Dr. Donatus Bapentire Angnuureng obtained his Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Physics from the University of Cape Coast in 2009, an MSc degree from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, in 2011, and a PhD in Environmental Physics from the University of Bordeaux, France, 2016. He currently is a research fellow and the team lead for Coastal Geomorphology and Engineering under the newly established Africa Center of Excellence in Coastal Resilience at the Centre for Coastal Management, University of Cape Coast. He is a 2017 National Geographic Explorer. He is a Member of the Ghana Science Association, and Coastal Education and Research Foundation (CERF).

He serves as a reviewer in a number of Journals including Coastal Research, Computers & Geosciences and Advances in Space Research. Dr. Angnuureng’s research has contributed to our understanding of the impact of storms and beach recovery in a meso-macrotidal environments and the role of sea level anomalies in modulating wave conditions to cause beach erosion. His research involves the application Photogrammetry (video cameras and unmanned aircraft systems) and other remote sensing techniques to monitor beach changes and pollution from natural and human induced factors. His research has attracted sponsorship from National Geographic Society, TWAS, and the French Embassy-Ghana.

Dr. Angnuureng has published 10 papers (which comprise 7 peer-reviewed journal articles, 2 Conference papers and a book of abstracts). He has an H-index of 4, and his work has been cited 64 times by peers in the discipline. Dr. Angnuureng is passionate about groundbreaking research, capacity building and is involved in the training of postgraduate students (masters) from 3 African countries.

