Dr Sophie Ward
Cymrawd Ymchwil; Uwch Swyddog Ymchwil mewn Modelu Hydrodynamig
Room: 107 Marine Centre Wales Phone: 01248 383978
Email: sophie.ward@bangor.ac.uk
Web: ResearchGate;
I am a physical oceanographer with special interest in ocean modelling. I have experience of applying models to a broad range of research topics including marine renewable energy, past climate conditions, marine biosecurity and the aquaculture industry.
I worked for several years as a physical oceanographer on the SEACAMS 2 project, conducting collaborative RD&I projects with the marine renewable energy sector in Wales. I am currently a numerical modeller working on the ECOSTRUCTURE and Cockles projects, as well as the Shellfish Centre and Menai Offshore Subsurface Shellfish Systems projects, which are focussed on the shellfish industry around the Welsh Coast.
I graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences (Physics and Environmental Science) from the University of Bath in 2007, after which I worked as a Graduate Environmental Consultant in North Wales. I then undertook a MSc in Applied Physical Oceanography, followed by a PhD in Physical Oceanography, both at Bangor University. The focus of my PhD project was on simulating changes in Northwest European shelf sea tides due to sea-level rise since the Last Glacial Maximum, and exploring the use of seabed sediment grain size as a proxy for past tidal current conditions.
Particular areas of research interest include: numerical modelling (physical, biophysical and biogeochemical/ecosystem), sediment dynamics, sea-level rise and climate change, marine renewable energy.
Qualifications
- PhD: A new proxy for constraining palaeotidal simulations of the northwest European shelf seas
Bangor University, 2010–2015 - Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE)
2013 - MSc: Applied Physical Oceanography
Bangor University, 2009–2011 - BSc: Natural Sciences
University of Bath, 2004–2007
Cyfleoedd Project PhD
I have a range of research interests in which PhD projects could be developed. Please contact me by email in the first instance regarding any of the following areas:
- Tidal modelling (past, present or future)
- Marine renewable energy
- Dispersal of marine organisms (including invasive species and aquaculture)
- Ocean biogeochemical modelling.
Cyhoeddiadau
2021
- CyhoeddwydA new seabed mobility index for the Irish Sea: Modelling seabed shear stress and classifying sediment mobilisation to help predict erosion, deposition, and sediment distribution.
Coughlan, M., Guerrini, M., Creane, S., O'Shea, M., Ward, S., Van Landeghem, K., Murphy, J. & Doherty, P., 1 Tach 2021, Yn : Continental Shelf Research. 229, 104574.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydTides
Ward, S., 2021, 30-Second Oceans: 50 key ideas about the sea's importance to life on earth. Green, M. & Lenn, Y-D. (gol.). The Ivy Press
Allbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod
2020
- CyhoeddwydNon-linear landscape and cultural response to sea-level rise
Barnett, R., Charman, D. J., Johns, C., Ward, S., Bevan, A., Bradley, S. L., Cambridge, K., Fyfe, R. M., Gehrels, W. R., Hatton, J., Khan, N. S., Marshall, P., Maezumi, S. Y., Mills, S., Mulville, J., Perez, M., Roberts, H. M., Scourse, J. D., Shepherd, F. & Stevens, T., 4 Tach 2020, Yn : Science Advances. 6, 45, eabb6376.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydThe challenges of constraining shelf sea tidal models using seabed sediment grain size as a proxy for tidal currents
Ward, S., Scourse, J., Yokoyama, Y. & Neill, S., Rhag 2020, Yn : Continental Shelf Research. 205, 104165.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
2019
- CyhoeddwydAdvance and retreat of the marine-terminating Irish Sea Ice Stream into the Celtic Sea during the Last Glacial: Timing and maximum extent
Scourse, J., Saher, M., Van Landeghem, K., Lockhart, E., Purcell, C., Callard, S. L., Roseby, Z., Allison, B., Pieńkowski, A., Ó Cofaigh, C., Praeg, D., Ward, S., Chiverrell, R. C., Moreton, S., Fabel, D. & Clark, C., 1 Meh 2019, Yn : Marine Geology. 412, t. 53-68
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydTracking Holocene palaeostratification and productivity changes in the Western Irish Sea: A multi-proxy record
Woods, M. A., Wilkinson, I. P., Leng, M. J., Riding, J. B., Vane, C. H., Lopes dos Santos, R. A., Kender, S., De Schepperd, S., Hennissen, J. A. I., Ward, S. L., Gowing, C. J. B., Wilby, P. R., Nichols, M. D. & Rochelle, C. A., 15 Hyd 2019, Yn : Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 532
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
2018
- CyhoeddwydThe role of megatides and relative sea level in controlling the deglaciation of the British-Irish and Fennoscandinavian ice sheets
Scourse, J., Ward, S., Wainwright, A., Bradley, S. L. & Uehara, K., Chwef 2018, Yn : Quaternary Science. 33, 2, t. 139-149
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydTidal range energy resource and optimization – past perspectives and future challenges
Neill, S., Angeloudis, A., Robins, P., Walkington, I., Ward, S., Masters, I., Lewis, M., Piano, M., Avdis, A., Piggott, M., Aggidis, G., Evans, P., Adcock, T., Zidonis, A., Ahmadian, R. & Falconer, R., Tach 2018, Yn : Renewable Energy. 127, November, t. 763-778
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydTidal stream resource characterisation in progressive versus standing wave systems
Ward, S., Robins, P., Lewis, M., Iglesias, G., Hashemi, M. R. & Neill, S., 15 Meh 2018, Yn : Applied Energy. 220, t. 274-285
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
2017
- CyhoeddwydCharacteristics of the velocity profile at tidal-stream energy sites
Lewis, M., Neill, S., Robins, P., Hashemi, M. R. & Ward, S., Rhag 2017, Yn : Renewable Energy. 114, Part A, t. 258-272
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydComparison of 4- and 5-beam acoustic Doppler current profiler configurations for measurement of turbulent kinetic energy
