Tom Spencer MA PhD

University Senior Lecturer, Fellow and Tutor for Graduate Admissions, Magdalene College, Director of Cambridge Coastal Research Unit

Physical geography at the interface between geomorphology and the geological and biological sciences, with particular reference to coral reefs and associated ecosystems (seagrass, mangroves) and coastal geomorphology.

Biography

Career:

1979-1988: University Lecturer in Geography, University of Manchester
1989-1999: University Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge
2000-present: Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge

Also:

1997-present: Director, Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, University of Cambridge
1989-present: Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge
1990-1993: Dean of College, Magdalene College, Cambridge
1994-1999: Tutor for Graduate Students, Magdalene College, Cambridge
1994-present: Tutor for Graduate Admissions, Magdalene College, Cambridge

Qualifications

MA Magdalene College, University of Cambridge
PhD Magdalene College, University of Cambridge 'Limestone erosion rates and microtopography; Grand Cayman Island, West Indies'

Research

Earth and Environmental Systems: Processes and Change - Monitoring and Modelling Environmental Processes

Hydrodynamics, sedimentation, ecological processes in temperate tidal wetlands and mangrove swamps; estuarine hydro- and morpho-dynamics; coastal zone management with particular reference to global environmental change.

Earth and Environmental Systems: Processes and Change - Environmental Change

Global environmental change in the ocean basins, including large-scale coral bleaching dynamics in the western Indian Ocean and sea-level changes on Pacific Ocean islands. Vulnerability of coastal wetlands to sea level rise, at global and regional scales.

Spatial Processes and Earth Observation - Earth Observation

Visualising the annual to decadal evolution of large-scale coastal morphology and sediment dynamics. Multi-spectral scanner technology to assess the stability of major European estuaries. The use of digital videography for coral reef monitoring. Terrestrial laser-scanning at the coast.

Publications

Authored and Edited Books:

2009 edited with O Slaymaker and C Embleton-Hamann "Geomorphology and Global Environmental Change". Cambridge University Press : Cambridge, xvi + 434pp.
2009 with AB Hagan, SM Hamylton and P Renaud "Atlas of the Amirantes" Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, University of Cambridge : Cambridge, vi + 66pp. ISBN 978-1-901480-09-2.
2005 edited with CA Fletcher "Flooding and Environmental Challenges for Venice and its Lagoon: State of Knowledge". Cambridge University Press : Cambridge, xxv + 691pp. ISBN 978-0-521-84046-0.
1998 with O Slaymaker "Physical Geography and Global Environmental Change". Addison Wesley Longman : Harlow, xv + 291pp. ISBN 978-0-582-29829-3.
1995 with HA Viles "Coastal Problems: Geomorphology, Ecology and Society at the Coast". E Arnold : London, x + 350pp. ISBN 978-0-713-15397-2.
1995 edited with TG Benton "The Pitcairn Islands: Biogeography, Ecology and Prehistory". Academic Press : London, xxxi + 422pp. ISBN 978-0-120-89345-4.
1985 edited with I Douglas "Environmental Change and Tropical Geomorphology". Allen and Unwin : London, xix + 387pp. ISBN 0-04-551074-1.

Special Issues:

2009 with J Da Mosto, T Morel, R Gabin, S Tonin, F Fracchia, R Agnoletto, F Mattassoglio, A Somers Cocks and E Tantucci "The Venice Report: Demography, tourism, financing and change of use of buildings". Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 104pp.
2005 edited with A McRobie and H Gerritsen "The Big Flood: North Sea storm surge" Philosophical Transactions, Royal Society of London A 363: 1261 - 1491. doi:10.1098/rsta.2005.1567
2005 edited with AS Laughton FRS and NC Flemming "Atmosphere-ocean-ecology dynamics in the Western Indian Ocean" Philosophical Transactions, Royal Society of London A 363: 1 - 307.
2001 edited with JC Burnett and J Kavanagh "Shoals of Capricorn Field Report 1998-2001: Marine science, training and education in the western Indian Ocean". RGS - IBG : London, xxxvi + 108pp.

