Parameterising the surface roughness of complex topographies. Specific areas of research include:

  • development of through-water terrestrial laser scanning techniques to facilitate the three-dimensional high-resolution acquisition of submerged topography in shallow gravel-bed rivers;
  • examination of interactions between flow resistance, turbulence intensity, surface form, sediment transport and the dynamics of in-stream invertebrate refugia (both low and high flows) at plot and reach scales in marginally-inundated gravel-bed rivers;
  • incorporation of flow resistance−surface roughness relationships into hillslope hydrological models capable of analysing the interactions between overland flow resistance, infiltration and rainfall patterns on flood generation. This enables a quantitative representation of functional hydrological connectivity, regarded as a fundamental concept in semi-arid hydrology;
  • monitoring the fine-scale transformation of surface form over eroding surfaces. This research thread includes repeat TLS monitoring of a large-scale badland system (Isabena catchment, NW Spain) to inform landscape evolution models, and regular monitoring of bank erosion on the River Dyfi (mid-Wales) using both TLS and 'structure-through-motion' to examine the spatial variability of erosion rates and mechanisms for effective riverine management.

 (ii)    Understanding the dynamic hydrological drivers of malaria transmission. Specific areas of research include:

  • understanding the hydrological processes driving malaria transmission, especially focussing on the maintenance of dry-season refugia for mosquito larvae;
  • developing a hydrological and geomorphological context for observed mosquito dry-season refugia in the Kilombero valley (south Tanzania). This unique environmental approach aims to provide a dynamic malaria hazard map for the valley, but also offers the potential to target remediation activities to the greatest effect;
  • monitoring and modelling hydrological processes in large tropical catchments. Such areas are often ungauged and we know very little about the specific hydrological processes operating. This research aims to provide and interrogate an extensive dataset on the surface and subsurface hydrology of the Namwala subcatchment of the Kilombero River.

 Mark is also associated with the ReesScan project (south Island New Zealand) co-ordinated by Dr James Brasington.

IGES Projects

HYDROMAL: Hydro-dynamic drivers of malaria transmission hazard in Africa

Postdoctoral Supervision

Dr Andrew Hardy


Biography

Dr Mark Smith is a Lecturer in Physical Geography in the Institute of Geography & Earth Sciences. He came to Aberystwyth from Durham University where he completed BSc. in Geography, an M.Res in Geography and submitted his Ph.D. in 2008. Mark’s Ph.D. investigated hillslope hydrology and runoff production in semi-arid areas. Specifically, this examined the applicability of theories of fluvial hydraulics to shallow overland flows and the challenges of numerically representing the complex topographies observed in the field. Since then Mark has developed and tested a field method for surveying complex, submerged topographies in gravel bed rivers using Terrestrial Laser Scanning and is generally interested in methods of measuring and parameterising surface roughness across a wide range of disciplines. Mark is also a co-investigator on a NERC grant investigating the dynamic hydrological drivers of malaria transmission in sub-saharan Africa.


Staff Publications

Peer Reviewed Book Chapters & Journal Articles

Submitted

  1. Bracken LJ, Kirkby MJ, Smith MW and Reaney SM. Under Review. Are runoff units an appropriate way to predict catchment runoff and sediment transport in semi-arid environments? Water Resources Research.
  2. Smith, M.W., Vericat, D. and Gibbins, C. submitted. Through-water terrestrial laser scanning of gravel beds at the patch scale. Submitted to: Earth Surface Processes & Landforms
  3. Smith, M.W. submitted. Improving student engagement with employability: the project pitch assessment. Submitted to Planet
  4. Smith, M.W., Polglase, G. and Parry, C. submitted. Construction of student groups using Belbin: supporting group work in environmental management. Submitted to Journal of Geography in Higher Education

2011

  1. Smith MW, Cox NJ, Bracken LJ. 2011a. Terrestrial laser scanning soil surfaces: a field methodology to examine surface roughness and overland flow hydraulics. Hydrological Processes 25, 842 - 860. DOI
  2. Smith MW, Cox NJ and Bracken LJ. 2011b. Modelling depth distributions of overland flows. Geomorphology 125, 402-413. DOI

2010

  1. Smith MW, Bracken LJ, and Cox NJ. 2010. Towards a dynamic representation of hydrological connectivity at the hillslope scale in semi-arid areas. Water Resources Research 46: W12540. DOI

2007

  1. Smith MW, Cox NJ, Bracken LJ. 2007. Applying flow resistance equations to overland flows. Progress in Physical Geography, 31(4): 363-387