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Dr Thomas Lawrence
(he/him)
Tutor in Geomorphology
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- LawrenceT3@cardiff.ac.uk
- Main Building, Room 1.74A, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
Overview
I'm an early-career academic with an interest in estuary geomorphology and hydrology. My research focuses on sediment structure and transport, particularly in terms of porosity and contamination (e.g. microplastics). My teaching covers a broad range of geomorphology including hillslope processes, fluvial processes and landforms, general geographical skills and fieldwork.
My PhD project examined, for the first time, directly 3D-quantified suspended sediment porosity and pore space networks, leading to a more thorough understanding of flocculated sediment structure. Using micro-computed tomography and 3D scan reconstruction analysis allowed the production of interactive 3D models of the internal structure of flocculated sediments. This enables us to contribute more extensive input data to sediment transport models, without relying on indirect or proxy data for porosity (e.g. density). Emerging contaminants, like microplastics or legacy landfill content, are transported by the sediment in estuary systems, so accurate modeling of the movement behaviour of these sediments is vitally important.
Publication
2023
- Lawrence, T. J., Carr, S. J., Manning, A. J., Wheatland, J. A. T., Bushby, A. J. and Spencer, K. L. 2023. Functional behaviour of flocs explained by observed 3D structure and porosity. Frontiers in Earth Science 11, article number: 1264953. (10.3389/feart.2023.1264953)
2022
- Lawrence, T. J., Carr, S. J., Wheatland, J. A. T., Manning, A. J. and Spencer, K. L. 2022. Quantifying the 3D structure and function of porosity and pore space in natural sediment flocs. Journal of Soils and Sediments 22, pp. 3176-3188. (10.1007/s11368-022-03304-x)
- Lawrence, T., Carr, S., Manning, A., Wheatland, J., Bushby, A. and Spencer, K. 2022. A novel 3D volumetric method for directly quantifying porosity and pore space morphology in flocculated suspended sediments. MethodsX 10, article number: 101975. (10.1016/j.mex.2022.101975)
- Spencer, K. L. et al. 2022. Quantification of 3-dimensional structure and properties of flocculated natural suspended sediment. Water Research 222, article number: 118835. (10.1016/j.watres.2022.118835)
Articles
- Lawrence, T. J., Carr, S. J., Manning, A. J., Wheatland, J. A. T., Bushby, A. J. and Spencer, K. L. 2023. Functional behaviour of flocs explained by observed 3D structure and porosity. Frontiers in Earth Science 11, article number: 1264953. (10.3389/feart.2023.1264953)
- Lawrence, T. J., Carr, S. J., Wheatland, J. A. T., Manning, A. J. and Spencer, K. L. 2022. Quantifying the 3D structure and function of porosity and pore space in natural sediment flocs. Journal of Soils and Sediments 22, pp. 3176-3188. (10.1007/s11368-022-03304-x)
- Lawrence, T., Carr, S., Manning, A., Wheatland, J., Bushby, A. and Spencer, K. 2022. A novel 3D volumetric method for directly quantifying porosity and pore space morphology in flocculated suspended sediments. MethodsX 10, article number: 101975. (10.1016/j.mex.2022.101975)
- Spencer, K. L. et al. 2022. Quantification of 3-dimensional structure and properties of flocculated natural suspended sediment. Water Research 222, article number: 118835. (10.1016/j.watres.2022.118835)
Research
My research centres around understanding the response of estuarine and coastal sediments to climate change.
This can involve the impacts of increases in storm frequency and intensity, release of emerging contaminants such as microplastics, implementation of flood management strategies (e.g. managed realignment), saltmarsh establishment or expansion, and commerical port dredging.
Teaching
I contribute to the following modules:
- Geography Field Skills (Year 1) - Lead
- Fundamentals of Geographical Science (Year 1)
- Geographical Data Analysis, Field and Professional Skills (Year 2) - Lead
- Environmental Geomorphology (Year 3)
- Environmental Hazards in a Changing World (MSci)
I also undertake supervision of undergraduate dissertations.
Biography
Professional memberships
British Society of Geomorphology
Academic positions
- Tutor in Geomorphology - Cardiff University (2021-Present)
- PhD Physical Geography - Queen Mary University of London (2015-2021)
- Teaching Associate - Queen Mary University of London (2016-2019)
- Postgraduate Demonstrator - Queen Mary University of London (2015-2019)
- BSc Physical Earth Science - Swansea University (2012-2015)
Committees and reviewing
I have reviewed for publications including the Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, and the Journal of Soils and Sediments.