Selected Papers (2000 - 2010):

With S Hamylton and A Hagan (2010) "Development of a regional habitat classification scheme for the Amirantes Islands, Seychelles" Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 9: 293-302.
With S Hamylton (2010) "Geomorphological modelling of tropical marine landscapes: optical remote sensing, patches and spatial statistics" Continental Shelf Research doi:10.1016/j.csr.2010.02.003.
With DJ Reed (2010) "Estuaries" In: TP Burt and RJ Allison (eds). Sediment cascades: An integrated approach. Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester, 403-432.
With I Moller, J Lendzion, A Hayes and S Zerbe (2009) "The sea-defence function of micro-tidal temperate coastal wetlands" In: C Brebbia, G Benassi and GR Rodriguez (eds). Coastal processes. WIT Press: Ashurst, 51-62.
With DR Stoddart and RF McLean (2008) "Coral Reefs" In: TP Burt, RJ Chorley, D Brunsden, NJ Cox and AS Goudie (eds). The History of the Study of Landforms Volume 4: Quaternary and Recent Processes and Forms (1890 – 1965) and the Mid-century Revolutions. The Geological Society: London, 863-922.
With G Fragoso (2008) "Physiographic control on the development of Spartina marshes" Science 322, 1064. doi:10.1126/science.1159973
With CT Perry and PS Kench (2008) "Carbonate budgets and reef production states: a geomorphic perspective on the ecological phase-shift concept" Coral Reefs 27, 853-866. doi:10.1007/s003388-008-0418-2
With AT Vafeidis, RJ Nicholls, L McFadden, RSJ Tol, J Hinkel, PS Grashoff, G Boot and RJT Klein (2008) "A new global coastal database for impact and vulnerability analysis to sea-level rise" Journal of Coastal Research 24, 917-924. doi:10.2112/06-0725.1
(2007) "Coral reefs and the tsunami of 26 December 2004: Generating processes and ocean-wide patterns of impact" Atoll Research Bulletin 544, 1-36.
With AB Hagan, DR Stoddart, M Loustau-Lalanne and R Renaud (2007) "Tsunami impacts in the Republic of Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean" Atoll Research Bulletin 544, 149-164.
With LM McFadden and RJ Nicholls (2007) "Broad-scale modelling of coastal wetlands: what is required?" Hydrobiologia 577, 5-15. doi:10.1007/s10750-006-0413-8
With JD Brown and I Moeller (2007) "Modeling storm surge flooding of an urban area with particular reference to modelling uncertainties: A case study of Canvey Island, United Kingdom" Water Resources Research 43, W06402 doi:10.1029/2005WR004597.
With AB Hagan (2006) "Reef recovery at Alphonse Atoll, western Indian Ocean, following the 1997-98 ocean warming event" Proceedings, 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, Okinawa, Japan, 676-682.
With DR Cahoon, PF Hensel, DJ Reed, KL McKee and N Saintilan (2006) Coastal wetland vulnerability to relative sea level rise: Wetland elevation trends and process controls" in:- Wetlands and Natural Resource Management (Ecological Studies 190), Verhoeven, T.A., Beltan, B., Bobbink, R. and Whigham, D.F. (eds.), Springer : Berlin, 271-292.
With MD Spalding (2005) "Coral reefs of SE Asia: Controls, patterns and human impacts" in:- Physical Geography of SE Asia A Gupta (ed.) Oxford University Press : Oxford, 402-427.
With AT Vafeidis, RJ Nicholls, G Boot, G., J Cox, P Grashoff, J Hinkel, R Maatens, L McFadden and RSJ Tol (2004) "A global database for coastal vulnerability analysis (DINAS COAST)'" LOICZ Newsletter 33: 1-4.
With I Möller (2003) "Wave transformations over mudflat and saltmarsh surfaces on the UK east coast - Implications for marsh evolution" Proceedings, International Conference on Coastal Sediments 2003 (ASCE, World Scientific Publishing Corp. and East Meets West Productions : Corpus Christi Texas).
