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Professor Vladimir Nikora

Professor Vladimir Nikora
Professor Vladimir Nikora
Professor Vladimir Nikora

FREng FRSE

Sixth Century Chair in Environmental Fluid Mechanics

About
Email Address
v.nikora@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 273830
School/Department
School of Engineering

Biography

2006 - Present

Professor, Sixth Century Chair in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Leader of the Fluid Mechanics Research Group (2006-2024), School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen

1995 - 2006

Principal Scientist and Manager of the Hydrodynamics Group (2001-2006), Senior Scientist (1995-2001), National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Christchurch, New Zealand

1985 - 1995

Deputy Director (Research, 1988-1995), Head of the Department of Channel Processes (1987-1995), Senior Scientist (1985-1987), Institute of Geophysics and Geology, Academy of Sciences, Republic of Moldova

1980 - 1985

Senior Scientist (1984-1985), Scientist (1983-1984), Research Assistant (1980-1983), Odessa Hydrometeorological Institute, Ukraine

  

Recent Awards and Distinctions 

2025  24th Harold Jan Schoemaker Award of IAHR

2025  Fellow of the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) 

2021  EWRI/ASCE Best Technical Note Award

2019  Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK

2019  7th M. Selim Yalin Lifetime Achievement Award of IAHR

2017  Hans Albert Einstein Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

2011  Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland

2010  Hunter Rouse Hydraulic Engineering Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

2010  EWRI/ASCE Best Technical Note Award

Qualifications

  • PhD in Engineering Hydraulics and Hydrology 
    1984 - State Hydrological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia 
  • MEng (Hons) in Engineering Hydrology 
    1978 - Odessa Hydrometeorological Institute, Ukraine 

External Memberships

  • Member of the Council of the International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering and  Research (IAHR), 2017-2023
  • Secretary/Chair/Past-Chair/Member of the IAHR Committee on Experimental Methods and Instrumentation, 2001-2015.
  • Vice-Chair (2017-2021), Chair (2021-23), and Past Chair (since 2023) of the IAHR Committee on Fluid Mechanics.
  • Editor, IAHR Journal of Hydraulic Research, 2011-2016.
  • Advisory Editor, IAHR Journal of Ecohydraulics, since 2016.
  • Associate Editor, IAHR Journal of Hydraulic Research, since 2017.
  • Associate Editor, Water Resources Research (AGU), 2006-2011.
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering (ASCE), 2007-2011.
  • Member of Editorial Board, Acta Geophysica (Springer), since 2009.
  • Guest Editor, Acta Geophysica (Springer), 2006-2008.
  • Member of EPSRC Peer Review College.
  • PhD and Habilitation Committees: UWA/Perth (Australia); Paris-Saclay, INRAE-Lyon (France), Karlsruhe/KIT, Dresden/TUD (Germany); IIT-Kharagpur (India); Torino, Trento (Italy);  TU/Delft, Twente (the Netherlands); Auckland, Canterbury (New Zealand), NTNU/Trondheim (Norway); ETH/Zurich (Switzerland);  Bradford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Herriot-Watt, Sheffield, Southampton, Warwick (UK).
  • Member of International and Organising Committees for a number of International Conferences and Workshops in water engineering, hydraulics, and fluid mechanics.
  • Reviewer for:

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Leverhulme Trust, and the Royal Society London, UK; NSF, USA; Marie Curie programmes; DFG, Germany; NSERC and Canada Research Chairs Programme, Canada; National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Organisations, Italy; Israel Science Foundation; National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research, Chile; Hong Kong Research Grants Council; and for over 20 major international journals in Hydraulics, Fluid Mechanics, Hydrology, Physics, Earth Sciences, and Ecology.
Research

Research Overview

My recent and current research interests comprise various topics of Environmental Fluid Mechanics with particular focus on:

  • Turbulence in open-channels, rivers, estuaries, and coastal areas
  • Benthic boundary layers, water-sediment interfaces, and sediment transport (cohesive/non-cohesive), including sand wave dynamics, turbulence-sediment interactions, erosion, re-suspension, flocculation, and bed particle dispersion
  • Flow-biota interactions and transport processes (periphyton, moss, mussels, macrophytes, invertebrates, fish)
  • Hydraulic resistance and channel stability in gravel-bed and sand-bed rivers
  • Overland flow hydrodynamics and soil erosion
  • Hydraulic instrumentation and measurement techniques
  • Channel networks, meandering and braided channels, granular surfaces, and Mars topography

