Andrew R Black

Research Interests

Andrew Black has 20 years experience in hydrology and water and environmental management, largely in Scotland. In recent years I have worked on placement in the Flooding Policy Unit of the Scottish Executive supporting policy development, and work with Wallingford HydroSolutions in their Scottish office as a Technical Director. Policy and practical relevance underpins all my work. Key current research interests include:

  • Variations in flood risk in response to changing climatic drivers
  • Use of historic sources for assessment of flood risks
  • Water resources hydrology (hydro power water resource assessments, Dundee Hydrological Regime Assessment Method - DHRAM)
  • Hydrometry and hydrological databases - particularly the Chronology of British Hydrological Events

Andrew also holds the office of President of the British Hydrological Society (2009-11). The BHS is a Society of more than 1000 members which has an excellent track record of bringing together researchers and practitioners in hydrology for the exchange and advancement of knowledge.

Recent Research Grants

YearAmount/Description
2009 - Industrail secondment to Wallingford HydroSolutions Ltd
2008 Research placement with Scottish Government on Sustainable Flood Management . ESRC/Scottish Government grant.
2007 Assessing the benefits of flood warning: Phase 2. With T Ball and Halcrow Group Limited, funded by SNIFFER.
2006 "Assessing the value of historic spring flow records in Scotland: A study focusing on the North Pentland Springs" (with A Macdonald and T Ball), funded by Scottish Environment Protection Agency and British Geological Survey.
2005 "Exploring the Social Impacts of Flooding and Flood Risk in Scotland" (with A Werritty, D S Houston, T Ball and A Tavendale), funded by Scottish Executive.
2005 "Integrated River Basin Management twinning mission" (with A Werritty, A Fenemor and J Butler), funded by twinbasin.org.
2004 "Hydrometric Data Collection for Flood Estimation in Scotland" (with A Tavendale), funded by Scottish Executive.
2004 "Climate Change, Non-Point Pollution and Land Use: modelling interactions". (With N Hanley, A Aftab and M Semenov), funded byresearch councils Rural Economy and Land Use Programme.
2004 "Development of Environmental Standards (Water Resources)" (with M Acreman, M Dunbar, J Rowan,O Bragg and R Duck), funded by SNIFFER.
2004 "Financial Costs of Flood Damages" (with A Werritty), funded by insurance sources.
2003 "The Evolution of Legal Controls on Hydro-Electric Dams in Scotland: the Emergence of Environmental Concerns" (with C Reid, Department of Law), funded by Arts & Humanities Research Board.

Academic Background

YearDegree/University
1989-92 Ph.D. Geography ("Seasonality of flooding in Scottish rivers"), University of St Andrews
1985-89 BSc (Hons) Geography, University of St Andrews

Appointments

YearTitle/University
2004 - Senior Lecturer, Geography, University of Dundee
1995 - 2004 Lecturer, Geography, University of Dundee
1992 - 1995 Scottish Water Archive Hydrologist, NERC Institute of Hydrology (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)

Professional Memberships

  • British Hydrological Society
  • Institution of Civil Engineers (Fellow)
  • Royal Scottish Geographical Society (Professional Associate)
  • Royal Meteorological Society (Associate Fellow)
  • ICE Scottish Hydrological Group
  • International Association of Hydrological Sciences
  • Scottish Freshwater Group
  • New Zealand Hydrological Society

Professional Roles

  • British Hydrological Society - President (2009-11) and Hon Secretary (2002-04)
  • Scottish Hydrological Group - Hon Secretary (1994-97) and Chair (2001-03)
  • Royal Scottish Geographical Society - Council Member (1995-99)

Hanley, N and Black, A R (2006) Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Water Framework Directive in Scotland. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2(2) 156-165.

Reid, C T, Pillai, A and Black, A R (2006) Regulating long-term impacts on the Scottish landscape: quarries, dams and forestry. Environmental Law Review, 8, 33-50.

Hanley, N, Columbo, S, Tinch, D, Black, A and Aftab, A (2006) Estimating the benefits of water quality improvements under the Water Framework Directive: are benefits transferable? European Review of Agricultural Economics, pp. 1?23. doi:10.1093/erae/jbl019 .

Macdonald, N, Werritty, A, Black, A R, and McEwen, L J (2006) Historical and pooled flood frequency analysis for the River Tay at Perth, Scotland. Area, 38, 34-46.

Rowan, J S, Carwardine, J, Duck, R W, Bragg, O M, Black, A R, Cutler, M E J, Soutar, I and Boon, P J (2006) Development of a technique for Lake Habitat Survey (LHS) with applications for the European Union Water Framework Directive. Aquatic Conservation: Marine & Freshwater Ecosystems, 16, 637-657.

Cranston, M D and Black, A R (2006) Flood warning and the use of weather radar in Scotland: a study of flood events in the Ruchill Water catchment. Meteorological Applications, 13, 43-52.

Black, A R, Rowan, J S, Duck, R W, Bragg, O M and Clelland, B E (2005) DHRAM: a method for classifying river flow regime alterations for the EU Water Framework Directive. Aquatic Conservation: Marine & Freshwater Ecosystems, 15, 427-446.

Pillai, A, Reid, C T and Black, A R (2005) Reconciling renewable energy and the local impacts of hydro-electric development. Environmental Law Review, 7, 110-123.

Black, A R and Law, F M (2004) Development and utilization of a national web-based chronology of hydrological events. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 49, 237-246.

Reid, C T, Pillai, A and Black, A R (2004) Environmental controls on hydro-electric schemes in Scotland. Water Law, 15, 238-241.

Contact:
a.z.black@dundee.ac.uk 
Tel:+44 (0)1382 384433
Fax:+44 (0)1382 388588
Postal Address:
Geography
School of the Environment
University of Dundee
Perth Rd
Dundee
DD1 4HN
Andrew R Black
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