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Department of Geography

Current Postgraduate Students

Professor David J.A. Evans

Professor in the Department of Geography
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 41886
Fax: +44 (0)191 33 41801
Room number: S110

Contact Professor David J.A. Evans (email at d.j.a.evans@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

My research on the landforms and sediments of modern and ancient glaciated basins has been the catalyst for the compilation of glacial landsystems models and the reconstruction of palaeo-glacier dynamics. I have undertaken this research in a range of glacierized and glaciated settings, including the Canadian high arctic, Iceland, Norway, the Canadian prairies, Ireland, Svalbard, the Himalaya and Britain. My high arctic work has addressed the impacts of sub-polar glaciers on fjord and plateau landscapes, highlighting glacitectonic processes and landforms, glacial apron entrainment and the interactions between glacier systems, the marine environment and periglacial slope processes. On the Canadian prairies I have focussed on the impacts of predominantly temperate ice sheet margins on continental interiors, including the products of glacitectonics, the inter-relationships between glacier thermal characteristics, till deposition and subglacial landform production and the role of glacial meltwater in landscape development. I have applied my work on contemporary glacial landsystems in Iceland to ancient glaciated landscapes, specifically identifying the geomorphic signatures of former surging and fast flowing ice streams/lobes in the SW Laurentide Ice Sheet. Ongoing Icelandic landsystems research is being conducted in collaboration with Dr Dave Twigg (Civil & Building Engineering, Loughborough University), allowing the compilation of the first comprehensive maps of the recently deglaciated proglacial areas of many glaciers and the temporal and spatial analysis of process-form relationships at temperate and surging glacier margins (see links). Collaborative work on subglacial processes has involved assessments of till genesis and their role in glacier bedform production and glacial erosion as a process and an agent of landscape change. Much of my glacial landform and sediment research has been applied to the palaeoglaciology of the last British Ice Sheet. One major product of our ongoing work on this theme is the Glacial Map of Britain (see links), compiled in collaboration with Dr Chris Clark (University of Sheffield). This is the culmination of a four year project, partly funded by the British Geological Survey, to compile all the previously published information on glacial landforms dating to the last glaciation in map format with a supporting GIS.

My research on Quaternary palaeoenvironments concentrates on the glacial history and relative sea level changes in mid to high latitude environments, often involving palaeoglaciological reconstructions informed by modern process information (see above). This involves the collection and assessment of morphostratigraphical and chronostratigraphical information, which in coastal settings demarcates and dates former glacier margins using the geomorphology and sedimentology/ stratigraphy of raised marine features and glacimarine deposits. In continental settings, such as central Canada, sedimentological and geochronological investigations of complex stratigraphic sequences aid in reconstructions of multiple glacial and non-glacial events dating back to pre-Quaternary times. Collaborative work with Dr Colm Ó Cofaigh (Durham) and Dr John Hiemstra (Swansea) has focussed on the application of till sedimentology to reconstructions of former glacier margins around Britain and the southern Irish coast. At more recent timescales I work on reconstructions of glacier margins through the historical period, specifically postdating the Little Ice Age in northwest Europe. This involves the testing and development of incremental (relative) age dating techniques.