With HA Viles (2002) "Bioconstruction, bioerosion and disturbance in coral reefs and rocky carbonate coasts" The Geomorphology of Coastal Environments PA Gares and DJ Sherman (eds) Special Issue, Geomorphology 48: 23-50.
With I Möller (2002) "Wave dissipation over macro-tidal saltmarshes: Effects of marsh edge typology and vegetation change". Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 36: 506-521.
With I Möller and J Rawson (2002) "Spatial and temporal variability of wave attenuation over a UK saltmarsh" Proceedings, 28th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, 362.
With F Thomalla, J Brown, I Kellman, I Möller and R Spence (2002) "Towards an integrated approach for coastal flood impact assessment" Proceedings, Solutions to Coastal Disasters '02 L Ewing and L Wallendorf (eds) (ASCE : Reston Virginia), 142-158.
With K Teleki (2002) "Coral bleaching: Geographical perspectives" in:- Implications for coral reef management and policy: Relevant findings from the 9th International Coral reef Symposium. BA Best, RS Pomeroy and CM Balboa (eds) US Agency for International Development : Washington DC, 106-108.
With JR French (2001) "Sea level rise" in:- Conservation and the Physical Environment A Warren and JR French (eds) J. Wiley : Chichester, 305-347.
With I Moller, JR French, D Leggett and M Dixon (2001) "The sea defence value of saltmarshes: field evidence from North Norfolk" Journal Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management 15: 109-16.
With H Schans and I Möller (2001) "Large-scale classification of the East Anglian coastline" Proceedings, 4th Conference on Coastal Dynamics, Lund, Sweden, 683-692.
With MD Spalding and K Teleki (2001) "Climate change and coral bleaching" in:- Impacts of climate change on wildlife RE Green, M Harley, MD Spalding and C Zöckler (eds) RSPB : Sandy, 38-39.
With S Whatmore (2001) "Editorial: Bio-geographies: putting life back into the discipline" Transactions, Institute of British Geographers 24(2): 139-141.
(2001) 17 entries in:- The Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Environmental Change JA Matthews (ed.) Arnold : London.
With D Cahoon, JR French, DJ Reed and I Möller (2000) "Vertical accretion versus elevational adjustment in UK saltmarshes: An evaluation of alternative methodologies" in:- Coastal and estuarine environments: Sedimentology, geomorphology and geoarchaeology K Pye and JRL Allen (eds) London : Geological Society of London, Special Publication 175: 223-238.
With F Thomalla, J Brown, I Kellman, I Möller and R Spence (2000) "Coastal settlements at risk: A study of England's east coast" Proceedings, International Symposium on River Flood Defence, Universität Gesamthochschule Kassel, Kassel, Germany, Kassel Reports of Hydraulic Engineering, 9: F263-273.
With GE Smith and I Möller (2000) "Visualization of Coastal Dynamics: Scolt Head Island, North Norfolk, England" Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 50: 137-142.
With K Teleki, C Bradshaw and MD Spalding (2000) "Coral bleaching in the southern Seychelles during the 1997 - 98 Indian Ocean warm event" Marine Pollution Bulletin 40: 569-586.
With HA Viles, K Teleki and C Cox (2000) "16 years of microfloral recolonisation data from limestone surfaces, Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean; Implications for biological weathering" Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 25: 1355-1370.

