Dr Emilia Urbanek

Senior Lecturer

Geography

+44 (0) 1792 602559

e.urbanek@swansea.ac.uk

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7748-4416

ResearchGate

About

I am a soil scientist interested in the role of soils in mitigation of the climate change. My research is focused on the understanding the relationship between the water availability and soil carbon dynamics, especially when soil become water repellent due to fire or prolonged dry spells.

I’m originally from Poland. I graduated from the Lublin University of Technology, Poland (BSc, MSc, 2002), completed my doctorate studies at the University of Kiel, Germany (PhD, 2006) and started as a postdoctoral researcher at Swansea University (2006).

I welcome the correspondence in English, German and Polish.

Link to the video about myself

Areas Of Expertise

Soil water repellency
CO2 emissions from soil
Fire affected soils
Soil management to mitigate and adapt to climate change
Data analysis

Publications

Research Highlights

Papierowska, E., Matysiak, W., Szatyłowicz, J., Debaene, G., Urbanek, E., Kalisz, B., & Łachacz, A. (2018). Compatibility of methods used for soil water repellency determination for organic and organo-mineral soils. Geoderma, 314, 221-231.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.11.012, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa36616
Urbanek, E. & Doerr, S. (2017). CO2 efflux from soils with seasonal water repellency. Biogeosciences, 14(20), 4781-4794.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4781-2017, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35686
Urbanek, E., Walsh, R., & Shakesby, R. (2015). Patterns of soil water repellency change with wetting and drying: the influence of cracks, roots and drainage conditions. Hydrological Processes, 29(12), 2799-2813.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10404, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21375
Brzezinska, M., Urbanek, E., Szarlip, P., Wlodarczyk, T., Bulak, P., Walkiewicz, A., & Rafalski, P. (2014). Methanogenic potential of archived soils. Carpathian journal of earth and environmental sciences, 9(2), 79-90.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35685
Włodarczyk, T., Szarlip, P., Koziel, W., Nosalewicz, M., Brzezińska, M., Pazur, M., & Urbanek, E. (2014). Effect of Long Storage and Soil Type on the Actual Denitrification and Denitrification Capacity to N2O Formation. International Agrophysics, 28(3)
https://doi.org/10.2478/intag-2014-0027, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21376
Urbanek, E., Horn, R., & Smucker, A. (2014). Tensile and erosive strength of soil macro-aggregates from soils under different management system. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 62(4)
https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2014-0034, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21374
Urbanek, E. (2012). Why are aggregates destroyed in low intensity fire?. Plant and Soil, 362(1-2), 33-36.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1470-6, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16445
Urbanek, E., Smucker, A., & Horn, R. (2011). Total and fresh organic carbon distribution in aggregate size classes and single aggregate regions using natural 13C/12C tracer. Geoderma, 164(3-4), 164-171.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.05.020, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13506
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706111001583
Bachmann, J., Guggenberger, G., Baumgartl, T., Ellerbrock, R, H., Urbanek, E., M.-O., G., Kaiser, K., Horn, R., & W.R., F. (2008). Physical carbon-sequestration mechanisms under special consideration of soil wettability. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 171, 14-26.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn.200700054, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16448
Urbanek, E., Hallett, P., Feeney, D., Horn, R., & Urbanek, E. (2007). Water repellency and distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds in soil aggregates from different tillage systems. Geoderma, 140(1-2), 147-155.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.04.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16449

