Dr Charlie Bristow

Reader in Sedimentology
School of Earth Sciences
Birkbeck College
University of London
Malet St
London WC1E 7HX
Tel 020 7679 7710
Fax 020 7679 2867

e-mail: c.bristow@ucl.ac.uk

Teaching

• Earth History 1st year
• Sedimentation and Stratigraphy 2nd year
• Geological Hazards 3rd/4th year
• Earth's Resources and Raw Materials 3rd/4th year
• Selected lectures for MRes

Research interests

My current research programme is based on studying modern sedimentary environments, measuring rates of sedimentation and erosion and using that information to interpret ancient sedimentary rocks.

Current areas of research include:

· Sedimentary evolution of the North Norfolk barrier island coastline in the context of Holocene sea-level change, collaborative project with Birkbeck Geography and UEA NERC Grant GST/02/0737.

· The use of ground penetrating radar in sedimentology, investigating sandbody geometry and heterogeneity, publications on Lower Greensand (Bristow 1994, 1995) and recent aeolian sediments (Bristow et al. 1996, 2000, 2005, 2007), fluvial aggradation and avulsion of Niobrara River, Nebraska with Prof F.G. Ethridge, Colorado State University.

· Sedimentology of Miocene and recent clastic sequences in the United Arab Emirates in collaboration with BGS, see Bristow 1999, Bristow and Hill 1998, and Whybrow et al. 1999.

Linear Dunes (Namibia & Australia)

Palaeolake Megachad

External work and consultancy

I have undertaken consultancy and run field classes for AMOCO UK, Enterprise Oil, FINA, Mobil North Sea, Texaco, Kirkland Resources, Premier Consolidated Oil and Gas, Ready Mixed Concrete, Shell UK, Petroleum Development of Oman, PESGB, IAS and BSRG.

Publications

Sambrook Smith, G.H., Best, J.L., Bristow, C.S., and Petts G.E., 2006. Braided rivers: where have we come in 10 years? Progress and future research. In Sambrook Smith, G.H., Best, J.L., Bristow, C.S., and Petts G.E., (Eds.) Braided Rivers: process, deposits, ecology and management. Special Publication International Association of Sedimentologists 36.

Sambrook Smith, G.H., Best, J.L., Bristow, C.S., and Petts G.E., 2006. Braided Rivers: process, deposits, ecology and management. Special Publication International Association of Sedimentologists 36.

R. Washington, M. C. Todd , G. Lizcano, I. Tegen, C. Flamant, I. Koren, P. Ginoux, S. Engelstaedter, C. Bristow, C. S. Zender, A. Goudie, A. Warren , and J. M. Prospero, 2006, Links between topography, wind, deflation, lakes and dust:: the case of the Bodélé Depression, Chad, Geophysical Research letters 33, L09401.

Hollands, C.B., Nanson, G.C., Jones, B.G., Bristow, C.S., Price, D.M., Pietsch, T.J., 2006, Aeolian–fluvial interaction: evidence for Late Quaternary channel change and wind-rift linear dune formation in the northwestern Simpson Desert, Australia Quaternary Science Reviews, 25, p. 142-162

Drake, N., and Bristow, C.S., 2006, Shorelines in the Sahara: geomorphological evidence for an enhanced monsoon from palaeolake Megachad. The Holocene, accepted.

Bristow C.S., and  Pucillo, K., 2006, Quantifying rates of coastal progradation from sediment volume using GPR and OSL: the Holocene fill of Guichen Bay, southeast South Australia.  Sedimentology 53, p.769-788

Switzer, A.D., Bristow, C.S., and Jones, B.G., 2006, Investigation of large-scale washover of a small barrier system on the southeast Australian coast using ground penetrating radar . Sedimentary Geology, 183, 145-156

Bristow, C. S., Lancaster, N. & Duller, G. A. T., 2005, Combining ground penetrating radar surveys and optical dating to determine dune migration in Namibia.  Journal of the Geological Society, Volume 162, Part 2, p. 315-322

Switzer, A.D., Jones, B.G., and Bristow, C.S., 2004, Geological evidence for large-scale washover events from coastal New South Wales, Australia; implications for management. In: Delivering sustainable coasts: Connecting Science and Policy, Littoral 2004, Proceedings Volume 1, p.390-395. Cambridge Publications, Cambridge.

Jewell, C., and Bristow, C.S., 2004,GPR studies in the Piano di Pezza area of the Ovinddoli-Pezza Fault, Central Appenines, Italy: extending palaeoseismic trench investigations with high resolution GPR profiling. In Slob, E., Yarovoy, A., and Rhebergen, J., (Eds.) Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, Delft, The Netherlands, p.  555-558.

Bristow, C.S., and Lancaster, N., 2004, Movement of a small slipfaceless dome dune in the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia. Geomorphology 59, p.189-196.

