Staff profile

Nick Cox is interested in statistical applications within geography, including exploratory data analysis, graphics, smoothing, fitting of probability distributions, circular statistics and spatial analysis. Within geomorphology, hydrology and climatology his research has ranged from morphometry and modelling of hillslope, glacial and karstic forms, through analysis of precipitation distributions (e.g. the CSEP model developed with Professor Mike Kirkby of Leeds), to study of temperature variations in the Durham University Observatory record. Nick has developed software in various statistical and mathematical languages, including Stata, Awk and J. He is well-known in the Stata community as a prolific program writer, Chair of Stata London User Meetings (1997, 2000, 2002), former Associate Editor of the Stata Technical Bulletin, Executive Editor of the Stata Journal, and a frequent contributor to Statalist. Some of his programs have been incorporated in Stata 6.0 (1999), 7.0 (2001) and 8.0 (2003) and many others are available at the link below. A long-established interest in the history, methodology and philosophy of geomorphology is currently expressed in joint editorial work on the forthcoming History of the Study of Landforms, volume 4. Nick is also Book Review Editor of Earth Surface Processes and Landforms and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Statistical Software.

• environmental statistics
• stata statistical software
• geomorphology
• history and methodology of geography

• Catchments and Rivers
• Hazards and Surface Change
• Sea Level, Ice and Climate

• Statistical software

Chapter in book

• Kimber, O., Allison, R. J. & Cox, N. J. (2002). Rates and mechanisms of change of hard rock steep slopes on the Colorado Plateau, USA. In Applied Geomorphology. Allison, R. J. John Wiley & Sons Limited. 65-89.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Renaming variables, multiply and systematically. In The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints. Newton, H. 41-44.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Enhancements to numbers of missions and present values. In The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints. Newton, H. 10: 7-9.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Describing variables in memory: update to Stata 7.0. In The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints. Newton, H. Stata Corporation. 10: 17.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Listing distinct values of a variable. In The Stata Technical Bulletin Reports. Newton, H. 46-49.

