Biography

Dominic has been at the University of Sussex since January 2001. His first lecturing post was at Bristol for a year before spending one semester at the University of Durban-Westville and three years at the University of Leicester, all as a lecturer in Geography.

Further back in the mists of time he started his higher education with a BSc in Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia  followed by a Masters in Meteorology from Reading University and a PhD in satellite rainfall retrievals from University of Bristol. He has also been a researcher on NASA's Mission to Planet Earth's WetNet Project and the EU funded Landslides and Mudflows project.

A keen interest in climate vulnerability and impacts studies has run throughout Dominic’s research career. In particular, these studies have tended to have a development focus, with projects on pest management (Todd et al 2002), water and natural resources management (Andersson et al 2003; Kniveton and Todd, 2006; Andersson et al 2006; Kgathi et al 2006; Wilk et al 2006), primate and forest conservation, and migration, conflict and climate change in Africa South America and south Asia (Smith et al 2008; Kniveton et al 2009; Peck et al 2010; Raleigh and Kniveton 2011; Black et al 2011).  A key part of many of these studies has been the integration of concepts and approaches from different academic disciplines to achieve research aims including climate modelling, systems modelling, remote sensing and qualitative methodologies (Kniveton et al 2000; Bellerby et al 2004; Williams et al 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010; Kniveton et al 2008). For example in migration-climate studies his current research has embraced the use of qualitative data and analyses and agent based modelling to complement his scientific expertise. Recognition of his agenda setting profile in this latter field is shown by recent invited participations in international expert group meetings run by various agencies of the United Nations and UK government and his current role as a consultant to the International Organisation of Migration to provide a state of the art review outlining the challenges and approaches to measuring the migration and environment nexus.

References: Rayleigh, C. and D.R. Kniveton 2011; East African conflict and rainfall patterns: When it rains, it pours. In press, Journal of Peace Research.; Black, R., D.R. Kniveton, and K. Schmidt-Verkerk 2011: Migration and climate change: towards an integrated assessment of sensitivity. Environment and Planning A. A 43(2) 431 – 450;  Williams, C.J.R., Kniveton, D.R., Layberry, R., 2010: Idealised SST anomaly regional climate model experiments: Progress in Physical Geography, 34(1) 59–74; Peck, M.R., Thorn, J., Mariscal A., Baird, A., Tirra, D., Kniveton, D.R., 2011: Conservation action identified to save the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps) in NW Ecuador., The International Journal of Primatology, 32(1): 134-14; Williams, C. J. R., Kniveton, D. R. & Layberry, R., 2009: 'Assessment of a climate model to reproduce rainfall variability and extremes over southern Africa'. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. DOI: 10.1007/s00704-009-0124-y; Kniveton, D.R., Layberry, R., and Williams, C.J.R., Peck, M., 2008: Trends in start of the wet season over Africa. International Journal of Climatology, DOI: 10.1002/joc;  Williams, C.J.R., Kniveton, D.R., and Layberry, R., 2008: Influence of south Atlantic sea surface temperatures on rainfall variability and extremes over southern Africa. Journal of Climate, 21 (24): 6498-6520; Smith, C.D., Kniveton, D.R., Black, R., Wood, S., 2008: Climate change, migration and agent-based modelling: modelling the impact of climate change on forced migration in Burkina Faso. Forced Migration Reviews, 31, 58-59; Kniveton, D.R. and Todd M, 2006: Water Resources in Regional Development: The Okavango River,  Journal of Hydrology, 331, 1-2; Kgathi, D.L., Kniveton, D., Ringrose, S.,  Turton, T.,  Vanderpost, C.H.M., Lundqvist, J., Seely, M., 2006: The Okavango; a river supporting its people, environment and economic development. Journal of Hydrology, 331, 3-17; Wilk, J., Kniveton, D.R., Andersson, L., Hughes, D., Layberry, R., Ringrose, S., Vanderpost, C.,  and  Todd, M.C., 2006: Development of rainfall estimates and water balance for the Okavango River Basin. Journal of Hydrology, 331, 18-29; Andersson, L., Wilk, J., Todd, M., Hughes, D.A., Earle, A., Kniveton, D.R., Layberry, R., Savenije, H.H.G., 2006:  Impact of climate change and development scenarios on flow patterns in the Okavango River. Journal of Hydrology, 331, 43-57; Williams, C.J.R., Kniveton, D.R., and Layberry, R., 2006: Climate controls on extreme rainfall in sourthern Africa.  International Journal of Climatology, 27(1),93-108;  Todd, M.C, Cheke, B, Washington, R., Kniveton, D.R., 2002: Climate variability and Brown Locust Outbreaks over Southern Africa.  Journal of Applied Ecology, 39 (1): 31-42; Kniveton, D.R., Graaf de, P.J., Granica, K., 2000: The development of a remote sensing based technique to predict debris flow triggering conditions in the French Alps. International Journal of Remote Sensing 21(3), 419-434; Bellerby, T.J., Todd, M.C., Kniveton, D.R., Kidd, C., 2000: Rainfall estimation from a combination of TRMM Precipitation Radar and GOES Multi-Spectral Imagery through the use of an artificial neural network. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 39, 12, 2115-2128.