Collaborations

Current

  • INRAE (Lyon, France):  hydrodynamics of shallow flows
  • Leibnitz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology (Germany): open-channel turbulence and flow-biota interactions
  • University College London (UK): secondary currents in wall-bounded flows (EPSRC)
  • University of Southampton (UK): secondary currents in wall-bounded flows (EPSRC)
  • University of Glasgow (UK): secondary currents in wall-bounded flows (EPSRC)
  • National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA, New Zealand):  flow-biota interactions, sediment transport, turbulence
  • Tsinghua University (China): open-channel flow, turbulence, flow-biota interactions
  • Hohai University (China): open-channel flow turbulence, river confluences 
  • Wuhan University (China): sediment transport, channel dynamics
  • Sichuan University (China): braided rivers, channel dynamics
  • Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Warsaw, Poland):  sediment transport, river turbulence, and dispersion
  • Polytechnic University of Turin (Torino, Italy): open-channel turbulence

Past

  • CNRS and University Claude Bernard (Lyon, France):  flow-biota interactions
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany):  rough-bed flow hydrodynamics, turbulence, and sediment transport
  • University of Braunschweig (Germany):  rough-bed flow hydrodynamics, eco-hydraulics,  and sediment transport
  • University of Dresden (Germany): rough-bed flow hydrodynamics, turbulence, and sediment transport
  • Technical University of Milano (Italy):  sediment transport and turbulence
  • University of Padova (Italy): sediment transport and turbulence

Funding and Grants

2021-2025: "Secondary currents in turbulent flows over rough walls”, EPSRC, UK (V. Nikora, S. Cameron,  £735K), a part of a collaborative research program with the University of Southampton, University College London, and University of Glasgow.

2020-2023: “RIver flow regulation, fish BEhaviour and Status” (RIBES), EC, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019 (V. Nikora, S. Cameron, B. Scott, S. Martin, €305K), a part of a collaborative international research program led by the Politecnico Di Torino.

2019-2020: “Field stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (FSPIV) system for high-resolution in-situ studies of freshwater and marine ecosystems”, NERC, UK (S. Cameron, V. Nikora, B. Scott, C. Soulsby, £289K).

2014-2018: "Bed friction in rough-bed free-surface flows: a theoretical framework, roughness regimes, and quantification", EPSRC, UK (V. Nikora, S. Cameron, £526.5K), a part of a collaborative research project with the Cardiff University.

2013-2016: "Hydrodynamic transport in ecologically critical heterogeneous interfaces" (HYTECH), EC, Marie Curie Initial Training Networks FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN (V. Nikora, S. Cameron, C. Gibbins, €597K), a part of a collaborative international research program led by the University of Padova.

2010-2014: "High-resolution numerical and experimental studies of turbulence-induced sediment erosion and near-bed transport", EPSRC, UK (V. Nikora, S. Cameron, £438.5K) and DFG, Germany  (G. Jirka, M. Uhlmann, J. Fröhlich, W. Rodi).

2008-2011: "Biophysics of flow-plants interactions in aquatic systems", The Leverhulme Trust, UK (V. Nikora, M. O'Hare, S. Cameron, £216.4K).

2002-2006: "Waves in Submerged Particulate Beds", Marsden Research Grant (New Zealand), S. Coleman, V. Nikora, B. Melville, D. Goring, NZ$560K.

2002-2006: "Stochastic Mechanics of Soil Erosion", Marsden Research Grant (New Zealand), A. Sidorchuk, V. Nikora, NZ$585K.

2000-2004: "Granular surfaces: structure, organization, memory", Marsden Research Grant (New Zealand), V. Nikora, D. Goring, NZ$405K.

1997-2001: "Eddy cascade, burst phenomena, and intermittency in fully developed turbulent flows with irregular rough beds", Marsden Research Grant (New Zealand), V. Nikora, D. Goring, NZ$435K.

1983-Present: Leader of more than thirty long-term research and consultancy projects in river hydrodynamics, eco-hydraulics, sediment transport, fluvial geomorphology, and hydrology. 

Publications

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  • Subelement Form-Drag Parameterization in Rough-Bed Flows

    Coleman, S. E., Nikora, V. I., McLean, S. R., Clunie, T. M., Melville, B. W.
    Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, vol. 133, no. 2, pp. 121-129
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Turbulence structure in vegetated and un-vegetated channels: A comparative analysis

    Nikora, V. I., Goring, D., Biggs, B. J. F., Coleman, S. E., Nikora, N. F.
    Contributions to Conferences: Other Contributions

  • Fish swimming speed variability at constant flow: Galaxias maculatus

    Plew, D. R., Nikora, V. I., Larned, S. T., Sykes, J. R., Cooper, G. G.
    New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 185-195
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Statistical properties of armored gravel bed surfaces

    Aberle, J., Nikora, V.
    Water Resources Research, vol. 42, no. 11, pp. W11414
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The effect of spatial heterogeneity in soil properties on erosion pattern: A conceptual model and computer simulations

