13.10.2003
Callum Firth, Professor of Coastal Geomorphology will outline how Britain is tilting in his inaugural lecture 'The rising tide? Sea level change: past, present and future' on Tuesday 14th October. He will point to sea level records which suggest that Scotland is rising out of the sea whilst southern and eastern England is sinking.
Professor Firth, Head of the School of the Environment at the University of Brighton and newly appointed Professor will suggest that Scotland has little to worry about whilst England needs to invest in its sea defences. In the south, predicted rises of between 23 cm and 33 cm over the next 100 years will accelerate rates of erosion along soft-rock coastlines and shorten the lives of our sea defences. Fragile environments may also be unable to naturally adjust to the changes.
The lecture will also raise wider questions relating to global warming and rising sea levels. Claims made ten years ago by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggested that world sea levels could rise by 5 metres in the next 100 years - threatening millions of lives and numerous natural systems with extinction. Professor Firth will highlight new findings, which suggest that world sea levels will only rise by metres over the next 500 years. In 100 years, world sea level will rise between 5-50cm with the best estimate at around 23cm. What will be the impact of this reduced sea level change?
All staff and students of the University of Brighton and members of the public are invited to attend the lecture between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Doors open at 6.00 p.m. and a buffet is available afterwards.
'The rising tide? Sea level change: past, present and future'
Inaugural Lecture of Professor Callum Firth, Professor of Coastal Geomorphology,
School of the Environment, University of Brighton
Tuesday 14th October 2003, 6.30 – 7.30 p.m. Doors open at 6.00 p.m.
Sallis Benney Theatre, The University of Brighton, Grand Parade, Brighton
For information contact: Kath Howlett, 01273 643226
During the last 7 years much of Callum Firth’s research effort has been directed towards collaborations within international projects funded by the European Commission. Much of this research has concentrated upon the coastal geomorphology and the identification of recent earth movements (neotectonics) in volcanic and coastal areas so that an assessment can be made relating to the impact former and future rates of sea-level change may have upon such environments.
Career History:
2002 – Present Head of the School of the Environment, Brighton University
2000-2002 Professor in Physical Geography, Brunel University
1996-2002 Head of Department of Geography & Earth Sciences, Brunel University
1995-1996 Head of the Department of Human & Environmental Sciences, Brunel
University
1994-1995 Head of the Division of Geography & Geology, West London Institute
1992-1994 Principal Lecturer in Geography. West London Institute
1990-1992 Senior Lecturer in Geography. West London Institute
1988-1990 Lecturer in Geography. West London Institute
1986-1987 Lecturer in Physical Geography, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire
1981-1986 Part-time Lecturer in Physical Geography, Coventry Polytechnic, Coventry.
This lecture forms one in a series of public inaugural lectures given by new appointed professors at the University of Brighton. All lectures are open to staff students and members of the public.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