Publications

1. Angnuureng, D.B., Amankona, G., Brempong, EK., Attipoe, E. (2022). Effect of Sea Defense on the Variability of Shoreline and Waves at Elmina Bay, Ghana. Journal of Coastal Conservation
2. Almar, R., Stieglitz, T., Appeaning Addo, K., Ba, K., Abessolo G., Bersgma EWJ., Bonou, F., Dada, OA., Angnuureng, D.B., Arina O. (2022). Coastal zone changes in West Africa: challenges and opportunities for satellite earth observation. Surveys in Geophysics.
3. Angnuureng, D.B., Brempong K.E., Jayson-Quashigah, P-N., Dada, O.A., Akuoko, S.G.I., Frimpomaa, J., Mattah, P.A., Almar, R. (2022) .Satellite, drone and video camera multi-platform monitoring of coastal erosion at an engineered pocket beach: A showcase for coastal management at Elmina Bay, Ghana (West Africa). J. Reg. Stud. In Mar Sci., 54, 102437. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102437
4. Duku, E.; Mattah, P.A.D., Angnuureng, D.B. (2022). Assessment of wetland ecosystem services and human wellbeing nexus in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence from a socio-ecological landscape of Ghana. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 15, 100186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2022.100186,
5. Duku, E.; Mattah, P.A.D., Angnuureng, D.B. (2021). Assessment of Land Use/Land Cover Change and Morphometric Parameters in the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site, Ghana. Water, 13, 2537. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13182537
6. Brempong, E.K., Appeaning Addo, K., Angnuureng, D.B., Jayson-Quashigah, P.N. (2021). Short-Term Seasonal Changes of the Dzita Beach of Ghana using GIS and Photogrammetry. Interpretation, 9(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/INT-2021-0027.1
7. Kouekam, A., Bonou, F., Sohou, Z., Angnuureng, D.B., Almar, R. (2021). Evaluation of Hydro-Morphological Conditions of Grand Popo Beach using Two Unique Video Cameras. Interpretation, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1190/INT-2021-0023.1
8. Jayson-Quashigah, P.N., Appeaning Addo, K., Wiafe, G., Amisigo, B.A., Brempong E.K., Kay S., Angnuureng, D.B. (2021). Waves Dynamics and Shoreline Evolution in Deltas: A Case Study of Sandy Coasts in the Volta Delta of Ghana. Interpretation, 9(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/INT-2021-0028.1
9. Angnuureng, D.B., Frimpomaa, J., Alves, B., Anim, M., Akuoko, I.G., Addison, N. (2020). Assessing the challenges of beach quality: The perspective of beach users in Elmina, Ghana. J. Fish. Coast. Mgt. 2020; 2(1): 41-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5455/jfcom.20200423042514.
10. Okyere, I., Chuku, E.O., Ekumah, B., Angnuureng, D.B., Boakye-Appiah, J.K., Mills, D.J., Babanawo R, Asare NK, Aheto DW, Crawford B (2020). Physical distancing and risk of COVID-19 in small-scale fisheries: a remote sensing assessment in coastal Ghana. Sci Rep;10(1):22407. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79898-4.
11. Alves, B., Angnuureng, D.B., Morand, P., Almar, R. (2020). A review on coastal erosion and flooding risks and best management practices in West Africa: what has been done and should be done. J Coast Conserv 24, 38 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-020-00755-7
12. Angnuureng, D.B., Jayson-Quashigah, P-N., Almar, R., Stieglitz, T.C., Anthony, E.J., Aheto D.W., Appeaning Addo, K. (2020). Application of Shore-Based Video and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones): Complementary Tools for Beach Studies. Remote Sensing. 12, 394. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12030394
13. Angnuureng, D.B., Jayson-Quashigah, P.N., Appeaning Addo K., Aheto, D.W., Almar, R., Bonou, F., & Brempong E.K. (2019). Quantification of the Shoreline evolution of an open beach between coastal defences. Coastal Sediments, Pp 1562-1576. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811204487_0135
14. Angnuureng DB, Appeaning Addo K, Almar R, Dieng H (2018). Influence of sea level variability on a micro-tidal beach. Natural Hazards, 93(3), 1611:1628. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3370-4
15. Abessolo Ondoa, G., Onguéné, R., Tomedi Eyango, M., Duhaut, T., Mama, C., Angnuureng, D.B., & Almar, R. (2018). Assessment of the evolution of Cameroon coastline: An overview from 1986 to 2015. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 81, pp. 122–129. Doi: https://doi.org/10.2112/SI81-016.1
16. Bonou, F., Angnuureng, D.B., Sohou, Z., Almar, R., Alory, G., du Penhoat Y. (2018). Shoreline and beach cusps dynamics at the low tide terraced Grand Popo beach, Bénin (West Africa): A statistical approach. Journal of Coastal Research, SI. 81, pp. 138–144. Doi: https://doi.org/10.2112/SI81-018.1
17. Angnuureng, D.B., Almar, R., Senechal, N., Castelle, B., Appeaning Addo, K., Marieu, V., Ranasinghe, R. (2017). Shoreline resilience to individual storms and storm clusters on a meso-macrotidal, barred beach. Geomorphology, 290:265-276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.04.007
18. Angnuureng, D.B., Almar, R., Senechal, N., Castelle, B., Appeaning Addo, K., Marieu, V., Ranasinghe R. (2017). Two and three-dimensional shoreline behaviour at a meso-macrotidal barred beach. Jounal of Coastal Conservation 21(3): 38 1–392. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-017-0516-6
19. Angnuureng, D.B., Almar, R., Appeaning Addo, K., Laryea, S.W., Wiafe, G. (2016). Video observation of waves and shoreline change on the microtidal James town Beach in Ghana. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Journal of Coastal Research, SI.75, pp. 1022-1026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2112/SI75-205.1
20. Angnuureng, D.B., Appeaning Addo, K., Wiafe, G. (2013). Impact of Sea Defense Structures on Downdrift Coast: The Case of Keta in Ghana. Aca. J. Environmental Sciences 1(6): 104-121.https://www.academiapublishing.org/journals/ajes/abstract/2013/Aug/Angnuureng%20et%20al.htm

Current Projects

Name of assignment or project: MONITORING AND PREDICTING COASTAL CHANGES IN WEST AFRICA TOWARD SUSTAINABLE COASTAL MANAGEMENT (COASTS-UNDER-CONTROL)

Year: 2021-2023

Location: Ghana-University of Cape Coast

Client: French Institute of Research for Development (IRD-JEAI).

Activities performed: The overarching goal of this project is to establish quantifiable, easy-to-employ but ecologically reasonable metrics for identifying the combined impact of climate change and human-induced factors on coastal ecosystems in West Africa. The specific objectives are:

I. To investigate the relationship between global change factors such as sea level rise, water temperature, rainfall and pollution, and the extent to which their interactions may set the levels of new biomass production in coastal areas.

II. To train graduates to develop a simulation model to predict the responses of ecological communities and ecosystem processes to the combined effects of natural forces, climate change and anthropogenically induced stressors.

III. To provide real time data on nearshore physical processes to support understanding on sediment dynamics and coastal resilience This project will also train students and young scientific researchers on coastal change detection.

