Many coastlines host large landslide complexes that are marginally stable and could reactivate in response to climate change. Despite advances in remote earth surface monitoring, the complex relationship between landslides movement (strain) and rainfall remains challenging to monitor and forecast. This is because landslide strain is controlled by the geotechnical properties of the materials deforming in the basal shear zone but both material behaviour and landslide-scale strain responses remain poorly constrained. We aim to develop new models to explore how the reactivation of deep-seated coastal landslides is controlled by the behaviour of their basal shear surfaces and better assess the potential hazard they may pose in the future.
Up to 80 landslide complexes have been identified along the English coastline. These complex cliff systems composed of a series of landslide units which move at different rates and depths through a range of mechanisms, but few have been studied in detail (Figure 1). Given that coastal erosion rates are increasing along most of the UK coastline in response to climate and sea level change, there is a pressing need to understanding how these landslides may reactivate if appropriate risk assessments and cliff management strategies are to be implemented.
We will select three sites and use advanced geotechnical testing approaches to measure the strength of the materials operating each setting and simulate their potential future failure scenarios. This novel dataset will be combined with field and remote earth surface monitoring data to develop new models to evaluate how these complex cliff systems could evolve in response to future climate change. The study will be the first to consider how different landslide failure mechanisms may develop within complex landslide systems and how this new knowledge can be used to evaluate the potential hazard they may pose in a changed and changing climate.
Figure 1. Examples of complex cliffs along the English coastline (A) Active shallow mudslides running out over deep-seated landslide at Black Ven, Dorset (Brunsden et al. 1988) (B) Large rockfall event, Seatown, Dorset (James Loveridge Photography, 2023) (C) A slow-moving Urban landslide complex at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.
This project is a CENTA Flagship Project.
This project is suitable for CASE funding
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The study will comprise:
DRs will be awarded CENTA Training Credits (CTCs) for participation in CENTA-provided and ‘free choice’ external training. One CTC can be earned per 3 hours training, and DRs must accrue 100 CTCs across the three and a half years of their PhD.
In the field the candidate will be trained to carry out field geomorphological mapping of coastal hazards. In the laboratory they will develop skills to design undertake standard and advance laboratory testing that aims at understanding landslide movement mechanisms which they will then learn to upscale using numerical modelling. In addition, they will be trained to use standard InSAR applications and use these to undertake targeted analyses for mass movements. Combining these skills will allow the candidate to interpret complex process operating in active landscapes and how these may be impacted by climate change.
This project is of direct relevance to costal hazard practitioners as forecasting future cliff recession rates and the potential behaviour of complex cliffs remains a key change in coastal management. The proposed project will be co-supervised by Professor Roger Moore, who is a Director and Global Principal in Geoscience Engineering at Jacobs. Professor Moore is a leading expert in UK coastal landslides and will provide his technical expertise to support training in geomorphological mapping and landslide hazard assessment. Roger will be key in determining the most appropriate sites for the study.
Year 1: Fieldwork and InSAR analyses to develop initial ground models for each landslide site.
Year 2: Laboratory testing and numerical modelling.
Year 3: Finalise numerical modelling and write up of results.
Journal:
Brunsden, D., Gardner, R., Goudie, A. and Jones, D. (1988) Land Shapes, Channel 4.
Carey, J. M., Massey C.I., Lyndsell B., Petley D. N. (2019) Displacement mechanisms of slow-moving landslides in response to changes in porewater pressure and dynamic stress. Earth Surface Dynamics 7, pp. 707- 722 .
Carey, J.M., Moore, R. & Petley, D.N. (2015) Patterns of movement in the Ventnor landslide complex, Isle of Wight, southern England, Landslides, 12, pp.1107–1118
Carey, J. M., Petley D. N. (2014) Progressive shear-surface development in cohesive materials; implications for landslide behaviour, Engineering Geology, 177, pp. 54-65.
Dini, B., Daout, S., Manconi, A., Loew, S. (2019) Classification of slope processes based on mulitemporal DInSAR analyses in the Himalaya of NW Bhutan, Remote Sensing of Environment 233, 11408. doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.111408.
Dini, B., Manconi, A., Loew, S. (2019) Investigation of slope instabilities in NW Bhutan as derived from systematic DInSAR analyses, Engineering Geology, 259, 10511. Doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.04.008.
Petley, D.N. (2012) Global patters of loss of life from landslides, Geology, 40 (10), pp. 927-930.
Petley D. N., Higuchi T., Petley D. J., Bulmer M. H., Carey J. (2005) The development of progressive landslide failure in cohesive materials, Geology 33, pp. 201-204.
Hutchinson, J. N., Bromhead, E. N. (2002) Keynote paper: Isle of Wight landslides. In: McInnes, R.G., Jakeways, J. (eds) Instability planning and management: seeking sustainable solutions to ground movement problems, Proceedings of International Conference, Ventnor. Thomas Telford, London, pp 3–70.
Moore, R., Lee, E. M., Clark, A. R. (1995) The Undercliff of the Isle of Wight: a review of ground behaviour. Cross Publishing, London.
Moore, R., Carey, J. M., McIness, R. G. (2010) Landslide behaviour and climate change: predictable consequences for the Ventnor Undercliff, Isle of Wight. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 43, pp. 447–460.
For further information please contact either Dr Jon Carey [email protected] or Dr Benedetta Dini [email protected].
To apply to this project:
Applications must be submitted by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 7th January 2026.