Research Groups

Research Projects

Related Links

Supervises

Selected Publications

Books: authored

Books: edited

Books: sections

  • Carr, S. J., Coleman, C. G., Evans, D. J. A., Porter, E. M. & Rea, B. R. (2007). An alternative interpretation of Craig-y-Fro based on mass balance and radiation modelling. In Quaternary of the Brecon Beacons, Field Guide. Carr, S. J., Coleman, C. G., Humpage, A. J. & Shakesby, R. A. London: Quaternary Research Association.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2007). Glacial erratics and till dispersal indicators. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Elias, S.A. Oxford: Elsevier. 975-978.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2007). Glacial Landforms. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Elias, S.A. Oxford: Elsevier. 757-772.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2007). Glacial landsystems. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Elias, S.A. Oxford: Elsevier. 808-818.
  • Carr, S. J., Coleman, C. G. & Evans, D. J. A. (2007). Glacier reconstruction and energy balance modelling of scarp-foot landforms at the Mynydd Du (Black Mountain). In Quaternary of the Brecon Beacons, Field Guide. Carr, S. J., Coleman, C. G., Humpage, A. J. & Shakesby, R. A. London: Quaternary Research Association.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2007). Glacitectonic structures and landforms. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Elias, S.A. Oxford: Elsevier. 831-838.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2007). Moraine forms and genesis. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Elias, S.A. Oxford: Elsevier. 772-784.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2007). Tills. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science. Elias, S.A. Oxford: Elsevier. 959-975.
  • Evans, D.J.A., Scourse, J.D., Hiemstra, J.F., Rhodes, E.J., McCarroll, D. & Furze, M.F.A. (2006). Bread and Cheese Cove. In The Isles of Scilly, Field Guide. Scourse, J.D. London: Quaternary Research Association. 111-122.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2006). Glacial Landsystems. In Glacier Science and Environmental Change. Knight, P.G. London: Blackwell. 83-88.
  • Clark, C. D., Greenwood, S. L. & Evans, D. J. A. (2006). Palaeoglaciology of the last British-Irish ice sheet: challenges and some recent developments. In Glacier Science and Environmental Change. Knight, P.G. London: Blackwell. 248-264.
  • Scourse, J. D., Evans, D. J. A., Hiemstra, J. F., McCarrol, D., Rhodes, E. J. & Furze, M. F. A. (2006). Pleistocene stratigraphy, geomorphology and chronology. In The Isles of Scilly, Field Guide. Scourse, J.D. London: Quaternary Research Association. 13-22.
  • Benn, D. I. & Evans, D. J. A. (2006). Subglacial megafloods: outrageous hypothesis or just outrageous? In Glacier Science and Environmental Change. Knight, P.G. London: Blackwell. 42-46.
  • Scourse, J. D., Hiemstra, J. F. & Evans, D J. A. (2006). The glacial landscape of NE St Martin's and White Island. In The Isles of Scilly, Field Guide. Scourse, J.D. London: Quaternary Research Association. 102-103.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2005). The Glacier-marginal landsystems of Iceland. In Iceland - Modern Processes and Past Environments. Caseldine, C. J., Russell, A. J., Hardardottir, J. & Knudsen, O. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 93-126.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2004). Eskers. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge. 579.
  • Evans, D. J. A. & Benn, D. I. (2004). Facies description and the logging of sedimentary exposures. In A Practical Guide to the Study of Glacial Sediments. Evans, D. J. A. & Benn, D. I. Arnold. 11-51.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2004). Fjords. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge. 641-642.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2004). Glacial Deposition. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge. 734-735.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2004). Glacial erosion. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge. 735-738.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2004). Glacial Geomorphology. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge. 739-741.
  • Evans.D.J.A. (2004). Glaciers. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge.
  • Evans.D.J.A. (2004). Ice sheets. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge.
  • Benn, D. I. & Evans, D. J. A. (2004). Introduction and rationale. In A Practical Guide to the Study of Glacial Sediments. Evans, D. J. A. & Benn, D. I. Arnold. 1-10.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2004). Kames. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge. 1057.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2004). Moraines. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routledge. 1320-1321.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2004). Nunatak. In Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Nuttall, M. London: Routeldge. 1571-1518.
  • Benn, D. I., Evans, D. J. A., Phillips, E. R., Hiemstra, J. F., Walden, J. & Hoey, T. B. (2004). The research project - a case study of Quaternary glacial sediments. In A Practical Guide to the Study of Glacial Sediments. Evans, D. J. A. & Benn, D. I. Arnold. 209-234.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2003). Bedrock geology and physiography of the Western Highland Boundary. In The Quaternary of the Western Highland Boundary - Field Guide. Evans, D. J. A. Quaternary Research Association. 2-4.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2003). Bergschrund. In Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. Goudie, A.S. London: Routledge.
  • Phillips, E. R., Auton, C. A., Evans, D. J. A. & Benn, D. I. (2003). Drumbeg: glacial sedimentology and tectonostratigraphy. In The Quaternary of the Western Highland Boundary - Field Guide. Evans, D. J. A. Quaternary Research Association. 88-103.