    Smith, A., Nikora, V.
    Mathematical Geology, vol. 38, no. 8, pp. 1011-1016
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Characteristics of turbulent unidirectional flow over rough-beds: Double-averaging perspective with particular focus on sand dunes and gravel beds

    McLean, S. R., Nikora, V.
    Water Resources Research, vol. 42, no. 10, W10409
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Equilibrium hydrodynamics concept for developing dunes

    Coleman, S. E., Nikora, V., McLean, S. R., Clunie, T. M., Schlicke, T., Melville, B. W.
    Physics of Fluids, vol. 18, no. 10, pp. 1-12
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Application of UVP within porous beds

    Manes, C., Pokrajac, D., McEwan, I. K., Nikora, V. I., Campbell, L. J.
    Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, vol. 132, no. 9, pp. 983-986
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A lattice Boltzmann-based model of plankton-flow interaction around a mussel cluster.

    Smith, A., Nikora, V. I., Ross, A., Wake, G.
    Ecological Modelling, vol. 192, pp. 645-657
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A PIV investigation into the interaction between wave motion and sediment ripples.

    Schlicke, E., Coleman, S. E., Nikora, V. I.
    River, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics: RCEM 2005, Urbana, USA, vol. 2; G. Parker and M. Garcia, Eds., Taylor and Francis, London, 2006, 981-989., pp. 981-989, 8 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Data interpretation for in situ measurements of cohesive sediments

    Aberle, J., Nikora, V., Walters, R.
    Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, vol. 132, no. 6, pp. 581-588
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Double-averaging methodology in stochastic modelling of soil erosion.

    Sidorchuk, A., Smith, A., Nikora, V. I.
    Modelling of Soil Erosion and Sediment Redistribution in River Catchments: Measurement, Modelling and Management, Section 3;Edited by P N Owens; A J Collins, Cranfield University, UK, pp. 162-183, 21 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Effects of aquatic and bank-side vegetation on hydraulic performance of small streams.

    Nikora, V., Larned, S., Debnath, K., Cooper, G., Reid, M., Nikora, N.
    River Flow 2006: Proceedings of the International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics, Lisbon, Portugal, 6-8 September 2006. Alves, E. C. T. L., Cardoso, A. H., Leal, J. G. A. B., Ferreira, R. M. L. (eds.). Taylor & Francis, pp. 639-646, 8 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Marbles in oil, just like a river?

    Cameron, S., Coleman, S. E., Melville, B. W., Nikora, V. I.
    River Flow 2006, v. 1, Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 927-935, 8 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • On the definition of the shear velocity in rough bed open channel flows.

    Pokrajac, D., Finnigan, J. J., Manes, C., McEwan, I. K., Nikora, V. I.
    Contributions to Conferences: Other Contributions

  • Spatially-averaged turbulent flow over square-rib roughness.

    Coleman, S. E., Nikora, V. I., Mclean, S. R., Schlicke, E.
    River, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics: RCEM 2005, Urbana, USA, vol. 1; G. Parker and M. Garcia, Eds., Taylor and Francis, London, 2006, 211-216., pp. 211-216, 5 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Spectral scaling in Mars topography: effect of craters.

    Nikora, V. I., Goring, D.
    Acta Geophysica, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 102-112
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The debate about drag and reconfiguration of freshwater macrophytes: comparing results obtained by three recently discussed approaches.

    Statzner, B., Lamouroux, N., Nikora, V. I., Sagnes, P.
    Freshwater Biology, vol. 51, pp. 2173-2183
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The effect of heterogeneity in soil properties on erosion pattern: a conceptual model and computer simulations.

    Smith, A., Nikora, V. I.
    Mathematical Geology, vol. 38, no. 8
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Three-dimensional properties of laboratory sand waves obtained from two-dimensional autocorrelation analysis.

    Friedrich, H., Melville, B. W., Coleman, S. E., Clunie, T. M., Nikora, V. I., Goring, D.
    River Flow 2006, v. 1, Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 1013-1022, 9 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Martian topography: Scaling, craters, and high-order statistics.

    Nikora, V. I., Goring, D.
    Mathematical Geology, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 337-355
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Bed-load effects on hydrodynamics of rough-bed open-channel flows

    Campbell, L. J., McEwan, I. K., Nikora, V. I., Pokrajac, D., Gallagher, M.
    Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, vol. 131, no. 7, pp. 576-585
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Equilibrium sand waves in rivers.

    Rowinski, P., Nikora, V. I.
    Sediment Transport In Rivers And Transitional Waters, pp. 87-91, 4 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Flow turbulence over mobile gravel bed: spectral scaling and coherent structures.

    Nikora, V. I.
    Acta Geophysica, vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 539-552
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • High-order structure functions for planet surfaces: a turbulence metaphor.

    Nikora, V. I.
    IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters (GRSL), vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 362-365
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
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