Courses on which Dominic teaches include:
Climatic Change Science and Policy (UG); the Indian field class (UG); the masters in Climate change and development and climate change and policy  (PG) and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.

Student Consultation

Consultation times: 11-12.50 every Wednesday during term time. E-mail me for meeting over urgent matters at other times

Kniveton, Dominic R, Smith, Christopher D and Black, Richard (2012) Emerging migration flows in a changing climate in dryland Africa. Nature Climate Change, 2 (6). pp. 444-447. ISSN 1758-678X

Raleigh, Clionadh and Kniveton, Dominic (2012) Come rain or shine: An analysis of conflict and climate variability in East Africa. Journal of Peace Research, 49 (1). pp. 51-64. ISSN 0022-3433

Williams, C J R and Kniveton, Dominic R (2012) Atmosphere-land surface interactions and their influence on extreme rainfall and potential abrupt climate change over southern Africa. Climatic Change, 112 (3-4). pp. 981-996. ISSN 0165-0009

Kniveton, Dominic, Smith, Christopher and Wood, Sharon (2011) Agent based model simulations of future changes in migration flows for Burkina Faso. Global Environmental Change, 21 (1). S34-S40. ISSN 0959-3780

Kniveton, Dominic, Smith, Christopher and Wood, Sharon (2011) Agent-based model simulations of future changes in migration flows for Burkina Faso. Global Environmental Change, 21S (S). S34-S40. ISSN 0959-3780

Peck, Mika, Thorne, James, Mariscal, Ana, Baird, Abigail, Tirira, Diego and Kniveton, Dominic (2011) Focusing Conservation Efforts for the Critically Endangered Brown-headed Spider Monkey (Ateles fusciceps) Using Remote Sensing, Modeling, and Playback Survey Methods. International Journal of Primatology, 32 (1). pp. 134-148. ISSN 0164-0291

Williams, Charlie J R and Kniveton, Dominic R, eds. (2011) African Climate and Climate Change: Physical, Social and Political Perspectives. Springer.

Laken, B A, Kniveton, Dominic and Frogley, M R (2011) Cosmic rays linked to rapid mid-latitude cloud changes. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 10 (22). pp. 10941-10948. ISSN 1680-7316

Kniveton, Dominic, Black, Richard and Schmidt-Verkerk, Kerstin (2011) Migration and climate change: towards an integrated assessment of sensitivity. Environment and Planning A, 43 (2). pp. 431-450. ISSN 0308-518X

Laken, Benjamin, Kniveton, Dominic and Wolfendale, Arnold (2011) Forbush decreases, solar irradiance variations and anomalous cloud changes. Journal of Geophysical Research , 116. D09201. ISSN 0148-0227

Smith, Christopher, Wood, Sharon and Kniveton, Dominic (2010) Agent Based Modelling of Migration Decision-Making. In: Proceedings of the European Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems (EUMAS-2010).

Laken, B A, Kniveton, D R and Frogley, M R (2010) Cosmic rays linked to rapid mid-latitude cloud changes. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 10 (22). pp. 10941-10948. ISSN 1680-7316

Williams, C J R, Kniveton, D R and Layberry, R (2010) Idealized SST anomaly regional climate model experiments: A note of caution. Progress in Physical Geography, 34 (1). pp. 59-74. ISSN 0309-1333

Kniveton, Dominic, Layberry, R and Williams, CJR (2010) Assessment of climate models to reproduce rainfall variability and extremes over Southern Africa. International Journal of Climatology, 99 (1-2). pp. 9-27. ISSN 0177-798X (Submitted)

Laken, Benjamin A and Kniveton, Dominic R (2010) Forbush Decreases and Antarctic cloud anomalies in the upper troposphere. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 73 (2-3). pp. 371-376. ISSN 1364-6826

Laken, Benjamin, Wolfendale, Arnold and Kniveton, Dominic (2009) Cosmic ray decreases and changes in the liquid water cloud fraction over the oceans. Geophysical Research Letters, 36. L23803. ISSN 0094-8276

Kniveton, D R, Layberry, R, Williams, C J R and Peck, Mika (2009) Trends in start of the wet season over Africa. International Journal of Climatology, 29 (9). pp. 1216-1225. ISSN 0899-8418

