Our Research

Geography and Geology research

Geography and Geology in the Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences at Edge Hill University is a broad, dynamic, and interdisciplinary group dedicated to understanding the Earth in all its complexity. Their research encompasses the study of physical environments, landscapes, and environmental processes, and the interactions between these systems and the human societies that inhabit and shape them. This integrated approach allows for a comprehensive examination of both natural and anthropogenic influences on our planet.

Our research group brings together a diverse range of expertise, including Environmental Change and associated global challenges, Human Geography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing technologies, Landscape Dynamics, Sedimentology, Igneous Petrology, Geochemistry, and Volcanology. This breadth of knowledge enables us to address critical scientific questions across multiple scales—from local catchment processes to global environmental systems.

Our research is technical, conceptual, or empirical in nature.

Through this integrated perspective, we aim to contribute to sustainable solutions for contemporary environmental challenges while deepening scientific knowledge of the Earth’s past, present, and future.

Research Areas

Quaternary and Holocene Environmental Change

The Quaternary period is characterised by major climatic and environmental variability operating over a range of spatial and temporal scales. These changes have been driven by complex interactions between climate forcing, geological processes, and human activity. Although Quaternary science has generated extensive datasets, key questions remain regarding the drivers of past change and how palaeo-records can inform future environmental predictions.

The Holocene, the current Quaternary epoch, provides a valuable archive for reconstructing past environments and climates. Using palaeoecological and geochronological approaches, research focuses on natural archives such as peat bogs, lakes, and forest hollows to explore both natural and anthropogenic influences on environmental change. Current research themes include palaeotempestology (tsunami and hurricane impacts), palynology to reconstruct woodland history, and palaeofire studies examining interactions between climate, vegetation, and human activity.

Holocene River Development and Flood Histories

River systems preserve partial records of channel change and flooding within their floodplains, offering valuable insights into past hydrological behaviour. The alluvial archive, comprising floodplain landforms and sediments, records the timing and magnitude of past flood events and episodes of enhanced fluvial activity. When combined with climatic and land-use records, these archives help explain how rivers respond to environmental change.

Our research focuses on regional-scale analyses of Holocene fluvial activity using meta-analysis approaches to identify periods of increased flooding and their potential climatic drivers. High-resolution sedimentological and geochemical analyses of overbank deposits allow the reconstruction of long-term flood chronologies, even where individual events are not visually distinct. Current projects include studies of British upland river systems, such as the River Ribble.

River Catchment Science

River catchments support agriculture, biodiversity, urban centres, and water supply, making their sustainable management increasingly important under climate change. Sediment plays a central role in catchment functioning, influencing aquatic ecology, water treatment costs, soil erosion, carbon cycling, and pollutant transport, including microplastics. While erosion, transport, and deposition are natural processes, they are strongly modified by human activity.

Our research investigates how sediment and pollutants move through alluvial, mixed-bedrock, and bedrock catchments over time. Using field measurements, laboratory analyses (including isotopes and geochemistry), and modelling approaches, we identify sediment sources, pathways, and storage zones. This work supports nature-based solutions for flood risk reduction, ecological improvement, and cost-effective water management. Projects include studies in the River Nene, Tawd Valley, and collaborative initiatives with landowners, regulators, and water companies.

Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis

Coastal zones are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth and host critical ‘blue carbon’ systems such as mangroves, marshes, seagrasses, and coral reefs. These environments store carbon at exceptionally high rates but are increasingly threatened by deforestation, degradation, sea-level rise, and intensified storms. Loss of these systems reduces carbon storage capacity and contributes to climate change.

Our research uses advanced remote sensing, GIS, and data science techniques to monitor coastal environments from treetops to ocean floors. Satellite imagery enables long-term analysis of habitat change, radar data supports carbon stock estimation, and spaceborne lasers provide detailed bathymetric and habitat models. By integrating machine learning and spatial analysis, we address questions about carbon storage, ecosystem resilience, and the long-term effectiveness of nature-based climate solutions, while also applying these methods to hazards, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.

