This research group builds on a long-standing traditional within the Department of Geography at Sheffield of research excellence within the fields of Environmental reconstruction and Observation.

Key to the work within the research group is that present-day observations and research into understanding processes forming the landsurface enable interpretation of evidence from the past. Thus research within this group covers, for example, monitoring present-day volcanic eruptions or dust storm events back to the Pleistocene (last 2.6 million years of earth’s history) and earlier. A key strength of this research theme is a strong track record in the use of a range of approaches from field and laboratory investigations through to remote sensing, GIS analysis and numerical modeling. There are strong links with the Climate and Cryosphere and Society and Environment research groups recognising the importance of ice and climate in shaping the earth’s surface as well as the impacts of environmental processes on human activities both now and in the past. Several members of the Environmental reconstruction and observation group also belong to one or other of these other research groups.

As an interdisciplinary research group, we collaborate widely with other research groups within the University and beyond. We have links with the Department of Archaeology, Department of Animal & Plant Science and the Sheffield Centre for International Drylands Research. We have a vibrant postgraduate community associated with this research theme and welcome doctoral research applications in this interdisciplinary area.

Fundamental research focii that drive this theme are:

• the reconstruction of former ice sheets during the Pleistocene
• modelling of freshwater from ice sheets and its impact on the ocean, its thermohaline circulation, and hence climate, in the past, present and future
• understanding of the impact of past climatic changes on drylands, deserts and coastal regions

Particular geographic settings for this research include South Africa, Italy, northern Canada and the UK

Details of individual's research activity can found by following the links below:

Professor Mark Bateman (group co-leader)
Dr Rob Bryant (group co-leader)

Professor Grant Bigg 
Professor Chris D Clark
Dr Stephen Livingstone
Dr Andrew McGonigle
Dr Darrel Swift
Dr Chasca Twyman
Mr Steve Wise