Elizabeth Young

Elizabeth Young graduated with an MSci in Geoscience from the University of Durham (Department of Earth Sciences) in 2010. Her masters research project focused on the effects of managed burning on carbon stocks in upland peat.

PhD Thesis

Machair vulnerability and landscape resilience in South Uist and Benbecula, the Scottish Outer Hebrides

Supervisors: Dr Sue Dawson (University of Dundee) and Dr Blair McKenzie (James Hutton Institute)

Research project summary:

The machair is a fragile coastal habitat complex found only in low-lying areas of north-west Scotland and Ireland. It is most commonly associated with its rare flora and fauna, which have been extensively studied. Concerns over rising sea level, recent storm damage, and exacerbation of soil erosion by modern agricultural techniques have highlighted the importance of understanding the vulnerability and resilience of the machair soil and landscape. This research project will explore methods of assessing vulnerability and resilience for the components of the machair system. The effects of modern and traditional agricultural methods on machair stability will also be investigated, with the aim of identifying sustainable management practices which can improve machair resilience.

Keywords

Key words: machair; resilience; vulnerability; Outer Hebrides

Research Interests:

Climate change; sea level rise; soil quality; coastal geomorphology; marginal agriculture. Elizabeth's previous academic background also includes: geology, palaeoclimatology, geochemistry, palaeontology and sedimentology.