Dr Darrel Swift

School of Geography and Planning

Senior Lecturer in Geoscience

Director of Postgraduate Research

D.A.Swift@Sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 7959

E10, Geography and Planning Building

Full contact details

Dr Darrel Swift
School of Geography and Planning
E10
Geography and Planning Building
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND

Profile

Darrel joined the department in December 2006 as Lecturer in Geoscience. He was awarded a PhD by the University of Glasgow in 2002 and afterwards held a prestigious BP Royal Society of Edinburgh Personal Research Fellowship at the University of Glasgow between 2003 and 2006. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Geoscience in January 2018.

Darrel is currently an Associate Editor for Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography and is a member of the International Glaciological Society and the European Geophysical Society. In addition he currently acts as an advisor to Nagra (the Swiss National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste) on issues of glacial erosion.

His past internal responsibilities have included Deputy Director of Teaching and Learning, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Director of the MSc(Res) Polar and Alpine Change Programme. He has received several outstanding contribution awards, including a Faculty award for Sustained Excellence in January 2011 and two further awards In 2014 and 2016.

Research interests

Research Interests

Darrel’s interests focus on glacial processes in high-latitude and high-elevation landscapes. These processes have played a critical role in the long-term evolution of Earth’s climate and evolution of such landscapes as a result of glacial erosion and incision further affects the behaviour of Earth’s glaciers and ice sheets.

His interests are focussed into several strands that span contemporary glaciology and the long-term erosion and evolution of such landscapes, including: the processes of glacial erosion and sediment transfer through glacial systems; the subglacial hydrology and flow dynamics of contemporary glaciers; and the tectonic and climatic controls on the evolution of alpine and passive margin environments.

Current research

Darrel’s current research focuses on sediment transfer by glaciers in Iceland and the European Alps, the influence of bed topography on subglacial hydrology and flow dynamics of mountain glaciers and ice sheet outlet glaciers, and the morphology and formation of subglacial overdeepenings.

Current and Recent PhD students

Andrew Jones. Topic: Influence of bed topography on the dynamics of outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Will Higson. Topic: Influence of bed topography on the dynamics of mountain glaciers in the Swiss Alps.

James Douglas. Topic: Future retreat of glaciers in the European Alps and the Himalaya and the implications for changes in water resources.

Sean Gilgannon. Topic: Morphological analysis of the origin of overdeepened glacial valleys of the Northern Swiss Alpine Foreland (NERC CASE project; CASE partner: Swiss National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste).

Vaibhav Kaul. Topic: Understanding and enhancing the adaptation and resilience of remote high-altitude Himalayan communities to hydrometeorological extremes and associated geophysical hazards in a changing climate.

Oniya Ifeanyi. Topic: Sources of dust in high-latitude proglacial environments.

