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Daniel Parsons

Professor in Process Sedimentology

Department of Geography, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX
Tel: +44(0)1482 465343; Fax: +44(0)1482 466340; Email:
D.Parsons@hull.ac.uk

 

Background

Professor Dan ParsonsHi there! My name is Dan and I am a Professor in Process Sedimentology here at the University of Hull. I completed my PhD at The University of Sheffield in 2003 before moving to work on a NERC funded Post-Doctoral Research Assistant post in Earth Sciences at the University of Leeds. In 2005 I was awarded a NERC Research Fellowship, which allowed me to follow my own independent research programme for 3 years. Following the completion of my Fellowship term, I spent a year at the Department of Geology at the University of Illinois, USA, before returning to Leeds in 2010 to take up a Lectureship post in Earth System Science at the School of Earth and Environment. In 2011 I moved east down the M62 to the University of Hull, where I hold a Personal Chair as Professor in Process Sedimentology. I am actively researching in several areas related to fluvial, estuarine, coastal and deep marine sedimentology. My research focuses on the interaction between fluid flows and mobile sediment, using a process based approach that combines fieldwork, laboratory experimentation and numerical modelling. I am keen on techniques and methodological developments that enhance substantive understanding of the processes within the field of sedimentology. I teach on modules that align with my research, enabling me to bring cutting-edge research into the lecture theatre. You can find out about my current and recent research projects and my teaching interests on my personal website (link forthcoming), where you can also find a complete list and download information on my publications, and also a fuller biography and CV.

 

Teaching

My philosophy to to bring in as much of my research into my teaching, with the aim of engaging students at the forefront of research in the field. I currently teach on the following modules:

 

Research Interests

My research interests are based around an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the study of earth surface processes, and investigating process, form and product linkages in hydraulics and sedimentology. I believe that the future of internationally significant research lies in developing research links across traditional subject divides, developing new methodologies and research tools and focusing these activities into the key areas that face the earth and environmental sciences. More details on all of my research interests, ongoing and completed projects and the future directions I see my research moving into can be found on my personal website (link forthcoming).

 

Research Team: Post-Doctoral Researchers

I am working on several ongoing research projects that involve a number of post-doctoral investigators

  • Dr Esther Sumner - Monitoring the dynamics of gravity driven currents in submarine channel bends
  • Dr Steve Sandbach - Modelling the morphodynamics and sedimentology of the tidally-influenced fluvial zone
  • Dr Rob Dorrell - Modelling the dynamics of gravity driven currents in submarine bends
  • Dr Tao Wei - Plunging dynamics of gravity driven flows
  • Dr Rob Schindler - Realistic Sedimentary Bedform Processes: incorporating cohesive forces
  • Dr Jonathan Malarkey - Realistic Sedimentary Bedform Processes: incorporating cohesive forces

 

Research Team: Post-Graduate Research Students

I have a team Postgraduates, who I am supervising and guiding in their research projects. I would welcome the opportunity to supervise new projects in any of the areas broadly related to my present research themes. See Opportunities section on my personal website (forthcoming). The present team include:

  • Claire Keevil - Estuarine sediment transport processes and morphodynamics
  • Jordan Royce - Vegetation and the fluvial system
  • Chris Unsworth - Unsteady bedform dynamics
  • Daowei Yin (Leeds) - Erosive bedform evolution and dynamics
  • Timothy Marjoribanks (Durham) – Numerical modelling of vegetation in open-channel flows
  • Kevin Woodbridge - Fluvio-tectonic interactions

 

Publications


Hardy, RJ; Best, JL; Parsons, DR; Keevil, GM (2011) On determining the geometric and kinematic characteristics of coherent flow structures over a gravel bed: a new approach using combined PLIF-PIV, EARTH SURF PROC LAND36, pp.279-284. doi:10.1002/esp.2118

Edmonds, D; Slingerland, R; Best, J; Parsons, D; Smith, N (2010) Response of river-dominated delta channel networks to permanent changes in river discharge, GEOPHYS RES LETT37, . doi:10.1029/2010GL043269