Name of assignment or project: Developing A Multi-Sector Investment Plan & Pre-Feasibility Studies for Coastal Ghana

Year: 2021-2022

Location: GHANA

Client: The World Bank’s WACA Activities performed: Within the framework of the WACA Program, Ghana intends to initiate the development of an investment action plan to sustainably develop and strengthen the resilience of its coastal zone. This consultancy is targeted at establishing a Multi-Sector Investment Plan (MSIP) that will assist to build synergy with other national and regional studies/activities currently under implementation for the coastal areas in West Africa. The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop an MSIP for addressing coastal flooding, erosion, and pollution at identified hotspots. The MSIP is further intended to develop and strengthen coastal risk reduction strategies and climate change adaptation in Ghana that evaluates the feasibility and benefits of implementing such an investment plan. The MSIP will be an action plan based on existing scientific knowledge on the multi-scale dynamics of the Ghanaian coast and all the risks that affect it. It aims at presenting investment scenarios for the development of the Ghanaian coastal zone that address coastal risks and support the adaptation of coastal communities and assets to climate change and determine economic viability of proposed projects.

Name of assignment: Establishing the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR)

Year: 2018 - present

Location: Ghana

Client: Government of Ghana and World Bank

Position: Theme lead for Coastal Geomorphology and Engineering

Activities performed: The Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) of UCC was competitively selected to by the World Bank to establish ACECoR. ACECoR aims at training the next generation of experts who can promote coastal resilience. The Centre undertakes research activities in five thematic areas including Coastal Geomorphology and Engineering, Climate change adaptation and mitigation, ecosystems and biodiversity, blue economy, governance and social resilience, and disaster risk management and migration of several water bodies including: assessment of the water quality of lagoons. Estimation of the spatio-temporal changes of coastal areas, the watershed and land use are done with the aim to provide regulatory advice. More can before on ACECoR website https://acecor.ucc.edu.gh/.

Completed projects

Name of assignment or project: Pre-feasibility study for nature-based intervention for Anlo Beach community in Ghana

Year: 2021-2022

Location: Ghana

Client: The World Bank’s West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) Management project

Position: Coastal erosion expert

Activities performed: We conducted a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of using mangroves to mitigate coastal erosion and flooding in Ghana for two case study sites: the Anlo Beach community and the Anyanui beach. On the two sites, field data was collected within the Pra estuary mangrove forest and the Anlo Beach community as well as the Anyanui community between May 18, 2021, and June 15, 2021. The mangrove population characteristics, elevation of the community, bathymetry of the water channels and biophysical characteristics of the mangrove swamp were assessed.

Name of assignment: Beach dynamics through video monitoring to improve coastal management strategies in West Africa, Grant Number CP-107T-17

Year: 2017 - 2020

Location: Ghana

Client: National Geographic Society

Position: PI

Main project features: The evolution of coastlines in West Africa including that of Ghana has become a major issue where sediment supply to beaches is believed to have reduced due to natural and anthropic factors, leading to erosion. This project setup a permanent monitoring system through video cameras and drones to increase data curation on this tropical “storm free” low lying coast and to trained students on how to conduct drone flights, data analysis and research. This project used video systems and drones to monitor coastal environments of Dzita and Elmina in Ghana and Grand Popo beach in Benin which have different responses to ocean forcing. Currently the funding duration is over, but there is still monitoring of the beaches through the drones that were purchased during the project. Name of assignment: Ghanaian beach dynamics through video monitoring for improving coastal management strategies Year: 2018 - 2019 Location: Ghana Client: The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)

Position: PI

Main project features: The Ghanaian shoreline covers several types of beaches, open or embayed beaches, yet most studies focus on sandy open beaches. In this project we investigated the variability of open and embayed beach changes. This grant supported the purchase of water logger, camera equipment, computers, and other accessories, for the installation of video cameras along the beach, field surveys using drones, and data processing.

Name of assignment: Regional Institutional Mapping and Analysis of Coastal Resilience Knowledge Stakeholders in West Africa Project (Grant Number is 7195017)

Client: West Africa Coastal Area Management (WACA) Program

Year: 2019

Location: Ghana

Main activities: The project is part of WACA program that supports its countries’ effort to improve the management of their shared coastal resources and reduce the natural and man-made risks affecting coastal communities. A desktop review of all experts (both academic and research) and institutions was done. This exercise preceded validation from their various countries through students of ACECoR. ACECoR students from Nigeria, Togo and Benin were trained to assist with the gathering of information in relation to the topic. The project deliverables included identification and mapping of all experts in West Africa who are involved in the needs and priorities for coastal resilience investments with the best global expertise and knowledge.