Togneri, M., Jones, D., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Ward, S., Piano, M. & Masters, I., 5 Medi 2017, Yn : Energy Procedia. 125, t. 260-267
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydTidal stream resource assessment uncertainty due to flow asymmetry and turbine yaw misalignment
Piano, M., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Robins, P., Hashemi, R., Davies, A., Ward, S. & Roberts, M., Rhag 2017, Yn : Renewable Energy. t. 1363-1375
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
2016
- CyhoeddwydResearch priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)
Roche, RC., Walker-Springett, K., Robins, PE., Jones, J., Veneruso, G., Whitton, TA., Piano, M., Ward, SL., Duce, CE., Waggitt, JJ., Walker-Springett, G., Neill, S., Lewis, M. & King, J., 1 Rhag 2016, Yn : Renewable Energy. 99, December, t. 1327-1341 15 t.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydSensitivity of palaeotidal models of the northwest European shelf seas to glacial isostatic adjustment since the Last Glacial Maximum
Ward, S., Neill, S., Scourse, J., Bradley, S. L. & Uehara, K., 1 Tach 2016, Yn : Quaternary Science Reviews. 151, t. 198-211
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
2015
- CyhoeddwydCharacterising the spatial and temporal variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over the northwest European shelf seas
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J. & Ward, S. L., 1 Meh 2015, Yn : Applied Energy. 147, t. 510-522
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydCharacterizing the tidal energy resource of the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone (UK), using TELEMAC-2D and field observations
Piano, M., Ward, S. L., Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J., Davies, A. G., Powell, B. I., Owen, A. W. & Hashemi, R. M., 15 Hyd 2015.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gynhadledd › Papur - CyhoeddwydClassifying seabed sediment type using simulated tidal-induced bed shear stress
Ward, S. L., Neill, S. P., Van Landeghem, K. J. & Scourse, J. D., 30 Mai 2015, Yn : Marine Geology. 367, t. 94-104
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
2013
- CyhoeddwydBriefing: Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference 2012
Green, M., Davies, A. G., Bowers, D. G., Zhu, F., Ward, S. L. & Porter, K., Medi 2013, Yn : Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 166, 3, t. 101-108
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydModelling tides and sea-level rise: To flood or not to flood
Pelling, H. E., Green, J. A. M. & Ward, S. L., Maw 2013, Yn : Ocean Modelling. 63, t. 21-29
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl - CyhoeddwydSimulated Late-glacial and Holocene relative sea-level and palaeotidal changes on the Isles of Scilly: a new approach for assessing changes in the areal extent of the inter-tidal zone
Mortimer, T. A., Scourse, J. D., Ward, S. L. & Uehara, K., 31 Rhag 2013, Yn : Geoscience in South-West England. 13, 2, t. 152-158
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
2012
- CyhoeddwydTides, sea-level rise and tidal power extraction on the European shelf
Ward, S. L., Green, J. A. M. & Pelling, H. E., Awst 2012, Yn : Ocean Dynamics. 62, 8, t. 1153-1167
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl
Projectau
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01/02/2018 – 01/08/2019 (Wedi gorffen)
Disgrifiad
The NRN-LCEE was a bold, innovative pan-Wales initiative for Welsh research funded by Welsh Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) as part of Sêr Cymru 1; comprising of partners from Bangor, Aberystwyth, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea Universities, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology at Bangor, British Geological Survey Wales, and UK MetOffice. The NRN-LCEE aimed to promote excellent collaborative and interdisciplinary research within Wales into the sustainable use of natural resources for the provision of energy, water, food, and other ecosystem services; and explicitly encouraged interdisciplinary research across departments, universities, research centres, industry and third sector parties. As such, the NRN-LCEE was the catalyst to bring a diverse set of talented researchers and partners into new collaborations, in order to conduct innovative research that was highly pertinent on an international research agenda.
Cysylltau:
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01/04/2017 – 31/05/2017 (Wedi gorffen)
Grantiau a Projectau Eraill
Challenge Prize, Research Link Climate Change (British Council) £9,795. Mapping marine litter pathways and sea-level rise in Indonesia (Ward, S. and Christie, D.)
Nature Networks Fund. SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) £18,617 to Bangor (Robins P., Ward S.)
Contract research: secured £6,259 industry-sponsored research project.
PRIMaRE Early Career Researcher Travel Grant, for attendance at Marine Evidence 2019 conference.
Bangor University Early Career Researcher Award: secured the maximum award amount of £1500 for developing a project titled Changing tides: implications of palaeo- and future tidal-range changes in eastern Canada.
NRN-LCEE Returning Fellowship: secured £6000 from the National Research Network for Low Carbon Energy and Environment, available to academics returning from a period of leave (e.g. parental leave) for developing new collaborations for research.
Contract research: secured €76,000 industry-sponsored research project.
JSPS Summer School 2013 Fellowship (British Council): selected to attend a 10-week research placement funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. My host institute was the Center for East Asian Ocean-Atmosphere Research, Kyushu University (June-August 2013).
£6969 grant awarded by the NERC Radiocarbon Facility (December 2012).
Summer School on Fluid Dynamics of Sustainability and the Environment (formerly GEFD): bursary for half of the course fees, DAMTP, University of Cambridge (September 2012).