Parsons, DR; Peakall, J; Aksu, AE; Flood, RD; Hiscott, RN; Besiktepe, S; Mouland, D (2010) Gravity-driven flow in a submarine channel bend: Direct field evidence of helical flow reversal, GEOLOGY38, pp.1063-1066. doi:10.1130/G31121.1

Best, J; Simmons, S; Parsons, D; Oberg, K; Czuba, J; Malzone, C (2010) A new methodology for the quantitative visualization of coherent flow structures in alluvial channels using multibeam echo-sounding (MBES), GEOPHYS RES LETT37, . doi:10.1029/2009GL041852

Shugar, DH; Kostaschuk, R; Best, JL; Parsons, DR; Lane, SN; Orfeo, O; Hardy, RJ (2010) On the relationship between flow and suspended sediment transport over the crest of a sand dune, Rio Parana, Argentina,SEDIMENTOLOGY57, pp.252-272. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.2009.01110.x

Kay, P; Armstrong, A; McDonald, A; Parsons, D; Best, J; Peakall, J; Walker, A; Foulger, M; Gledhill, S; Tillotson, M (2009) A pilot study of the efficacy of residuum lodges for managing sediment delivery to impoundment reservoirs, WATER ENVIRON J23, pp.52-62. doi:10.1111/j.1747-6593.2008.00111.x

Szupiany, RN; Amsler, ML; Parsons, DR; Best, JL (2009) Morphology, flow structure, and suspended bed sediment transport at two large braid-bar confluences, WATER RESOUR RES45, . doi:10.1029/2008WR007428

Kostaschuk, R; Shugar, D; Best, J; Parsons, D; Lane, S; Hardy, R; Orfeo, O (2009) Suspended sediment transport and deposition over a dune: Rio Parana, Argentina, EARTH SURF PROC LAND34, pp.1605-1611. doi:10.1002/esp.1847

Smith, GHS; Ashworth, PJ; Best, JL; Lunt, IA; Orfeo, O; Parsons, DR (2009) THE SEDIMENTOLOGY AND ALLUVIAL ARCHITECTURE OF A LARGE BRAID BAR, RIO PARANA, ARGENTINA, J SEDIMENT RES79, pp.629-642. doi:10.2110/jsr.2009.066

Lane, SN; Parsons, DR; Best, JL; Orfeo, O; Kostaschuk, RA; Hardy, RJ (2008) Causes of rapid mixing at a junction of two large rivers: Rio Parana and Rio Paraguay, Argentina, J GEOPHYS RES-EARTH113, . doi:10.1029/2006JF000745

Corney, RKT; Peakall, J; Parsons, DR; Elliott, L; Best, JL; Thomas, RE; Keevil, GM; Ingham, DB; Amos, KJ (2008) Reply to Discussion of Imran et al. on "The orientation of helical flow in curved channels" by Corney et al., Sedimentology, 53, 249-257, SEDIMENTOLOGY55, pp.241-247. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00925.x

Hardy, RJ; Lane, SN; Ferguson, RI; Parsons, DR (2007) Emergence of coherent flow structures over a gravel surface: A numerical experiment, WATER RESOUR RES43, . doi:10.1029/2006WR004936

Parsons, DR; Best, JL; Lane, SN; Orfeo, O; Hardy, RJ; Kostaschuk, R (2007) Form roughness and the absence of secondary flow in a large confluence-diffluence, Rio Parana, Argentina, EARTH SURF PROC LAND,32, pp.155-162. doi:10.1002/esp.1457

Corney, RKT; Peakall, J; Parsons, DR; Elliott, L; Amos, KJ; Best, JL; Keevil, GM; Ingham, DB (2006) The orientation of helical flow in curved channels, SEDIMENTOLOGY53, pp.249-257. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.2006.00771.x

A full list of my publications is available in pdf format.

 

Outside Interests

Outside of work I enjoy playing and watching many sports including football, squash, rugby and snooker, having played County standard Association Football for the past 11 years. I also used to play Futsal, playing in the FA Futsal Cup and English National Finals in 2008 and 2009 - but am getting too old to keep up at that high intensity form of the game! I often go hiking in the Peak Distinct and Snowdonia National Parks and I also enjoy watching films and reading books, particularly biographies.


Page last updated by Tim Bettley on 2/14/2012