Journal Article

• Cox, Nicholas J. (2022). Stata tip 145: Numbering weeks within months. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 22(1): 224.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2021). Stata tip 144: Adding variable text to graphs that use a by option. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 21(4): 1074.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2021). Speaking Stata: Loops in parallel. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 21(4): 1047.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2021). Stata tip 141: Adding marginal spike histograms to quantile and cumulative distribution plots. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 21(3): 838-846.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2021). Speaking Stata: Ordering or ranking groups of observations. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 21(3): 818-837.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2021). Speaking Stata: Front-and-back plots to ease spaghetti and paella problems. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 21(2): 539-554.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2021). Stata tip 140: Shorter or fewer category labels with graph bar. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 21(1): 263-271.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2020). Stata tip 139: The by option of graph can work better than graph combine. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 20(4): 1016 - 1027.
• Cox, Nicholas J. (2020). Speaking Stata: Loops, again and again. The Stata Journal: Promoting communications on statistics and Stata 20(4): 999.
• Haas, T., Densmore, A. L., Hond, T. & Cox, N. J. (2019). Fan‐surface evidence for debris‐flow avulsion controls and probabilities, Saline Valley, California. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 124(5): 1118-1138.
• Evans, I.S. & Cox, N.J. (2017). Comparability of cirque size and shape measures between regions and between researchers. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, Supplementary Issues 61(2): 81-103.
• Evans, I. S. & Cox, N. J. (2013). Global variations of local asymmetry in glacier altitude: separation of north-south and east-west components. Journal of Glaciology
• Miles, B.W.J., Stokes, C.R., Vieli, A. & Cox, N.J. (2013). Rapid, climate-driven changes in outlet glaciers on the Pacific coast of East Antarctica. Nature 500(7464): 563-566.
• Cox, N.J. (2012). Comparison of statistical distributions in geomorphology: a quantile view. Geomorphology
• Cox, N.J. (2012). Careful and critical fitting of power functions and alternatives. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
• Smith, M.W., Cox, N.J. & Bracken, L.J. (2011). Terrestrial laser scanning soil surfaces: a field methodology to examine soil surface roughness and overland flow hydraulics. Hydrological Processes 25(6): 842-860.
• Smith, M.W., Cox, N.J. & Bracken, L.J. (2011). Modeling depth distributions of overland flows. Geomorphology 125(3): 402-413.
• Bracken, L.J. (nee Bull), Cox, N.J. & Shannon, J. (2008). The relationship between rainfall inputs and flood generation in south-east Spain. Hydrological Processes 22(5): 683-696.
• Cox, N.J., Warburton, J., Armstrong, A. & Holliday, V.J. (2007). Fitting concentration and load rating curves with generalized linear models. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 33(1): 25-39.
• Cox, N.J. (2007). Speaking Stata: Turning over a new leaf. Stata Journal 7(3): 413-433.
• Cox, N.J. (2007). Remainders, selections, sequences, extractions: uses of the modulus. Stata Journal 7: 143-145.
• Cox, N.J. (2007). Kernel estimation as a basic tool for geomorphological data analysis. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 32(12): 1902-1912.
• Cox, N.J. (2007). Making it count. Stata Journal 7: 117-130.
• Cox, N.J. (2007). Kinds and problems of geomorphological explanation. Geomorphology 88(1-2): 46-56.
• Ansell, T.J., Jones, P.D., Allan, R.J., Lister, D., Parker, D.E., Brunet, M., Moberg, A., Jacobeit, J., Brohan, P., Rayner, N. A, Aguilar, E., Alexandersson, H., Barriendos, M., Brandsma, T., Cox, N.J., Della-Marta, P.M., Drebs, A., Founda, D., Gerstengarbe, F., Hickley, K., Jónsson, T., Luterbacher, J., Nordli, Ø., Oesterle, H., Petrakis, M., Philipp, A., Rodwell, M.J., Saladie, O., Sigro, J., Slonosky, V., Srnec, L., Swail, V., García-Suárez, A.M., Tuomenvirta, H., Wang, X., Wanner, H., Werner, P., Wheeler, D. & Xoplaki, E. (2007). Daily mean sea level pressure reconstructions for the European-North Atlantic region for the period 1850-2003. Journal of Climate 19: 2717-2742.
• Cox, N.J. (2007). Bin smoothing and summary on scatter plots. Stata Journal 6: 151.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). In praise of trigonometric predictors. Stata Journal 6: 561-579.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). In a list or out? Stata Journal 6: 593-595.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). Graphs for all seasons. Stata Journal 6: 397-419.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). Quantile plots, generalized. Stata Journal 6: 597.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). Time of day. Stata Journal 6: 124-137.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). Stata tip 36 which observations? Stata Journal 6(3): 430-432.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). Sweet sixteen: Hexadecimal formats and precision problems. Stata Journal 6: 282-283.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). May the source be with you. Stata Journal 6: 149-150.
• Stichen, T.J. & Cox, N.J. (2006). Concordance correlation coefficient and associated measurement, tests and graphs. Stata Journal 6(2): 284.
• Cox, N.J. (2006). Assessing agreement of measurements and predictions in geomorphology. Geomorphology 76(3-4): 332-346.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Classifying data points on scatter plots. Stata 604-606.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Stata tip 24 Axis labels on two or more levels. Stata Journal 5(3): 469-469.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Distribution function plots. Stata Journal 5(3): 470-470.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Quantile plots, generalized. Stata Journal 5(3): 470-470.