All Research

Journal Articles

Sánchez-García, C., Santin Nuno, C., Doerr, S., Strydom, T., & Urbanek, E. (2021). Wildland fire ash enhances short-term CO2 flux from soil in a Southern African savannah. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 160, 108334
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108334, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57172
Sanchez-Garcia, C., Doerr, S., & Urbanek, E. (2020). The effect of water repellency on the short-term release of CO2 upon soil wetting. Geoderma, 375, 114481
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114481, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54414
Sanchez-Garcia, C., Oliveira, B., Keizer, J., Doerr, S., & Urbanek, E. (2020). Water repellency reduces soil CO2 efflux upon rewetting. Science of The Total Environment, 708, 135014
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135014, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52624
Papierowska, E., Matysiak, W., Szatyłowicz, J., Debaene, G., Urbanek, E., Kalisz, B., & Łachacz, A. (2018). Compatibility of methods used for soil water repellency determination for organic and organo-mineral soils. Geoderma, 314, 221-231.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.11.012, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa36616
Urbanek, E. & Doerr, S. (2017). CO2 efflux from soils with seasonal water repellency. Biogeosciences, 14(20), 4781-4794.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-4781-2017, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35686
Urbanek, E., Walsh, R., & Shakesby, R. (2015). Patterns of soil water repellency change with wetting and drying: the influence of cracks, roots and drainage conditions. Hydrological Processes, 29(12), 2799-2813.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10404, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21375
Włodarczyk, T., Szarlip, P., Koziel, W., Nosalewicz, M., Brzezińska, M., Pazur, M., & Urbanek, E. (2014). Effect of Long Storage and Soil Type on the Actual Denitrification and Denitrification Capacity to N2O Formation. International Agrophysics, 28(3)
https://doi.org/10.2478/intag-2014-0027, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21376
Urbanek, E., Horn, R., & Smucker, A. (2014). Tensile and erosive strength of soil macro-aggregates from soils under different management system. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 62(4)
https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2014-0034, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa21374
Brzezinska, M., Urbanek, E., Szarlip, P., Wlodarczyk, T., Bulak, P., Walkiewicz, A., & Rafalski, P. (2014). Methanogenic potential of archived soils. Carpathian journal of earth and environmental sciences, 9(2), 79-90.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35685
Shakesby, R., Bento, C., Ferreira, C., Ferreira, A., Stoof, C., Urbanek, E., Walsh, R., & Shakesby, R. (2013). Impacts of prescribed fire on soil loss and soil quality: An assessment based on an experimentally-burned catchment in central Portugal. CATENA, Forthcoming, n/a
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2013.03.012, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14507
Urbanek, E. (2012). Why are aggregates destroyed in low intensity fire?. Plant and Soil, 362(1-2), 33-36.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1470-6, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16445
Urbanek, E., Smucker, A., & Horn, R. (2011). Total and fresh organic carbon distribution in aggregate size classes and single aggregate regions using natural 13C/12C tracer. Geoderma, 164(3-4), 164-171.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.05.020, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13506
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706111001583
Urbanek, E., Bodi, M., Doerr, S., Shakesby, R., & Shakesby, R. (2010). Influence of Initial Water Content on the Wettability of Autoclaved Soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 74(6), 2086
https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2010.0164N, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7156
Urbanek, E., Shakesby, R., Shakesby, R., & Urbanek, E. (2009). Impact of stone content on water movement in water-repellent sand. European Journal of Soil Science, 60(3), 412
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2009.01128.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1033
Bachmann, J., Guggenberger, G., Baumgartl, T., Ellerbrock, R, H., Urbanek, E., M.-O., G., Kaiser, K., Horn, R., & W.R., F. (2008). Physical carbon-sequestration mechanisms under special consideration of soil wettability. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 171, 14-26.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn.200700054, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16448
Urbanek, E., Hallett, P., Feeney, D., Horn, R., & Urbanek, E. (2007). Water repellency and distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds in soil aggregates from different tillage systems. Geoderma, 140(1-2), 147-155.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.04.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16449

Supervision

Temporal and Spatial Variability of Vegetation Flammability in South Wales (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Stefan Doerr
How soil amendments used in carbon capture effect the soil physical properties and hydrology (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Bernd Kulessa
Carbon impacts of blanket bog afforestation and post-harvest peatland restoration (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Jon Walker

Other supervisor: Prof Cynthia Froyd
Ionic dynamics of stemflow on oak trees during a growing season in South Wales, UK. (awarded 2024)

MSc

Other supervisor: Prof Rory Walsh

Taught Modules

GEG132 Introduction to Earth Systems

This module forms an essential foundation for more advanced study of physical geography and environmental sciences. It introduces the four main Earth systems: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere. It provides a sound understanding of the processes within each system, and the interactions between them. The geosphere section introduces topics like the origin of Earth, plate tectonics and describes the distribution of different rock types and processes occurring in the geosphere. The biosphere section deals mainly with flows of energy and nutrients between Earth systems. The atmosphere section deals with flows of energy and moisture and their role in controlling climate over both space and time. The hydrosphere section focuses on the concepts of the hydrological cycle and the main processes associated with the water fluxes. In addition, the main properties and functions of soil, and the formation of different soil types worldwide are introduced. At the end of the module the changes in climate in the past, current and future, proxies of climate change are included.
GEG277 Geographical Methods and Data Analysis

This core 20-credit module introduces a variety of physical and human geography methods, along with data analysis. The module builds upon student knowledge and covers research design, data collection and data analysis. Students are introduced to a range of lab and field techniques in physical and / or human geography along with statistical analysis. They gain experience in describing, interpreting and presenting the results.
GEG283 Sustainable Land Management

Sustainable Land Management course focuses on understanding and maintaining of the environmental values of LAND and SOIL for food production, water quality, flood defence and climate regulation. To understand the Sustainable Land Management the basic understanding of SOIL properties, functions will be introduced followed by the main threads and challenges to soil health connected with climate change and incorrect land management. Case studies of Sustainable Land Management in agriculture, fire prevention and mitigation, peatland restoration and land remediation will be showcased and discussed. The module will contain a series of lectures, workshops and field visit.
GEGM07 Environmental Dynamics

This module aims to explain and understand past, present and potential future changes in the Earth's climate and environment. It provides a broad approach to environmental processes and dynamics operating on land, in the oceans and in the atmosphere on a global and regional scale. Emphasis is placed on the evidence available for reconstructing past environmental dynamics, the implications for present-day processes, future predictions and likely impacts.