Kniveton, D R, Layberry, R, Williams, C J R and Peck, Mika (2009) Trends in the start of the wet season over Africa. International Journal of Climatology, 29 (9). pp. 1216-1225. ISSN 0899-8418

Wiiliams, C J R, Kniveton, D R and Layberry, R (2008) Influence of South Atlantic sea surface temperatures on rainfall variability and extremes over southern Africa. Journal of Climate, 21 (24). pp. 6498-6520. ISSN 0894-8755

Smith, Christopher, Kniveton, Dominic, Wood, Sharon and Black, Richard (2008) Predictive Modeling. Forced Migration Reviews (31). pp. 58-59. ISSN 1460-9819

Kniveton, D R, Tinsley, B A, Burns, G B, Bering, E A and Troshichev, O A (2008) Variations in Global Cloud Cover and the Vertical Electric Field. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 70 (13). pp. 1633-1642. ISSN 1364-6826

Kniveton, Dominic (2008) Climate change, environmental degradation and migration: how viable are current predictions? In: Climate Change, Environmental Degradation and Migration: Preparing for the Future, 8-9 May 2008, United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Kniveton, Dominic, Schmidt-Verkerk, Kerstin, Smith, Christopher and Black, Richard (2008) Climate Change and Migration: Improving Methodologies to Estimate Flows. Unset. International Organization for Migration, Geneva.

Williams, C J R, Kniveton, D R and Layberry, R (2007) Climatic and oceanic associations with daily rainfall extremes over southern Africa. International Journal of Climatology, 27 (1). pp. 93-108. ISSN 0899-8418

Andersson, Lotta, Wilk, Julie, Todd, Martin, Hughes, Denis A, Earle, Anton, Kniveton, Dominic, Layberry, Russel and Savenije, Hubert H G (2006) Impact of climate change and development scenarios on flow patterns in the Okavango River. Journal of Hydrology, 331 (1-2). pp. 43-57. ISSN 0022-1694

Wilk, Julie, Kniveton, Dominic, Andersson, Lotta, Layberry, Russell, Todd, Martin C, Hughes, Denis, Ringrose, Susan and Vanderpost, Cornelis (2006) Estimating rainfall and water balance over the Okavango River Basin for hydrological applications. Journal of Hydrology, 331 (1-2). pp. 18-29. ISSN 0022-1694

Layberry, R, Kniveton, D R, Todd, M C, Kidd, C and Bellerby, T J (2006) Daily precipitation over southern Africa: A new resource for Climate Studies. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 7 (1). pp. 149-159. ISSN 1525-755X

Layberry, R., Kniveton, D, Todd, M, Kidd, C. and Bellerby, T. J. (2006) Daily Precipitation over Southern Africa: A New Resource for Climate Studies. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 7 (1). pp. 149-159. ISSN 1525-7541

Andersson, L., Wilk, J., Todd, M., Hughes, D. A., Earle, A., Kniveton, D., Layberry, R. and Savenije, H. H. G. (2006) Impact of climate change and development scenarios on flow patterns in the Okavango River. Journal of Hydrology, 331 (1-2). pp. 43-57. ISSN 0022-1694

Kniveton, Dominic R (2004) Precipitation, cloud cover and Forbush decreases in galactic cosmic rays. Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics, 66 (13-14). pp. 1135-1142. ISSN 1364-6826

Todd, Martin and Kniveton, Dominic (2004) Short-term variability in satellite-derived cloud cover and galactic cosmic rays: an update. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 66 (13-14). pp. 1205-1211. ISSN 1364-6826

Kniveton, D R, Todd, M C, Sciare, J and Milahopoulis, N (2003) Variability of atmospheric dimethylsulphide over the southern Indian Ocean due to changes in ultraviolet radiation. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 17 (4). 7/1-7/6. ISSN 0886-6236

Kniveton, D. R., Todd, M. C., Sciare, J. and Mihalopoulos, N. (2003) Variability of atmospheric dimethylsulphide over the southern Indian Ocean due to changes in ultraviolet radiation. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 17 (4). pp. 1-7. ISSN 0886-6236

Todd, Martin C, Washington, Richard, Cheke, Robert A and Kniveton, Dominic (2002) Climate variability and Brown Locust Outbreaks over Southern Africa. Journal of Applied Ecology, 39 (1). pp. 31-42.

Bellerby, Tim, Todd, Martin, Kniveton, Dom and Kidd, Chris (2000) Rainfall estimation from a combination of TRMM Precipitation Radar and GOES Multi-Spectral Imagery through the use of an artificial neural network. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 39 (12). pp. 2115-2128. ISSN 0894-8763

Smith, E A, Lamm, J E, Kniveton, Dominic and et al, (1998) Results of WetNet PIP-2. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 55 (9). pp. 1483-1536.