Publications

Journal articles

Swift DA, Tallentire GD, Farinotti D, Cook SJ, Higson WJ & Bryant RG (2021) The hydrology of glacier‐bed overdeepenings: Sediment transport mechanics, drainage system morphology, and geomorphological implications. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 46(11), 2264-2278. View this article in WRRO
Stewart RL, Westoby M, Pellicciotti F, Rowan A, Swift D, Brock B & Woodward J (2021) Using climate reanalysis data in conjunction with multi-temporal satellite thermal imagery to derive supraglacial debris thickness changes from energy-balance modelling. Journal of Glaciology, 67(262), 366-384. View this article in WRRO
Cook SJ, Swift DA, Kirkbride MP, Knight PG & Waller RI (2020) The empirical basis for modelling glacial erosion rates. Nature Communications, 11(1). View this article in WRRO
Mallinson L, Swift D & Sole A (2019) Proglacial icings as indicators of glacier thermal regime: ice thickness changes and icing occurrence in Svalbard. Geografiska Annaler Series A: Physical Geography, 101(4), 334-349. View this article in WRRO
Swift D & Jones A (2018) Going against the flow: Testing the hypothesis of pulsed axial glacier flow. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 43(13), 2754-2761. View this article in WRRO
Bateman MD, Swift DA, Piotrowski JA, Rhodes EJ & Damsgaard A (2018) Can glacial shearing of sediment reset the signal used for luminescence dating?. Geomorphology, 306, 90-101. View this article in WRRO
Swift DA, Cook SJ, Graham DJ, Midgley NG, Fallick AE, Storrar R, Toubes Rodrigo M & Evans DJA (2018) Terminal zone glacial sediment transfer at a temperate overdeepened glacier system. Quaternary Science Reviews, 180, 111-131. View this article in WRRO
Lovell H, Benn DI, Lukas S, Spagnolo M, Cook SJ, Swift DA, Clark CD, Yde JC & Watts T (2018) Geomorphological investigation of multiphase glacitectonic composite ridge systems in Svalbard. Geomorphology, 300, 176-188. View this article in WRRO
Swift DA, Livingstone SJ & Clark CD (2016) Distribution and characteristics of overdeepenings beneath the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets: Implications for overdeepening origin and evolution. Quaternary Science Reviews, 148, 128-145. View this article in WRRO
Patton H, Swift DA, Clark CD, Livingstone SJ, Cook SJ & Hubbard A (2015) Automated mapping of glacial overdeepenings beneath contemporary ice sheets: Approaches and potential applications. Geomorphology, 232, 209-223. View this article in WRRO
Swift DA (2013) Geomorphology: Antarctica's lost landscape. Nature Geoscience, 6(3), 162-163.
Cook SJ & Swift DA (2012) Subglacial basins: Their origin and importance in glacial systems and landscapes. Earth-Science Reviews, 115(4), 332-372. View this article in WRRO
Swift DA (2012) The overdeepened glacier landsystem: a new landsystem model based on observations from southeast Iceland. Quaternary International, 279-280, 479-480.
Swift DA (2012) Do glaciers reset their beds? Investigating the effects of glacial shearing on the luminescence of sediment. Quaternary International, 279-280, 480-480.
Livingstone SJ, Clark CD, Piotrowski JA, Tranter M, Bentley MJ, Hodson A, Swift DA & Woodward J (2012) Theoretical framework and diagnostic criteria for the identification of palaeo-subglacial lakes. Quaternary Science Reviews, 53(C), 88-110. View this article in WRRO
Bateman MD, Swift DA, Piotrowski JA & Sanderson DCW (2012) Investigating the effects of glacial shearing of sediment on luminescence. Quaternary Geochronology, 10, 230-236.
Swift DA, Sanderson DCW, Nienow PW, Bingham RG & Cochrane IC (2011) Anomalous luminescence of subglacial sediment at Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland - a consequence of resetting at the glacier bed?. Boreas, 40(3), 446-458. View this article in WRRO
Cook SJ, Swift DA, Graham DJ & Midgley NG (2011) Origin and significance of 'dispersed facies' basal ice: Svínafellsjökull, Iceland. Journal of Glaciology, 57(204), 710-720.
Cook SJ, Graham DJ, Swift DA, Midgley NG & Adam WG (2010) Sedimentary signatures of basal ice formation and their preservation in ice-marginal sediments. Geomorphology.
Stroeven AP & Swift DA (2008) Glacial landscape evolution - Implications for glacial processes, patterns and reconstructions. Geomorphology, 97(1-2), 1-4.
Swift DA, Persano C, Stuart FM, Gallagher K & Whitham A (2008) A reassessment of the role of ice sheet glaciation in the long-term evolution of the East Greenland fjord region. Geomorphology, 97(1-2), 109-125.
Swift DA, David DJ & Fallick AE (2006) Transverse englacial debris-rich ice bands at Kvíárjökull, southeast Iceland. Quaternary Science Reviews, 25(13-14), 1708-1718.
Swift DA, Nienow PW, Hoey TB & Mair DWF (2005) Seasonal evolution of runoff from Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland and implications for glacial geomorphic processes. Journal of Hydrology, 309(1-4), 133-148.
Swift DA, Nienow PW & Hoey TB (2005) Basal sediment evacuation by subglacial meltwater: Suspended sediment transport from Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 30(7), 867-883.
Swift DA, Nienow PW, Spedding N & Hoey TB (2002) Geomorphic implications of subglacial drainage configuration: Rates of basal sediment evacuation controlled by seasonal drainage system evolution. Sedimentary Geology, 149(1-3), 5-19.
Lloyd CT, Clark CD & Swift DA () The effect of valley confluence and bedrock geology upon the location and depth of glacial overdeepenings. Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 1-26.
Williams CN, Cornford SL, Jordan TM, Dowdeswell JA, Siegert MJ, Clark CD, Swift DA, Sole A, Fenty I & Bamber JL () Generating synthetic fjord bathymetry for coastal Greenland. View this article in WRRO
Douglas JS, Huss M, Swift DA, Jones JM & Salerno F () Incorporating Distributed Debris Thickness in a Glacio-Hydrological Model: Khumbu Himalaya, Nepal. View this article in WRRO