Key Grants and Projects

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship – ‘Soil carbon dynamics in water repellent soils – C mineralization and CO2 efflux’ 2012 - 2018

, £450k
Royal Society – Research grant ‘Soil C dynamics in water repellent soils: quantifying methane fluxes (MetFlux)’ 2013 - 2016

, £105k

Career History

Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, Swansea University

October 2017 - Present
Royal Society Research Fellow – Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship, Swansea University

October 2012 - September 2018
Honorary Research Fellow, Swansea University

March 2012 - September 2012
Research Officer, DESIRE, Swansea University

May 2007 - March 2012
Career break (maternity leave), Swansea University

January 2008 - July 2008
Career break (maternity leave), Swansea University

September 2010 - March 2011
Research Officer, Water Re-Use, Swansea University

September 2006 - April 2007
Research Assistant, Inst. of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian Albrecht University, Kiel, Germany

December 2002 - May 2006

Public Engagements

I’m a co-organiser and a former speaker at Swansea Soapbox Science

I’m engaging with local schools and previously collaborated with the local primary school on the project ‘Soils are great!’ project funded by the Royal Society.

Research Visits

15.05.2017 – 15.07.2017 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Richland, USA

3.3.2014 – 30.04.2014 Institute of Agrophysics – Lublin/Poland

1.03.2005 – 30.05.2005 Scottish Crop Research Institute – Dundee/UK

1.2.2002 – 30.7.2002 Socrates-Erasmus Student Exchange – University of Kiel/Germany

Education

01.10.2017 – ongoing PGCert Teaching in Higher Education

01.12.2002 – 04.05.2006 Christian-Albrecht-University CAU in Kiel/Germany, Institute for Plant Nutrition and Soil Science – PhD. Studies

04.05.2006 PhD promotion

PhD thesis: “Management effects on carbon distribution in soil aggregates and its consequences on water repellency and mechanical strength”

01.10.1996 – 14.08.2002 Technical University of Lublin/Poland, Environmental Protection – Water Supply and Sewage System – MSc. MSc Thesis: “Shrinkage and swelling of the clay soils used as a sealing layer at the waste deposit”

Recent research funding and submitted applications

2017 Royal Society Public engagement Fund (funded £1600)

2017 Royal Society Enhancement Award (funded £14500)

2016 Royal Society Scientific Discussion Meeting (funded £5000)

2015 Swansea PI for EU Twinning Project

2012 Royal Society Research Grant for First Year Fellows (funded £105k)

2012 The Leverhulme Trust – Early Career Fellowship

2012 Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (funded £450k)

2011 NERC standard grant, Research Co-I

2010 NERC postdoctoral fellowship (shortlisted to the interview stage)

2009 NERC postdoctoral fellowship (shortlisted to the interview stage)

2010-2011 British Council ‘Treaty of Windsor’, Co-I (funded £1000)

04. 2007 Royal Society Conference Grant (funded £1000)

Dr Emilia Urbanek

Telephone number

Email address

Twitter Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Research Highlights

All Research

Temporal and Spatial Variability of Vegetation Flammability in South Wales (current)

How soil amendments used in carbon capture effect the soil physical properties and hydrology (current)

Carbon impacts of blanket bog afforestation and post-harvest peatland restoration (current)

Ionic dynamics of stemflow on oak trees during a growing season in South Wales, UK. (awarded 2024)

GEG132 Introduction to Earth Systems

GEG277 Geographical Methods and Data Analysis

GEG283 Sustainable Land Management

GEGM07 Environmental Dynamics

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship – ‘Soil carbon dynamics in water repellent soils – C mineralization and CO2 efflux’ 2012 - 2018

Royal Society – Research grant ‘Soil C dynamics in water repellent soils: quantifying methane fluxes (MetFlux)’ 2013 - 2016

Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, Swansea University

Royal Society Research Fellow – Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship, Swansea University

Honorary Research Fellow, Swansea University

Research Officer, DESIRE, Swansea University

Career break (maternity leave), Swansea University

Career break (maternity leave), Swansea University

Research Officer, Water Re-Use, Swansea University

Research Assistant, Inst. of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian Albrecht University, Kiel, Germany