• Newton, H.J. & Cox, N.J. (2005). Editorial announcements. Stata Journal 5(3): 287.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Smoothing in various directions. Stata Journal 574-593.
• Evans, I. S. & Cox, N. J. (2005). Renaming variables: multiply and ststematically. Journal of Glaciology 51: 469-482.
• Bentley, M.J., Hodgson, D.A., Smith, J.A. & Cox, N.J. (2005). Preliminary relative sea level curves for the South Shetlands and Marguerite Bay regions, Antarctic Peninsula. Quaternary Science Reviews 24: 1203-1216.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Sampling without replacement: absolute sample sizes and keeping all observations. Stata Journal 5: 139.
• Bentley, M.J., Hodgson, D.A., Smith, J.A. & Cox, N.J. (2005). Relative sea level curves for the South Shetland Islands and Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Quaternary Science Reviews 24(10-11): 1203-1216.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Density probability plots. Stata Journal 5: 259-273.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Suggestions on Stata programming style. Stata Journal 560-566.
• Royston, P. & Cox, N.J. (2005). A multivariable scatterplot smoother. Stata Journal 5(3): 405-412.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Numbers of present and missing values. Stata 607.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). The protean quantile plot. Stata Journal 5: 442-460.
• Steichen, T.J. & Cox, N.J. (2005). Concordance correlation coefficient and associated measures, tests and graphs. Stata Journal 5(3): 471-471.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Depending on conditions: a tutorial on the cond function. Stata Journal 5: 413-420.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). A brief history of Stata's first twenty years. Stata Journal 5: 2-18.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). The arrows of outrageous fortune. Stata Journal 5: 282-284.
• Cox, N.J. (2005). Filling in the gaps. Stata Journal 5: 135-136.
• Sasieni, P., Royston, P. & Cox, N.J. (2005). Symmetric nearest neighbor linear smoothers. Stata Journal 5(2): 285.
• Cox, N.J. (2004). Graphing model diagnostics. Stata Journal 4: 449-475.
• Cox, N. J. (2004). Graphing distributions. Stata Journal 4: 66-88.
• Cox, N. J. (2004). Graphing categorical and compositional data. Stata Journal 4: 190-215.
• Cox, N.J. (2004). Binomial smoothing plot. Stata Journal 4: 490-490.
• Cox, N. J. (2004). Following special sequences. Stata Journal 4: 223.
• Cox, N. J. (2004). Graphing agreement and disagreement. Stata Journal 4: 329-349.
• Cox, N.J. (2004). Function graphs on the fly. Stata Journal 4: 488-489.
• Cox, N.J. (2004). Tuning the plot region aspect ratio. Stata Journal 4: 357-358.
• Donoghue, D.N.M., Watt, P.J., Cox, N.J., Dunford, R.W., Wilson, J., Stables, S. & Smith, S. (2004). An evaluation of the use of satellite data for monitoring early development of young Sitka spruce plantation forest growth. Forestry 77(5): 383-396.
• Cox, N. J. (2004). Inserting awkward characters in the plot. Stata Journal 4: 95-96.
• Cox, N.J. (2004). Quantile plots, generalized. Stata Journal 4: 97.
• Newton, H. J. & Cox, N. J. (2003). A special issue of the Stata Journal. Stata Journal 3(4): 327-327.
• Cox, N. J. (2003). Problems with lists. Stata Journal 3: 185-202.
• Cox, N. J. (2003). Distribution function plots. Stata Journal 3: 211.
• Cox, N. J. & Kohler, U. (2003). On structure and shape: the case of multiple responses. Stata Journal 3: 81-99.
• Cox, N. J. (2003). Problems with tables, Part II. Stata Journal 3(4): 420-439.
• Newton, H. J. & Cox, N. J. (2003). The Stata journal so far: editors' report. Stata Journal 3: 105-108.
• Cox, N. J. (2003). Problems with tables, Part I. Stata Journal 3: 309-324.
• Cox, N.J. (2003). Numbers of present and missing values. Stata Journal 3(4): 449-449.
• Smeeton, N. & Cox, N. J. (2003). Do-it-yourself shuffling and the number of runs under randomness. Stata Journal 3(3): 270-277.
• Cox, N. J. (2003). Buildings with floors and ceilings. Stata Journal 3: 446-447.
• Cox, N. J. (2003). Tabulation of modes. Stata Journal 3: 211.
• Newton, H.J. & Cox, N.J. (2003). Introducing Stata tips. Stata Journal 3(4): 328-328.
• Cox, N. J. (2002). On getting functions to do the work. Stata Journal 2: 411-427.
• Steiched, T. & Cox, N. J. (2002). A note on the concordance correlation coefficient. Stata Journal 2: 183-189.
• Cox, N. J. (2002). How to face lists with fortitude. Stata Journal 2: 202-222.
• Cox, N. J. (2002). On numbers and strings. Stata Journal 2: 314-329.
• Cox, N. J. (2002). How to move step by step. Stata Journal 2: 86-102.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Quantitative geography: Perspectives on spatial data analysis. European Urban and Regional Studies 8(1): 93-95.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Plots, generalised: update to Stata 7.0. The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints 10: 55-56.
• Holden, J., Burt, T.P. & Cox, N.J. (2001). Macroporosity and infiltration in blanket peat: the implications of tension disc infiltrometer measurements. Hydrological Processes 15(2): 289-303.
• Jenkins, S. P. & Cox, N. J. (2001). Renaming variables: changing suffixes. The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints 10: 34-35.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). How to repeat yourself without going mad. Stata Journal 1: 84-95.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Dropping variables or observations with missing values. The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints 60(7-8): 44-46.
• Cox, N. J. (2001). Sampling without replacement: absolute sample sizes and keeping all observations. Stata Technical Bulletin 59: 8-9.
• Evans, I. S. & Cox, N. J. (1995). The form of glacial cirques in the English Lake District, Cumbria. Zeitschrift Fur Geomorphologie 39: 175-202.