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Overview

Professor Dave Roberts

Professor


Affiliations
AffiliationTelephone
Professor in the Department of Geography+44 (0) 191 33 41935

Biography

My research interests centre on ice sheet reconstruction, glacial sedimentary processes and understanding millenial-scale ice sheet response to climate forcing.

Greenland:  my work focuses on ice sheet evolution and ice stream dynamics during the last glacial cycle. I have studied ice sheet history in West, Southeast and Northeast Greenland, with a particular focus on the response of large palaeo-ice streams such as the Uummannaq Ice Stream, Jakobshavns Isbrae and the NEGIS to atmospheric and ocean forcing. Our work in NE Greenland (NEGIS Project 2016-2021) and in SE Greenland (KangGlac project 2024-2028) aims to shed light on the deglacial and Holocene history of the GrIS in order to explore the forcing mechanisms that will drive future ice sheet loss.

UK: my work in the North Sea, Irish Sea and Ireland has focussed on ice sheet reconstruction and the importance of understanding subglacial and ice marginal processes during ice sheet/stream advance and retreat. Understanding the controls on ice sheet dynamics and fast ice flow in the North Sea has been a major focus. Two recent projects; Britice-Chrono (NERC Consortium) and GLANAM (EU ITN Funded) have contributed to the British-Irish Ice Sheet being the best constrained palaeo-ice sheet in the world.

SE Greenland

Research interests

  • Greenland ice sheet history
  • British-Irish Ice sheet history
  • Ice stream evolution and behaviour
  • Subglacial processes and ice sheet dynamics
  • Ice-sheet marginal dynamics
  • Glaciomarine processes
  • Sea-level change

Publications

Authored book

Chapter in book

  • Overview of the glacial sediments of County Durham
    Davies, B., & Roberts, D. (2013). Overview of the glacial sediments of County Durham. In B. Davies, L. Yorke, D. Bridgland, & D. Roberts (Eds.), Quaternary of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire.. QRA.
  • Macro and microstructural evidence for a deforming glacier bed: East Runton to West Runton.
    Roberts, D., & Hart, J. (2011). Macro and microstructural evidence for a deforming glacier bed: East Runton to West Runton. In E. Phillips, J. Lee, & H. Evans (Eds.), Glaciotectonic Field Guide. QRA.
  • Emerging from the Ice Age.
    Chiverrell, R., Innes, J., Thomas, G., Gonzalez, S., Roberts, D., & Coope, R. (2006). Emerging from the Ice Age. In R. Chiverrell & G. Thomas (Eds.), A New History of the Isle of Man: Volume 1: Evolution of the natural landscape. (pp. 220-278). Liverpool University Press.
  • The Ice Age.
    Thomas, G., Chiverrell, R., Huddart, D., Long, D., & Roberts, D. (2006). The Ice Age. In R. Chiverrell & G. Thomas (Eds.), A New History of the Isle of Man. (pp. 126-219). Liverpool University Press.
  • The Holocene.
    Chiverrell, R., Innes, J., Roberts, D., Tomlinson, G., Pooley, E., Fullen, M., Hallett, M., & Harris, J. (2006). The Holocene. In R. Chiverrell & G. Thomas (Eds.), A New History of the Isle of Man. (pp. 126-219). Liverpool University Press.
  • The glacial landsystem signature of the south Isle of Man.
    Roberts, D., Dackombe, R., & Thomas, G. (2004). The glacial landsystem signature of the south Isle of Man. In R. Chiverrell, A. Plater, & G. Thomas (Eds.), The Quaternary of the Isle of Man and North West England. (pp. 44-53). Quaternary Research Association.
  • New data on Holocene sea-level changes on the Isle of Man.
    Roberts, D., Chiverrell, R., Innes, J., Gonzalez, S., Turner, S., & Horton, B. (2004). New data on Holocene sea-level changes on the Isle of Man. In R. Chiverrell, A. Plater, & G. Thomas (Eds.), The Quaternary of the Isle of Man and North West England. (pp. 112-124). Quaternary Research Association.
  • Warning: Title Missing
    Roberts, D. (2001). Warning: Title Missing. In R. Chadwick, D. Jackson, G. Kimbell, H. Johnson, R. Chiverell, G. Thomas, N. Jones, N. Riley, E. Pickett, B. Young, D. Holliday, D. Ball, S. Molyneux, D. Long, G. Power, & D. Roberts (Eds.), The Geology of the Isle of Man and its offshore area.. British Geological Survey.
  • The glacial deposits of West Runton.
    Roberts, D., & Hart, J. (2000). The glacial deposits of West Runton. In S. Lewis, C. Whiteman, & R. Preece (Eds.), The Quaternary of Norfolk and Suffolk. (pp. 77-85).
  • The glacial deposits of Trimingham.
    Roberts, D., & Hart, J. (2000). The glacial deposits of Trimingham. In S. Lewis, C. Whiteman, & R. Preece (Eds.), The Quaternary of Norfolk and Suffolk, QRA Field Guide. (pp. 103-111).
  • Sea-level change.
    Long, A., & Roberts, D. (1997). Sea-level change. In M. Fulford, T. Champion, & A. Long (Eds.), England’s Coastal Heritage: A Survey for English Heritage and the RCHME. English Heritage and the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. (pp. 25-49). Archaeological Report.
  • - Whitburn Bay
    Davies, B., Bridgland, D., Roberts, D., & O Cofaigh, C. (n.d.). - Whitburn Bay. In B. Davies, L. Yorke, D. Bridgland, & D. Roberts (Eds.), Quaternary of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire [Contracted by publisher]. QRA.
  • - Marfield Quarry
    Roberts, D., Mitchell, W., Bridgland, D., & Innes, J. (n.d.). - Marfield Quarry. In B. Davies, L. Yorke, D. Bridgland, & D. Roberts (Eds.), Quaternary of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire. [Contracted by publisher]. QRA.
  • - Warren House Gill
    Davies, B., Bridgland, D., Roberts, D., & O Cofaigh, C. (n.d.). - Warren House Gill. In B. Davies, L. Yorke, D. Bridgland, & D. Roberts (Eds.), Quaternary of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire [Contracted by publisher]. QRA.
  • - Geology and Landscape
    Davies, B., Bridgland, D., & Roberts, D. (n.d.). - Geology and Landscape. In B. Davies, L. Yorke, D. Bridgland, & D. Roberts (Eds.), Quaternary of Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire. [Contracted by publisher]. QRA.

Journal Article

Supervision students