1.
The 1607 Flood A tsunami in the Bristol Channel? Lecture to the Geographical Association King’s College, Taunton 15th November 2012Professor Simon Haslett @ProfSHaslettUniversity of WalesWith Dr Ted Bryant, University of Wollongong

2.
My co-author: Dr Ted Bryant 2001, Cambridge University Press

3.
Our research is still topical! • BBC2 Coasts • Wales – Border to Border • Still being repeated at present. • Tsunami in Cornwall in 2011! • Also, featuring in the nuclear power debate as a risk.

4.
Friday 11th March 2011Japan Tsunami

5.
Evidence of the 1607 flood 1Contemporary historic pamphlets giving the:1. date (20th Jan 1606 = 30th Jan 1607)2. timing (“about nine in the morning” in Somerset)3. details of damage (2000 deaths and great economic loss).

6.
Burnham 1607 tides (HW at 8.28am)

7.
Evidence of the 1607 flood 2• Commemorative plaques and inscriptions in/on churches in South Wales and Somerset.

8.
Evidence of the 1607 flood 2Redwick Church, Gwent

9.
Tsunami theory for the 1607 floodSome contradictory meteorological reportse.g. “a violent sea wind” (Camden, 1607) vs. “the morning … so fayrely and brightly spred” (Harleian Miscellany, 1607).Descriptions of a “wave” reminiscent of a tsunami rather than a storm e.g. “wave’s furie”.Extract from God’s warning to his people of England

10.
Extracts from Lamentable Newes out of Monmouthshire Wave velocityInland Penetration

11.
Tsunami theory (cont.)Enigmatic physical features:1. Sand layers possibly deposited by “storms” (e.g. Rumney and Hill; Allen, 1987, 1992).2. Erosion of nearly all contemporary salt-marsh in the Severn Estuary (Allen, 1987).3. Land erosion (e.g. English Stones, Gravel Banks and Oldbury, where seabanks were reset in the early C17th when “environmental change forced a substantial south-easterly retreat of the edge of the alluvial outcrop”, Allen & Fulford, 1992, pp. 96-97).

12.
Click here to read paper.

13.
Testing the tsunami theory: The 2004 Field Season• Visit key locations mentioned in the pamphlets and gain background detail.• Examine coastal landscapes and sample sedimentary sequences for tsunami signatures (e.g. Bryant, 2001).• Investigate enigmatic sites identified by Bryant & Haslett (2002) e.g. Rumney, Hill, Oldbury and collect samples.• Undertake laboratory analysis of samples.

14.
Sampling theRumney sand layer

15.
Measuring boulderdimensions atDunraven Bay

16.
Viewer’s letters examples• 2.8 million viewers watched the 1st April broadcast (5 million now for all broadcasts)!• Hundreds of letters and emails received.• Location of gravestones of 1607 victims.• Location of a mass grave of 1607 victims.• Other tsunami-like waves experienced in the Bristol Channel (on fine days).• Locations of unpublished sand layers.• Forgotten historic documents (maps, parish records, etc).• Other academics initiating research in the area.• Offers of help in the field!

17.
Cause of a possible tsunami• Submarine landslide off the continental slope west of the British Isles: our preferred cause, but discounted by others.• Earthquake: Roger Musson, BGS (2005, BBC2 Timewatch), favours activity along a fault off south-west Ireland, which Bill McGuire (2005, New Scientist) highlights.• Volcanic eruption/comet impact possible?

18.
Submarine slideSource: GEBCO bathymetry

19.
Further Reading• Somerset Landscapes: Geology and Landscapes• Case study: The 1607 flood• Includes relevant bibliography• £16.99 from Amazon• Special offer £10 tonight• Or email BlackBarnBooks@aol.com• State ‘Taunton’ in email• You’ll be sent a discount link – £10 (+ £2.80 p&p) – Valid until end of November 2012• THANKS TO: