Climate Change and Global Warming

Biography

Professor Phil Haygarth leads the Sustainable Catchments Research Challenge Area for Lancaster University, and conducts personal research on the interface between soils and freshwaters, with a focus on diffuse (particularly phosphorus) pollution and runoff control. Phil’s research studies the way in which soils can be encouraged to hold phosphorus at an optimal level to supply plants for food production, whist defining conditions that prevent the unwanted leakage to fresh-waterways. The practical impact of his research has been to help the UK government, and others around the world, develop policies that help farmers and catchment managers optimize plant uptake of nutrients but minimize losses to water. Often this involves efforts to reduce runoff energy, which can have dual benefits for both diffuse pollution and flood contro under climate change scenarios.

Research Interest

soils and freshwaters