Eleanor Pearson

Profile

Throughout my time at the University of Leeds I enjoyed geomorphology topics, particularly river geomorphology. At undergraduate level, I had the opportunity to work with ARUP on a short-term project undertaking the baseline geomorphic surveys prior to a below-reservoir river restoration scheme. Being involved in such a project inspired me to continue the river restoratin theme through to my Masters, where I looked at the geomorphic impacts of in-stream log structures with the help of the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. 

Away from river restoration, as part of my Masters project I gained an interest in gravelometry and whether it was possible to quickly and accurately estimate grain-size without the need for labour and time intensive traditional sampling techniques. For this, I used Structure-from-Motion to estimate surface roughness as a proxy for grain size both for laboratory and field based patches.

Research interests

Project overview

Natural flood management and measures which work with natural processes to reduce flood peak magnitude and time to peak flow are seeing increased application throughout England. However, there is a concern that these solutions will increase the amount of sediment and debris in the system. High levels of sediment and debris can increase downstream flood risk and reduce the longevity of measures put in place. To date, sediment dynamics have often been overlooked due to the complex, multi-scale sources, pathways and sinks exploited throughout the catchment.

Aims/objectives

The overall aim of the project is to improve the understanding of how sediment fluxes interact with natural flood management at multiple spatial scales through the use of numerical modelling.
The project’s objectives include:

• DEM analysis and visual mapping to assess sediment sources, pathways and sinks across the Aire catchment.
• Comparison of hydrological models that simulate flood flows and sediment dynamics.
• Scenario-based testing to gain insight into catchment-wide sediment transport and the likely influence of natural flood management on sediment dynamics for the use in practical applications of sediment budgeting, cost-benefit analysis and management decision making.

Research Affiliations

RBPM http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/research/rbpm/

Funding:

NERC CASE studentship with JBA Trust

Qualifications

• MSc by Research - School of Geography, University of Leeds
• BSc Geography - School of Geography, University of Leeds