Bailey, S., and Bristow, C.S., 2004, Migration of parabolic dunes at Aberffraw, Anglesey, north Wales. Geomorphology 59, p.165-174.

Bristow, C.S., 2004, GPR in Sediments: Recent advances in stratigraphic applications. In Slob, E., Yarovoy, A., and Rhebergen, J., (Eds.) Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, Delft, The Netherlands, p.  569-573.

Skelly,R.L., Bristow, C.S., and Ethridge, F.G., 2003, Architecture of channel-belt deposits in an aggrading shallow sandbed braided river: the lower Niobrara River, northeast Nebraska. Sedimentary Geology 158, p. 249-270.

Jol, H.M., Bristow, C.S., Smith, D.G., Junck, M.B. and Putnam, P., 2003. Stratigraphic imaging of the Navajo Sandstone using ground-penetrating radar. The Leading Edge, 22(9): 882-887.

Jol, H.M., and Bristow, C.S., 2003, GPR in Sediments: Advise on data collection, basic processing and interpretation, a good practice guide. In Bristow, C.S., and Jol, H.M., (Eds.) 2003, Ground Penetrating Radar in Sediments. Geological Society Special Publication 211. p.9-27.

Carter, A., and Bristow, C.S., 2003, Linking hinterland evolution and continental basin sedimentation by using detrital zircon thermochronology: a study of the Khorat Plateau Basin, eastern Thailand. Basin Research 15, p.271-285.

Botha, G.A., Bristow, C.S., Porat, N., Duller, G., Armitage, S., Roberts, H., Clarke, B.M., Kota, M.W., and Schoeman, P., 2003, Evidence for dune reactivation from GPR profiles on the Maputaland coastal plain, South Africa. In Bristow, C.S., and Jol, H.M., (Eds.) 2003, Ground Penetrating Radar in Sediments. Geological Society Special Publication 211. p.29-46

Best, J.L, Ashworth, P.J., Bristow, C.S., and Roden, J., 2003, Three dimensional sedimentary architecture of a large, mid-channel sand braid bar , Jamuna River, Bangladesh. Journal of Sedimentary Research 73, p.516-530.

Bailey, S., and Bristow, C.S., 2003, Migration of parabolic dunes at Aberffraw, Anglesey, north Wales. Geomorphology 1463 in press.

Bristow, C.S., and Lancaster, N., 2003, Movement of a small slipfaceless dome dune in the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia. Geomorphology 1465 in press.

Bristow, C.S., and Jol, H.M., 2003, An introduction to ground penetrating radar (GPR) in Sediments. In Bristow, C.S., and Jol, H.M., (Eds.) 2003, Ground Penetrating Radar in Sediments. Geological Society Special Publication 211, p. 1-7.

Bristow, C.S., and Jol, H.M., (Eds.) 2003, Ground Penetrating Radar in Sediments. Geological Society Special Publication 211. pp.330.

Bristow, C.S. and Hill, N. in press. Dune morphology and palaeowinds from aeolian sandstones in the Miocene Shuwaihat Formation, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In Alsharhan , A.S. and Glennie, K.W. (Eds.) Quaternary Deserts and Climatic Change.

Bristow, C.S., Bailey, S.D. and Lancaster, N. 2000. The sedimentary structure of linear sand dunes. Nature, 406, 56-59.

Whybrow, P.J., Friend, P.F., Ditchfield, P. and Bristow, C.S. 1999. Local stratigraphy of the Neogene outcrops of the western coastal region of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In Whybrow, P.J., and Hill, A. (Eds.) Fossil Vertebrates of Arabia. Yale University Press, pp. 26-38.

Bristow, C.S., Skelly, R.L. and Ethridge, F.G. 1999. Crevasse splays from the rapidly aggrading, sand bed, braided Niobrara River, Nebraska: effect of base level rise. Sedimentology, 46, 1029-1047.

Bristow, C.S. 1999. Gradual avulsion, river metamorphosis and reworking by underfit streams: a modern example from the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh and a possible ancient example in the Spanish Pyrenees. In Smith, N.D. and Rogers, J.J. (Eds.) Fluvial Sedimentology VI, International Association of Sedimentologists Spcial Publication, 28, pp. 221-230.

Bristow, C.S. 1999. Aeolian and sabkha sediments in the Miocene Shuwaihat Formation, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In Whybrow, P.J. and Hill, A. (Eds.) Fossil Vertebrates of Arabia. Yale University Press, pp. 50-60.

Ethridge, F.G., Skelly, R.L. and Bristow, C.S. 1999. Avulsion and crevassing in the sandy, braided Niobrara River: Complex response to base-level rise and aggradation. In Smith, N.D. and Rogers, J.J. (Eds.) Fluvial Sedimentology VI, International Association of Sedimentologists Spcial Publication, 28, pp. 179-191.

