Dr Andrew Swales

Biography

Andrew specialises in estuarine sedimentary processes and biogeomorphology, with 25 years experience as a research scientist. He holds a BSc and MSc (1st Class Honours, University of Auckland) and a PhD (The University of Queensland).  Specialist skills and interests include sediment geochronology, sediment-source tracing using compound specific stable isotope (CSSI)   techniques, mangrove ecology and morphological evolution, geostatistical methods and land use impacts on estuaries.  Andrew leads NIWA’s Catchments to Estuaries Programme, which is focused on understanding and predicting the connections between catchments and estuaries to improve the management of diffuse-source contaminants (i.e., fine sediments, nutrients and microbes) in estuaries. 

Andrew’s research involves multi-disciplinary research collaborations with scientists from NZ and international institutions. Projects include reconstruction of environmental changes using CSSI and radioisotope techniques, investigating human impacts on estuarine sedimentation regimes, predicting effects of fine suspended sediments and dissolved substances on estuarine water clarity, and the biophysical processes and feedbacks driving mangrove-forest ecology and biogeomorphic evolution. Andrew applies techniques and understanding gained from research to assist resource managers with integrated catchment-estuary management.