Quaternary sea level change, Lake formation, and associated glacial events, with special reference to the lower tees basin

Abstract

The thesis set out to fulfil two purposes: 1) To further the development of a methodology for the study of displaced shorelines. 2) To apply the methodology to the lower Tees basin. 1) Methodogy An examination of previous work suggested that a methodology should encompass as many facts of a marine environment as possible to obtain best results. Three such facts were selected for detailed study, morphology, sedimentology, and fossil evidence, and the value of each was assessed on both theoretical and practical grounds. It was concluded that the degree of differential warping exhibited by a terrace could indicate the origin of the feature. Similarly the particle size and mineralogy of a sand sized sediment may indicate its depositional environment. Although both of the above techniques were partially successful, it was concluded that "in situ" fossil evidence provided the best means of identifiying a displaced marine environment. 2) The lower tees basin The above methodology was applied to both the onshore and offshore environments of the Tees basin, and it appeared that there was no evidence for a late or post glacial sea level above O.D. Newlyn. In contrast there was evidence for sea levels lower than present.