Geography

Profile

M. Bray graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BSc in Environmental Science and worked in nature conservation and ecological survey prior becoming a research student at the London School of Economics (LSE). He joined the Department of Geography at Portsmouth in 1990 as a research associate and worked on a series of coastal projects funded by Government Departments, Agencies and Local Authorities, becoming a research fellow in 1996 and senior research fellow in 2001. He was awarded a PhD from LSE in 1996, which involved application of a sediment budget approach to study the evolution of the West Dorset coast including Chesil Beach.  In 2004, he was appointed Senior Lecturer.

Research

Interests involve coastal geomorphology and its applications that can be sub-divided into three main areas as follows:

1. Development, synthesis and application of sediment budget approaches in coastal geomorphology;
2. Application of geomorphological approaches for shoreline management;
3. Morphodynamics of gravel beaches and barriers on exposed shorelines.

1. Coastal Sediment Budgets

Research has involved work at local and regional scales on the south coast of England and latterly a global review. PhD thesis research comprised a detailed investigation of sediment supply and transport in West Dorset and resulted in the formulation of an innovative sediment budget model. Using this budget, the impacts of sea-level rise, beach shingle extraction and coast protection practices were assessed providing evidence enabling local authorities to halt potentially damaging beach mining operations (Bray, 1996). A refined understanding of the origin and development of Chesil Beach was also established (Bray, 1997).

Regional analyses have been compiled for the south coast of England following a series of consultancy projects completed for local authorities (Bray, Carter and Hooke, 1995). More recently, this work has been updated and extended to cover the full area between Beachy Head and Start Point with dissemination via a series of reports (Bray et al., 2004) and a dedicated website delivering detailed analyses for sub-cells via a series of interactive maps.

Ongoing research includes global review of insights gained through sediment budget approaches and investigation of the effects of human modification on coastal systems. 

2. Geomorphological approaches to Shoreline Management

Research has involved contributions to shoreline management plans, conservation management and assessment of the coastal impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. A wide experience has been gained of alternative management techniques (both engineering and planning) and their wider impacts upon coastal systems.

Shoreline Management: M. Bray has been engaged as a coastal process geomorphologist involved in preparation of four separate Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs); and three Coastal Defence Strategy Plans (see Consultant Reports list at foot of page). These are the key strategic plans that direct the provision of coastal defences by the local authorities and the Environment Agency. In 1999-2000 he was part of a research team that reviewed the First Generation of SMPs and advised DEFRA in the production of updated guidance (Cooper et al., 2000; 2002).  Contributor to the £1.2 million DEFRA FutureCoast project led by Halcrow consulting engineers. He assisted development of general methodology and led in the analysis of the past, present and future evolution of the central south coast of England.

Global Warming and Sea-Level Rise Studies in 1992, 1994 and 2001: provided scientific and policy information to SCOPAC a consortium of local authorities and other organisations responsible for coastal defence on the south coast of England. Topics covered included assembly of local scenarios of change, likely impacts upon different coastal environments (Bray and Hooke, 1997) and identification of management and policy responses (Bray et al., 1997). The 2001 project involved collaboration with consulting engineers Halcrow and the Met. Office and resulted in production of a CD-ROM. 

Coastal Conservation

Co-organiser of Conference on Coastal Defence and Earth Science Conservation, Portsmouth 1996, from which papers on concepts and methodology (Bray and Hooke 1998a) and local applications (Bray and Hooke 1998b) were published. M. Bray is a member of Scientific Advisory Network for the Dorset and SE Devon World Heritage Coast.

Lead researcher and co-author of the Solent Coastal Habitat Management Plan (Bray and Cottle 2003). The plan involved preparation of the first validated loss/gain accounts of future change for a series of coastal habitats up to 2100 and provided recommendations for management to avoid, or compensate for losses as required by European Directives. Work formed a major part of the Living with the Sea project.

Between 2002 and 2004 M. Bray undertook a series of independent assessments of the extent to which Solent ferry operations could be affecting European designated intertidal foreshores along Wootton Creek, Isle of Wight. One element involved a desk study investigation of several decades of information and data in support of consultations seeking to address a longstanding dispute involving local residents, ferry operators and Natural England (Bray, 2003).

3. Gravel Beaches, Barriers and Spits

Shingle Beach Project 1996-99: major national MAFF/EA funded collaborative project with HR Wallingford (project manager) and the Universities of Southampton, Brighton and Plymouth. M. Bray was scientific co-ordinator of the project running two 10 week long field measurement and instrumentation campaigns achieving quality field measurements of shingle transport and waves in the field (especially during severe storms!) in order to test and calibrate predictive transport models. Results included a database of field measurements, three completed PhD theses and several journal and conference papers produced by the group members e.g. Lee et al., (2000). The final report is available online [please enter the following product code SCHO0405BJAO-E-E to find the report].

Since 1998, M. Bray has researched the breach and subsequent beach and lagoon formation at Porlock Bay, NW Somerset. A measurement and monitoring programme has enabled detailed assessment of then-controversial management by the Environment Agency whereby a gravel barrier was allowed to breach, creating a new tidal inlet. It is the first such appraisal on an open wave-dominated coast and is viewed as a model of what may happen on many other similar coasts throughout England and Wales. It has informed staff from the Environment Agency, Natural England, DEFRA, National Trust and Exmoor National Park (Bray and Duane 2001). This work remains in progress. M. Bray has subsequently been able to apply aspects of this work towards analyses of potential breaches at various other sites including Medmerry and West Wittering/East Head Spit.

M. Bray is investigating the geomorphology of Chesil Beach, involving detailed literature review, establishment of a survey monitoring network (Duane and Bray, 2004) and assessment of morphological changes, especially storm-related. Work remains in progress but has been presented at six seminars and invited lectures.

M. Bray in collaboration with Dr Brian Baily is investigating the past present and future evolution of East Head Spit. The spit located on the eastern flank of the Chichester Harbour entrance has experienced progressive retreat and rotation of its orientation interspersed with periodic fluctuations in dimensions and sediment volume. Comparisons have included map, chart, air photo and field GPS survey data sources to identify patterns of change (Baily et al. 2002; Baily and Bray 2005; Bray 2007. Further work has considered the implications of future changes and has provided guidance to local coastal managers (Bray et al., 2007; Bray, 2008).

PhD SUPERVISION

M. Bray supervised the following projects:

M. Bray was part of the team advising the following projects:

M. Bray would welcome the opportunity to supervise further students in topics related to any of his main research areas especially concerning sediment budget approaches, shoreline management and gravel beaches and barriers. All enquiries are welcomed, but those from funded applicants are welcomed especially!

Teaching

Contributions to a variety of units involving, introductory geomorphology, oceanography, coastal systems, glacial environments, sea-levels reconstruction and change and environmental management and hazards.

Tutorials at Levels 1 and 2. Dissertation supervision at Level 3 (6-9 students per year).

Leader and co-ordinator of specific units as follows:

• Physical Geography Fieldwork (Level 1)
• Coastal Environments (Level 3)
• Applied Coastal Geomorphology (Level 3)

Key Publications

All publications