Coastal erosion, resilience and vulnerability

Understanding coastal erosion dynamics is critical to assessing the resilience of coastal systems and their vulnerability to climate change. Our research highlights the importance of nearshore and onshore geology and geomorphology interactions with marine as well as terrestrial, subaerial and fluvial, processes. Our focus is in understanding the behaviour of natural materials in coastal environments and applying that knowledge to be of value to environmental managers.

A key area of interest is the erosion dynamics of rock coasts, including soft, cohesive clays, intermediate strength sedimentary rocks, such as limestone, and hard igneous rocks, such as granite. Rock coasts periodically erode very rapidly, posing a threat to coastal communities. We work in interdisciplinary teams, across natural and social sciences, to improve scientific understanding of the vulnerability of coastal communities to hydro-meteorological hazards, including storms, floods and coastal erosion, under future climate change scenarios. We also contribute expert knowledge to the European Marine Observation Data Network (EMODnet), the EC’s marine data service. Through EMODnet Geology, we have collaboratively developed the coastal resilience and vulnerability data product and assisted in the development of the suite of coastal behaviour data products used to assess coastal change, supporting researchers, planners, and policymakers in evidence-based decision-making and coastal governance.

Triassic Halite Karst Geohazards

Triassic halite karst in Cheshire, UK presents a significant geohazard for infrastructure and development, particularly as climate change increases the risk of subsidence through reactivation of former brine runs. Understanding the mechanisms driving these processes is essential for mitigating risks to the built environment.

Research focuses on identifying triggers for the reactivation of dormant brine pathways and developing surface water drainage strategies to reduce halite dissolution. Advanced techniques, including LiDAR-based digital terrain modelling and satellite InSAR, are used to map subsidence zones and assess their activity. These approaches inform planning and engineering design, supporting safer development in halite karst landscapes.

Volcanology and Igneous Geochemistry

Our volcanology research integrates geochemical, petrological, and numerical modelling approaches to improve understanding of magmatic systems and volcanic processes. By investigating magma generation, recharge, and mixing, we aim to enhance eruption forecasting and reconstruct the long-term evolution of volcanic systems.

Research spans active and ancient volcanic settings, including the British Palaeogene Volcanic Province and Iceland. We also examine the environmental impacts of historic eruptions, such as the Mount Mazama event, to assess links between volcanism, ecosystems, and climate. Combining fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and computational modelling, our work contributes to broader understanding of how volcanic processes shape Earth’s surface and atmosphere over geological timescales.

Forced Migration and Human Geography

Forced migration highlights the human consequences of displacement, borders, and belonging. Within Human Geography, our research examines how asylum seekers and refugees navigate complex systems of governance, adapt to new environments, and construct lives under conditions of uncertainty. We explore how migration processes connect local experiences to global political, economic, and social dynamics.

Using qualitative and collaborative approaches, our work focuses on the lived experiences of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Research themes include protest and protest policing, financial self-management among African migrants, mental health and wellbeing, and the role of institutions within the asylum industrial complex. A recent project on the criminalisation of asylum seekers in Liverpool illustrates how marginalisation is experienced in everyday life, contributing to debates on justice, policy, and human rights.

Purpose and scope of collaborating relationships

We are an active research group with demonstrated experience of working with industry and wider governmental, non-governmental, charitable and not for profit organisations. Our research has on the ground application for the management of the environment. Our team are experienced in research translation, co-designing projects with stakeholders and creating bespoke research projects. We are keen to collaborate with organisations, so please email if you have a project idea (including student projects – undergraduate dissertation, master research projects or PhD, and staff research projects).

We are part of Eco-Edge which delivers high-quality environmental consultancy services, combining ecological and environmental expertise with cutting-edge technology to support sustainable decision-making.

The Group also actively participates in the Racial Justice & Migration Research Group and the Centre for Social Responsibility Research Centre.