Summary of the impact

Research at the University of Southampton has redefined understanding of the potential rapidity of sea level rise above the present, and of the relationship between climate change and sea level. It has informed the "worst-case scenario" for climate change flood risk assessment in the UK as well as key adaptation policy documents throughout Europe, North America and Australasia. Impact generation occurs mainly though active public engagement, which ensures widespread international media attention, and through direct interaction with the Environment Agency (EA) and UK Climate Impact Programme (UKCIP) which have now joined the research group in a £3.3 million consortium project to better define the "worst case scenario".

Summary of the impact

3DU researchers have used innovative techniques for reconstructing past sea levels to compile a comprehensive database of evidence on recent and current UK sea-level change, and have developed an improved model of vertical land movement which is consistent with the historical data on sea-level change. The model and database underpin the sea-level component of the UK Climate Projections 09 (UKCP09) climate modelling tool, and thereby inform a wide range of coastal planning and management activities around the UK. DU researchers have also applied these methodological advances in detailed work on coastal stability at existing and proposed sites for nuclear power stations and nuclear waste repositories in England and Sweden.

Summary of the impact

The University of Nottingham has played a key role in shaping public policy in relation to flood risk management. Its work on novel methods of measuring and projecting changes in land and sea levels has provided new information on subsidence in the South East of the UK, leading to revised and more accurate estimates of how flood risk will develop over the course of the 21st century. These insights are being used to help protect more than a million people and billions of pounds' worth of property and are also being applied to major Europe-wide studies intended to inform civil protection agencies, disaster-management organisations, transport authorities and the wider public.

Summary of the impact

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) research conducted in the Spatial Planning and Impact Assessment Research Group (SPIA) since 2004 has examined how policy makers can support a high level of environmental protection through integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of policy. Research has made a key difference to the capacity of policy makers to shape more environmentally sustainable policy through evidence based policy making which is informed by environmental assessment procedures and techniques. Research findings have fed into guidance and other documents of national and international organisations in relation to designing environmentally sustainable policy.

Summary of the impact

Protecting London from the threat of flooding is of prime importance to the nation. Work in the Unit on regional sea-level rise and on the effect of storm surges was used in the Environment Agency's Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100) plan to assess potential change in risk. The Unit's work estimated a very unlikely maximum rise in sea level of 2.7m by 2100, considerably lower than the previous worst-case scenario of 4.2m. It confirmed that 90 centimetres was the figure that should be used for developing the plan. TE2100 concluded that a second Thames Barrier (estimated cost £10-20 billion at today's prices) would not be needed not by 2030, but may be needed by 2070. Our results have been used to define procedures for the monitoring of regional sea and Thames water levels over the next few decades, and to review decision-making procedures to ensure that the risk of flooding in London is kept within acceptable levels, while avoiding unnecessary costs

Summary of the impact

Impact: Economic benefits arising from new exploitations of North Sea oil and gas fields (2008 - June 2013), including oil production at the Bentley field by Xcite Energy Ltd and gas production at the Wissey field by Tullow Oil plc.

Significance and reach: The Bentley field produced 47,000 barrels of oil (value ~$4.7M) over the period 2011 — 2012, with an estimated ~900M barrels in place. [text removed for publication].

Underpinned by: Research into the identification of geological features through seismic and sequence stratigraphy, undertaken at the University of Edinburgh (1993 - June 2013).

Summary of the impact

This case study highlights the research at Plymouth University evidencing the problems of deep sea fishing in European waters. Working with policy makers, NEAFC, GOs, NGOs, and industry the researchers have contributed to solutions to deep-sea management problems across Europe. They have developed new techniques for habitat mapping which, coupled with human use data, has helped establish large offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that have minimized the effects of displacement on the industry while providing key refuges for ecosystem recovery and conservation.

Summary of the impact

A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is defined by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), as requiring special protection due to its vulnerability to damage from maritime activities and for ecological, socio-economic or scientific significance.

The Wadden Sea, in the North Sea, is a dynamic tidal ecosystem and a significant nursery area for commercial fisheries. It is adjacent to one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
It was designated a PSSA following a feasibility study conducted by Southampton Solent University (SSU). SSU later conducted an evaluation of its effectiveness and the report informed the Ministerial Council as the Sylt Declaration.