Andrews, J.E., Boomer, I., Bailiff, I., Balson, P., Bristow, C.S., Chroston, P.N., Funnell, B.M., Harwood, G.M., Jones, R., Maher, B. And Shimmield, G.B. 1999. Sedimentary evolution of the north Norfolk barrier coastline in the context of Holocene sea-level change. In Shennan, I. and Andrews, J. (Eds.) Holocene Land-Ocean Interaction and Environmental Change Around the North Sea. Geological Society Special Publication 166, pp. 219-251.

Bristow, C.S. and Williamson, B. 1997. Spectral Gamma Ray Logs: Core to log calibration and correlation problems in the Southern North Sea. Core-log integration, Geological Society of London Special Publication in press.

Lovatt Smith, P.F., Stokes, R.B., Bristow, C.S. and Carter, A. 1996. Mid-Cretaceous inversion in the Northern Khorat Plateau of Lao P.D.R., and Thailand. In Hall, R., and Blundell, D.J. (Eds.) Tectonic Evolution of Southeast Asia. Geological Society Special Publication 106, pp. 233-247.

Bristow, C.S., Pugh, J. and Goodall, T. 1996. Internal structure of aeolian dunes in Abu Dhabi determined using ground penetrating radar. Sedimentology, 43, 995-1003.

Bristow, C.S. 1996. Reconstructing fluvial channel morphology from sedimentary sequences. In Dawson, M., and Carling, P. (Eds.) Advances in Fluvial Dynamics and Stratigraphy. Wiley and Sons. pp. 351-371.

Carter, A., Yelland, A., Bristow, C.S. and Hurford, A.J. 1995. Thermal histories of Permian and Triassic Rocks in Britain using fission tracks. In Boldy, S.A.R. (Ed.) Permian and Triassic Rifting in Northwest Europe. Geological Society of London Special Publication 91, pp. 41-56.

Carter, A., Bristow, C.S. and Hurford, A.J., 1995. The application of fission track analysis to the dating of barren sequences: examples from red beds in Scotland and Thailand. In Dunay, R.E., and Hailwood, E.A. (Eds) Non-biostratigraphical Methods of Dating and Correlation, Geological Society of London Special Publication, 89, pp. 57-68.

Bristow, C.S. 1995b. Internal geometry of ancient tidal bedforms revealed using ground penetrating radar. In Flemming, B.W. and Bartholoma, A. (Eds.) Tidal Signatures in Modern and Ancient Sediments. Special Publication of the International Association of Sedimentologists, 24, pp. 313-328.

Bristow, C.S. 1995a. Facies analysis in the Lower Greensand using ground penetrating radar, Journal of the Geological Society London, 152, 591-598.

Bristow, C.S. and Bird, P.R. 1994. Sedimentology of the Semirara Formation in Semirara Island: implications for the Miocene sedimentation and tectonics of south Philippines. Geological Society of Malaysia Bulletin, 33, 21-32.

Bristow, C.S. 1994. A new look at the Lower Greensand using ground-penetrating radar. Geology Today, 10, 24-27.

Bristow, C.S., Horn, D.P. and Raper, J.F. 1993. Evolution of a barrier island and recurved spits on a macrotidal coast. In List, J.H. (Ed.) Large Scale Coastal Behaviour '93. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 93-381, pp. 9-12.

Bristow, C.S., Best, J.L. and Roy, A.G. 1993. Morphology and facies models of channel confluences. In Marzo, M., and Puigdefabregas, C. (Eds.) Alluvial Sedimentation. International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication 17, pp. 91-100.

Bristow, C.S. and Best, J.L. 1993. Braided rivers: perspectives and problems. In Best, J.L. and Bristow, C.S. (Eds.) Braided Rivers, Geological Society of London Special Publication 75, pp.1-11.

Bristow, C.S. 1993. Sedimentology of the Rough Rock: a Carboniferous braided river sheet sandstone in northern England. In Best, J.L. and Bristow, C.S. (Eds.) Braided Rivers, Geological Society of London Special Publication 75, pp. 291-304.

Bristow, C.S. 1993. Sedimentary structures exposed in bar tops in the Brahmaputra River Bangladesh. In Best, J.L. and Bristow, C.S. (Eds.) Braided Rivers, Geological Society of London Special Publication 75, pp. 277-289.

Bird, P.R., Quinton, N.A., Beeston, M.N. and Bristow, C.S. 1993. Mindoro: a rifted micro continent in collision with the Philippines volcanic arc; basin evolution and hydrocarbon potential. Journal of Southeast Asian Earth Sciences, 8, 449-468.

Best, J.L. and Bristow, C.S. (Eds.) 1993. Braided Rivers. Geological Society of London Special Publication 75.

Matthes, S.J., Jones, A.P. and Bristow, C.S. 1992. A simple magma-mixing model for sulphur behaviour in calc-alkaline volcanic rocks: mineralogical evidence from Mount Pinatubo 1991 eruption. Journal of the Geological Society London, 149, 863-866.

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