The geomorphology of part of the basin of the River Teme in Worcestershire and Herefordshire
The geomorphology of part of the basin of the River Teme in Worcestershire and Herefordshire
The lower courses of the River Teme and its tributary the
Leigh Brook cross at right angles the main axial line of the Malvern Axis fold
and fault complex. In addition, the Shelsley Reach of the Teme occupies part of
a major depression west of and parallel to the Malvern Axis. Here, both the
main stream and its tributaries are deeply incised.
The well-developed sequence of terraces of the Teme must
further be related to the terrace sequence of the main trunk river, the Severn.
Since the lower Terne basin was free from ice during the last (Devensian)
glacial advance of the Pleistocene period, it can only have been affected by
periglacial and meltwater action. However, earlier glacial advances may have
had some effect upon the development of the present landscape.
It is here proposed that the Teme has never occupied the
whole of the broad valley west of the Malvern Axis, and that its present course
is primarily the result of normal fluvial processes. Following initial
superimposition west-to-east, the process of adjustment of drainage to the
emerging Malvern structure has proceeded. Glacial interference is proposed as
being limited to one major pro-glacial lake overspill during Devensian times
which has resulted in:
- the reversal of drainage in the Tenbury Reach
- the creation of the valley-in-valley form of the Shelsley
Reach
- the consequent incision of tributaries downstream from the
site of overspill.
The Teme and Leigh Brook gaps through the Malvern Axis ridge
are interpreted as the results of superimposition of drainage, though temporary
blockage by ice during the Gippingian period is suspected. The terraces of the
Teme indicate a connection with the River Severn which dates back at least as
far as Wills' Bushley Green times.
University of Southampton
Adlam, Brian Howard
325a8b96-d660-4f31-bf46-f18b0102d30b
1972
Adlam, Brian Howard
325a8b96-d660-4f31-bf46-f18b0102d30b
Adlam, Brian Howard
(1972)
The geomorphology of part of the basin of the River Teme in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis, 222pp.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The lower courses of the River Teme and its tributary the
Leigh Brook cross at right angles the main axial line of the Malvern Axis fold
and fault complex. In addition, the Shelsley Reach of the Teme occupies part of
a major depression west of and parallel to the Malvern Axis. Here, both the
main stream and its tributaries are deeply incised.
The well-developed sequence of terraces of the Teme must
further be related to the terrace sequence of the main trunk river, the Severn.
Since the lower Terne basin was free from ice during the last (Devensian)
glacial advance of the Pleistocene period, it can only have been affected by
periglacial and meltwater action. However, earlier glacial advances may have
had some effect upon the development of the present landscape.
It is here proposed that the Teme has never occupied the
whole of the broad valley west of the Malvern Axis, and that its present course
is primarily the result of normal fluvial processes. Following initial
superimposition west-to-east, the process of adjustment of drainage to the
emerging Malvern structure has proceeded. Glacial interference is proposed as
being limited to one major pro-glacial lake overspill during Devensian times
which has resulted in:
- the reversal of drainage in the Tenbury Reach
- the creation of the valley-in-valley form of the Shelsley
Reach
- the consequent incision of tributaries downstream from the
site of overspill.
The Teme and Leigh Brook gaps through the Malvern Axis ridge
are interpreted as the results of superimposition of drainage, though temporary
blockage by ice during the Gippingian period is suspected. The terraces of the
Teme indicate a connection with the River Severn which dates back at least as
far as Wills' Bushley Green times.
Text
Adlam 1972 Thesis
- Version of Record
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Published date: 1972
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Local EPrints ID: 459026
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/459026
PURE UUID: 24aafbf3-da6d-4e53-ba2e-6405dbdc06cf
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 17:03
Last modified: 10 Dec 2025 18:10
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Author:
Brian Howard Adlam
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