  • Hiemstra, J. F., Evans, D. J. A. & Benn, D. I. (2003). Drumbeg: zooming in on Unit III (an alternative scenario for deformation phase D2). In The Quaternary of the Western Highland Boundary - Field Guide. Evans, D. J. A. Quaternary Research Association. 104-110.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2003). Esker. In Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. Goudie, A.S. London: Routledge. 340-341.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2003). Fjord. In Encyclopeida of Geomorphology. Goudie, A.S. London: Routeldge. 374-376.
  • Evans, D. J. A., Wilson, S. B. & Rose, J. (2003). Glacial geomorphology of the Western Highland Boundary. In The Quaternary of the Western Highland Boundary - Field Guide. Evans, D. J. A. Quaternary Research Association. 5-20.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2003). Ice marginal terrestrial landsystems: active temperate glacier margins. In Glacial Landsystems. Evans, D. J. A. Hodder Arnold. 12-43.
  • Dyke, A. S. & Evans, D. J. A. (2003). Ice-marginal terrestrial landsystems: northern Laurentide and Innuitian ice sheet margins. In Glacial Landsystems. Evans, D. J. A. Hodder Arnold. 143-165.
  • Ó Cofaigh, C., Evans, D. J. A. & England, J. (2003). Ice-marginal terrestrial landsystems: sub-polar glacier margins of the Canadian and Greenland high arctic. In Glacial Landsystems. Evans, D. J. A. Hodder Arnold. 44-64.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2003). Ice-stagnation topography. In Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. Goudie, A.S. London: Routledge. 556-557.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2003). Introduction to glacial landsystems. In Glacial Landsystems. Evans, D. J. A. Hodder Arnold. 1-11.
  • Evans, D. J. A. & Rose, J. (2003). Late Quaternary Stratigraphy of the Western Highland Boundary. In The Quaternary of the Western Highland Boundary - Field Guide. Evans, D. J. A. Quaternary Research Association. 21-29.
  • Rea, B. R. & Evans, D. J. A. (2003). Plateau icefield landsystems. In Glacial Landsystems. Evans, D. J. A. Hodder Arnold. 407-431.
  • Evans, D. J. A. & Rea, B. R. (2003). Surging glacier landsystem. In Glacial Landsystems. Evans, D. J. A. Hodder Arnold. 259-288.
  • Evans, D.J.A. (2003). Surging glacier. In Encyclopeida of Geomorphology. Goudie, S.A. London: Routledge. 1028-1029.
  • Wilson, S. B. & Evans, D. J. A. (2003). The Menteith and Buchlyvie moraines. In The Quaternary of the Western Highland Boundary - Field Guide. Evans, D. J. A. Quaternary Research Association. 150-153.
  • Evans, D. J. A. & Hansom, J. D. (2003). The Whangie and Paraglacial landslides of the Campsie Fells. In The Quaternary of the Western Highland Boundary - Field Guide. Evans, D. J. A. Quaternary Research Association. 76-80.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2002). Glacial Geology and Geomorphology. In Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology. Meyers, R. A. Academic Press. 6: 719-751.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2002). Site Report: Castlethorpe (SE 978 077). In Quaternary of Northern England. Huddart, D. & Glasser, N. F. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 589-583.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2002). Site Report: Dimlington (TA 390 220). In Quaternary of Northern England. Huddart, D. & Glasser, N. F. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 139-144.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2002). Site Report: Gransmoor (TA 113 597). In Quaternary of Northern England. Huddart, D. & Glasser, N. F. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 257-264.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2002). Site Report: Kelsey Hill (TA 239 266). In Quaternary of Northern England. Huddart, D. & Glasser, N. F. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 77-81.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2002). Site Report: Sewerby (TA 198 683). In Quaternary of Northern England. Huddart, D. & Glasser, N. F. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 71-77.
  • Evans, D. J. A. (2002). Site Report: Speeton (TA 146 759). In Quaternary of Northern England. Huddart, D. & Glasser, N. F. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 65-71.
  • Evans, D. J. A., Thomson, S. A. & Clark, C. D. (2001). Introduction to the Late Quaternary of East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire: The Glacial History of East Yorkshire. In The Quaternary of East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire: Field Guide. Bateman, M. D., Buckland, P. C., Frederick, C. D. & Whitehouse, N. J. Quaternary Research Association. 1-12.
  • Thomson, S. A. & Evans, D. J. A. (2001). Site Report: Gembling (TA 120 580). In The Quaternary of East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire: Field Guide. Bateman, M. D., Buckland, P. C., Frederick, C. D. & Whitehouse, N. J. Quaternary Research Association. 73-81.

Edited works: conference proceedings

  • Evans, D.J.A. & O'Cofaigh, C. (2008). Sedimentology of the Bannow Till as its stratotype location, southern Ireland. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association.

Journal papers: academic

Other media: research

  • Evans, D. J. A., Twigg, D. R., Rea, B. R. & Shand, M. (2007). Bruarjokull: surficial geology and geomorphology of the surging glacier landsystem. 1:30,000 scale map poster. Universities of Glasgow, Durham, Loughborough and Aberdeen.
  • Evans, D. J. A., Twigg, D. R. & Rea, B. R. (2006). Surging glacier landsystem of Tungnaárjökull, Iceland. 1:25,000 scale map poster.
  • Evans, D. J. A. & Twigg, D. R. (2004). Thórisjökull: Surficial Geology and Geomorphology of a Plateau Icefield. 1:25,000 scale map poster.

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