Teaching

Geographical Tripos (Undergraduate level)
MPhil in Environmental Science
Graduate Training Programme
MPhil in Conservation Leadership

Awards and External activities

UK Government (DEFRA) –nominated Review Editor on 'Small Islands', IPCC Working Group II, Fifth Assessment Report, 2010-2014
Co-Chair, International Working Group, International Association of Geomorphologists' research theme on 'The Geomorphological Implications of Future Climate Change', 2005-09
UK Government (DEFRA) -nominated expert reviewer, IPCC Working Group II and Synthesis Report, Fourth Assessment Report, 2005-07
"Biological buffers at the coast" Progress in Physical Geography Plenary Lecture, RGS-IBG Annual Conference, London, 2006
Member, Steering Committee, International Technical Summit "Envisioning the future of the Gulf Coast: Using engineering and science to protect communities, the economy and the ecosystem" BP / America's Wetlands / Universities of Louisiana / State of Louisiana, 2005 - 2006
Murchison Award, Royal Geographical Society 2004 'in recognition of a body of publications on coastal geomorphology'
Gill Memorial Award, Royal Geographical Society 1992 'for contributions to the study of coral reefs'
Lead organiser, International Discussion Meeting "Atmosphere - ocean - ecology dynamics of the Western Indian Ocean"", Royal Society of London, 2004
Co-Organiser, Science Meeting "The Big Flood" (meeting on the fiftieth anniversary of the 1953 floods), Royal Society of London, 2003
Co-Organiser, International Discussion Meeting "Flooding and Environmental Challenges for Venice and its Lagoon: State of Knowledge", Churchill College, Cambridge, 2003
Chair, Scientific Committee, Chair, Local Organising Committee and Editor, Abstracts Volume, European Meeting of the International Society for Reef Studies, Robinson College, Cambridge, 2002
Member, Research Programmes Review Group (strategy for future research programmes), RGS-IBG, 2001-02
Co-organiser of mini-symposium and speaker, "Global climate change and coral reefs: geographic and ecological perspectives" 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, Indonesia, 2000
Co-leader, Southern Seychelles Atoll Research Programme 1998
"Bioconstruction, bioerosion and disturbance on coral reefs and carbonate rocky coasts", invited speaker, 29th Annual Binghamton Meeting, Woods Hole, Mass., USA, 1998
Science Co-ordinator, Chair of Science Advisory Panel and Member, Planning Board, Royal Geographical Society / Royal Society Shoals of Capricorn Programme to the Mascarene Ridge, Indian Ocean 1997 - 2001
"Coral reefs and global environmental change", invited keynote speaker, OECD Co-operative Research Programme on Biological Resource Management, RHBNC, University of London, 1997
"Geomorphic hazards in coastal environments", invited keynote speaker, 28th International Geographical Congress, The Hague, The Netherlands, August 1996
Member, Expeditions and Fieldwork Committee, Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) 1996-2004
Co-organiser, International Discussion Meeting "The Biogeography, Ecology and Prehistory of the Pitcairn Islands", Linnean Society, London, 1994
Leader, Northern Cook Islands Scientific Expedition, 1993
Coral reef geomorphology: sea levels past, present and future", 3rd International Geomorphology Conference, Hamilton, Canada. Organiser and Chair of Symposium "Geomorphic impacts of sea-level rise", 1993
Member of Council, Institute of British Geographers, 1992-95
Royal Society Overseas Field Research Board, 1992-93
UK Co-ordinator for 15 month, multinational, interdisciplinary expedition to the Pitcairn Islands, S.E. Pacific, 1991-92
Royal Society South East Asian Rainforest Research Committee, 1990-95
Invited plenary address "Global environmental history: interaction and change in the geosphere-biosphere system" 26th Congress International Geographical Congress, Sydney, Australia, 1988

Editorial responsibilities:

Chair, British Geomorphological Research Group (BGRG) Publications Committee, 1999-2002
Series Editor (with O Slaymaker and A Orme), "Understanding global environmental change: Themes in physical geography" (Addison Wesley Longman), 1997-2003, now moved to Blackwell as "Environmental Systems and Global Change Series", 2004-
Editorial Board, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (Wiley: Chichester) 1996-2004
Editorial Board, Coral Reefs (Springer : Berlin), 1994-96
Editorial Board, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers (Ling : London), 1994-2002
BGRG Editor, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (Wiley: Chichester), 1990-96