PhD Research Project

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Hydraulic modelling of the upper Amazon river and its floodplains

Institution:

Imperial College London

Dept/School/Faculty:

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

PhD Supervisor:

Dr W Buytaert

Application Deadline:

No more applications being accepted

Funding Availability:

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Project

The Andes – Amazon continuum is one of the most complex and least understood hydrological systems on the planet. At the same time, the hydrological cycle sustains a plethora of ecosystem functions and services. For instance, regularly inundated floodplains form the ideal growing conditions for the Mauritia Flexuosa palm tree, which provides fruits and fibers for local inhabitants. The seasonal fluctuations of the river level also determine the availability and quality of beaches on which freshwater turtles lay their eggs. Anomalies in the water level, such as those caused by the recent droughts, will therefore have a strong impact on the local ecosystem services and in extension local people’s livelihoods.

This project aims at the development of a hydraulic model of the river channels and its floodplains of the upper Amazon basin in Peru and Ecuador. A combination of existing river flow measurements and various types of satellite imagery will be used to calibrate the model. Subsequently, the model will be used to link a land-surface model of the basin’s water balance with species dynamics models, both of which are currently under development at Imperial College London and our project partners. The final aim of the integrated modelling setup is to predict the impact of climate change and other perturbations on the ecosystem services of the upper Amazon, and to provide a decision support system that can be used by local NGOs.

Applicants must have a background or a keen interest in river hydraulics and flood modelling with a good knowledge of numerical computing and programming. Fieldwork in Ecuador and Peru may be required, for which a basic notion of Spanish and travelling experience would be an advantage.

Funding Notes:

NERC or EPSRC funding is available to provide PhD scholarships for suitably qualified eligible UK residents and EU citizens. Rules for funding eligibility can be found on the NERC (http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/ ) and EPSRC (http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/Pages/default.aspx ) websites.

If you are interested in this studentship please send a covering email and CV to the relevant supervisor.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE 16 APRIL WILL BE CONSIDERED, THEREAFTER APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL A SUITABLE CANDIDATE IS FOUND.