Dr Barend van Maanen
Associate Professor in Physical Geography
B.Van-Maanen@exeter.ac.uk
7548
Amory D427
Amory Building, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4RJ , UK
Overview
My research focusses on estuarine and coastal geomorphology, biophysical interactions in mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems, and the impacts of global change on landscape dynamics and ecosystem functioning. I am interested in whether the ecosystem services provided by coastal wetlands can be maintained under projected climate-change scenarios and anthropogenic interference.
Before moving to the University of Exeter, I worked as an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University where I conducted research and teaching in the fields of coastal and fluvial eco-morphodynamics. Previously I also worked at the University of Southampton and at the University of Bordeaux. I obtained my PhD from the University of Waikato in New Zealand studying decadal scale dynamics of tidal basins and the effects of biophysical interactions.
I am working at Geography in Exeter since June 2019. Current projects involve a combination of numerical modelling, field data and remote sensing and focus on the resilience of coastal systems that are particularly sensitive to environmental change impacts, with the goal to inform sustainable management strategies.
Qualifications
PhD in Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, New Zealand
MSc in Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Netherlands
Links
Research
Research interests
- Coastal and estuarine geomorphology
- Waves, currents and sediment transport
- Ecomorphodynamics of coastal wetlands
- Carbon sequestration in mangrove forests
- Ecosystem resilience in the face of sea level rise and human interference
- Integrated use of modelling, field data and remote sensing
- Sustainable management of coastal systems
Research projects
Blue carbon and ecosystem functioning in mangroves under pressure. Funded by the NERC GW4+ DTP, 2024-2028
Marine habitat mapping through machine learning. CDT Environmental Intelligence and co-funded by Wildlife Trusts, 2023-2027
Innovative Analysis of Large River Topography and Dynamics. Funded by the NERC GW4+ DTP, 2022-2026.
Mangrove ecosystem services under pressure: the history and future of carbon sequestration hotspots. Funded by NERC, 2022-2025.
Mangroves and Mud: Monitoring and modelling coastal dynamics in Surinam to mitigate the effects of climate change. Funded by the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) under the WOTRO program, 2018-2022.
Ecomorphodynamics of coastal wetlands and ecosystem resilience. Funded by the China Scholarship Council, 2017-2021.
Modelling the changing sediment yield of the Amazon river. Funded by the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) under the Refugees in Science program, 2019-2020.
Mangrove ecosystem functioning and degradation in a delta under pressure. Seed money project funded by the Future Deltas initiative at Utrecht University, 2017-2018
Publications
Journal articles
Conferences
Teaching
I am a lecturer on the following modules:-
GEO1312 - Fieldwork in Physical Geography
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GEO2233 - Landscape Response to Environmental Change: from Source to Sink
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GEO3321 - BSc Dissertation
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GEO3245 - Coastal Systems in a Changing World
Modules
2023/24
Supervision / Group
Postdoctoral researchers
- Anggi Hapsari (2022 - 2024) - Postdoc at the University of Exeter: Mangrove forest development and carbon accumulation
- Arya Iwantoro (2022 - present) - Postdoc at the University of Exeter: Modelling eco-carbon-morphodynamics of mangrove systems
Postgraduate researchers
- Cristina Corti (2019 - present) - PhD student at the University of Exeter: Hazards and drivers of cliff erosion (jointly supervised with Steve Palmer and Akbar Javadi)
- Job de Vries (2018 - 2023) - PhD student at Utrecht University: Coastal evolution and mangrove dynamics in Surinam (jointly supervised with Steven de Jong, Pita Verweij and Gerben Ruessink)
- Safaa Naffaa (2019 - 2020) - Junior Researcher at Utrecht University: Sediment yield of the Amazon river (jointly supervised with Steven de Jong)
- Chanon Olley (2023 - 2027) - PhD student at the University of Exeter: Marine habitat mapping through machine learning (jointly supervised with Rudy Arthur and Steve Palmer)
- Joseph Paulo (2022- present) - PhD student at the University of Exeter: Innovative Analysis of Large River Topography and Dynamics (jointly supervised with Rolf Aalto and Andrew Nicholas)
- Danghan Xie (2017 - 2022) - PhD student at Utrecht University: Ecomorphodynamics of coastal wetlands (jointly supervised with Christian Schwarz and Maarten Kleinhans)
Office Hours:
Please follow this link to book a slot. My office is in Amory D427. If you prefer to meet online instead, just let me know and we can talk over Teams.