Chapters

Swift DA, Cook S, Heckmann T, Gärtner-Roer I, Korup O & Moore J (2021) Ice and snow as land-forming agents, Snow and Ice-Related Hazards, Risks, and Disasters (pp. 165-198). Elsevier
Swift DA & Cook SJ (2018) Glaciological processes associated with the terminal overdeepening at Svinafellsjökull In Evans DJA (Ed.), Glacial Landsystems of Southeast Iceland - Quaternary Applications London: Quaternary Research Association.
Swift DA, Cook S, Heckmann T, Moore J, Gärtner-Roer I & Korup O (2015) Ice and Snow as Land-Forming Agents, Snow and Ice-Related Hazards, Risks and Disasters (pp. 167-199). Elsevier
Swift DA, Cook S, Heckmann T, Moore J, Gärtner-Roer I & Korup O (2015) Ice and Snow as Land-Forming Agents, Snow and Ice-Related Hazards, Risks, and Disasters (pp. 167-199).
Swift DA (2014) Ogive (Glacial), Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms (pp. 1-4). Springer New York
Swift DA () Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland: Hydrological Controls on Basal Sediment Evacuation and Glacial Erosion, Glacier Science and Environmental Change (pp. 23-25). Blackwell Publishing

Dictionary/encyclopaedia entries

Swift DA (2015) Ogive (Glacial). In Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms Springer New York.
Swift DA (2011) Basal Sediment Evacuation by Subglacial Drainage Systems. In Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series Springer Netherlands.
Swift DA (2011) Diurnal Cycle of Runoff. In Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series Springer Netherlands.

Other

Swift D, Martin C & Ely J (2024) The importance of bed roughness on ice sheet flow investigated using a full-Stokes ice flow model.
Wenban WJ, Brown ND, Rhodes EJ & Swift DA (2024) Constraining erosion rates and patterns for glaciated basins in the European Alps using thermoluminescence thermochronology .
Swift D, Jones A, Westoby M, Bryant R & Veness R () Structurally controlled englacial origin of supraglacial debris cover and relief at a debris-covered Alpine glacier.

Teaching interests

Darrel’s undergraduate teaching is strongly research-led and focusses on his research interests in glaciology and glacial geomorphology. Darrel also co-leads a Level 2 research design module that is core for all programmes. This module guides students through the selection and design of a research idea that they then undertake for their Level 3 dissertation.

Darrel also supervises masters’-level research projects in glaciology and landscape evolution, and he is a former director of the MSc(Res) Polar and Alpine Change Programme.

Teaching activities: Darrel currently teaches on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses including GEO248 Research Design for Geography and Environmental Science and GEO268 Glacial Environments, as well as supervising of undergraduate dissertation projects.