Simon Haslett | Bath Spa University (original) (raw)
Papers by Simon Haslett
The Holocene, Feb 1, 1998
Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change is investigated at Nyland Hill (Somerset Levels). The li... more Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change is investigated at Nyland Hill (Somerset Levels). The lithostratigraphy comprises turfa peat underlying marine clay, both onlapping a sloping Upper Palaeozoic basement. The altitude of the peat-clay contact ranges from 2.42 to 4.52 m OD, becoming lower down basement slope, yet 14C dates of three samples taken laterally along the contact at different altitudes yield similar ages (3640-3330, 3715-3460, 3725-3465 cal. yrs BP), suggesting either very rapid (‘instantaneous’) RSL rise or sediment compaction. Biostratigraphic data indicate a gradual transition to marine conditions across the peat-clay contact. Therefore, the height difference is interpreted as evidence for significant compaction. We consider 4.64 m OD the minimum pre-compaction altitude, indicating maximum observed compaction of 2.22 m. The clay surface, reclaimed during Roman occupation, represents an anthropogenically induced negative tendency and is dated chemostratigraphically to 1776 ± 46, using a datum related to the onset of local Roman lead mining AD 43-49. Sedimentation rates of the marine clay are established: 1.58-1.92 mm yr-1 and 0.8-0.96 mm yr-1 at sites of maximum and less severe compaction respectively. RSL continued to rise throughout the deposition of the clay unit at a rate of 0.41-0.82 mm yr-1, a view that disagrees with previous models that imply stabilised RSL by 3000 BP. These earlier studies underestimate compaction with implications for subsequent studies employing these sea-level data, particularly in crustal studies where the apparent trend of subsidence is overestimated/increased.
The Journal of Geology, Jan 14, 2022
Hydrodynamic equations are frequently employed in the study of coastal boulder movement to estima... more Hydrodynamic equations are frequently employed in the study of coastal boulder movement to estimate the height of tsunami or storm waves responsible for initiating dislodgement. A recent review has challenged the use of such equations and, through a test using a data set of boulders that were moved during storms over winter 2013–14 in the Aran Islands (Ireland), concludes that the equations are flawed. To evaluate this claim, this study revisits the foundation of the equations and reflects on the recent review. We conclude that, although the review is timely and welcomed for the questions it prompts, it arguably does not provide grounds to pronounce the equations flawed. This is due to various considerations, including (1) the equations have been misapplied to physical settings other than as originally intended, (2) wave-type parameters for estimating tsunami and storm wave heights from boulder measurements appear reasonable and not flawed when used within the intended physical settings, (3) the Aran Islands may not be an appropriate location to test the equations because of their physical setting, (4) the exclusion of storm surge and wave setup effects in the test is likely to underestimate the calculated height attained by storm waves, and (5) for comparison, recently revised equations are used to recalculate the Aran Islands boulder data set, indicating that all but 33 boulders demonstrably moved by the 2013–14 storms may be explained by the maximum storm wave height proposed by the review and that all these moved boulders might be explained if the effects of storm surge are included. Analytical tools, such as provided by hydrodynamic equations for boulder dislodgement, are considered important in the contribution they make to coastal risk assessment and hazard management.
A 13th –14th-century map held in the Bodleian Library (the Gough Map and the oldest map of Great ... more A 13th –14th-century map held in the Bodleian Library (the Gough Map and the oldest map of Great Britain) shows two ‘lost’ islands in Cardigan Bay offshore west Wales, United Kingdom. This study investigates historical sources, alongside geological and bathymetric evidence, and proposes a model of post-glacial coastal evolution that provides an explanation for the ‘lost’ islands and a hypothetical framework for future research: (1) during the Pleistocene, Irish Sea ice occupied the area from the north and west, and Welsh ice from the east, (2) a landscape of unconsolidated Pleistocene deposits developed seaward of a relict pre-Quaternary cliffline with a land surface up to ca. 30 m above present sea-level, (3) erosion proceeded along the lines of a template provided by a retreating shoreline affected by Holocene sea-level rise, shore-normal rivers, and surface run-off from the relict cliffline and interfluves, (4) dissection established islands occupying cores of the depositional landscape, and (5) continued down-wearing, marginal erosion and marine inundation(s) removed the two remaining islands by the 16th century. Literary evidence and folklore traditions provide support in that Cardigan Bay is associated with the ‘lost’ lowland of Cantre’r Gwaelod. The model offers potential for further understanding post-glacial evolution of similar lowlands along northwest European coastlines.
Springer briefs in geography, 2015
Rocky shorelines within southeastern Galway Bay and on the Aran Islands exhibit stepped platforms... more Rocky shorelines within southeastern Galway Bay and on the Aran Islands exhibit stepped platforms as well as steep cliffs with heights up to more than 20 m. Here field research on recent boulder movement by six exceptional strong winter storms of the season 2013/14 has been made. Quantitative data on boulder location, size, distances moved horizontally and vertically, and source of the boulders have been collected, as well as observations and documentation on signatures of the transport process on the rock platforms and on boulders themselves. The results are compared with the size of existing (old) boulders and their potential transport data. During fieldwork special emphasis was given on the morphologic aspects of boulder deposits and their internal architecture, and to imply sites of different intensity of exposure and bathymetry. The investigations should contribute to the question of boulder ridge genesis, with an extended documentation from field impressions in figures and photos as a base for later conclusions.
Springer briefs in geography, 2015
This chapter documents the distribution of very large single coastal boulders from recent storm w... more This chapter documents the distribution of very large single coastal boulders from recent storm waves along the most exposed shorelines of Inishmore and Inishmaan as well as from the more protected coast of inner Galway Bay, as well as signatures of the movement process in the form of striations or impact marks on rock and boulders. A comparison of the size and transport distances of freshly moved boulders, old boulders moved recently, and the minimum size of old boulders not recently moved although within the surf belt allows to find a threshold for storm wave power on boulder dislocation. For an objective judgement, field documents from other exposed rocky coastlines of the world are also presented.
Springer briefs in geography, 2015
The organization patterns of large coastal boulder deposits on the Aran Islands and within Galway... more The organization patterns of large coastal boulder deposits on the Aran Islands and within Galway Bay exhibit many different patterns: single platy boulders are leaning in low or steep inclination at structural steps on the upper cliff platform, but also show imbrication from different sides at an obstacle, or form imbrication trains even if the single clasts are many tens of tons in mass. Another setting is balancing on the crests of ridges, even if their mass is more than 10 tons and the crest is positioned at +15 m or more above MHW. The source for single boulders often is the cliff top front, or low structural steps on it, and only in rare cases in the tidal and supra-tidal zones. Most of freshly activated boulders, however, derive from older ridge fronts. The most significant form of deposition is a very long and 20–50 m wide ridge with a relative height of many metres. Cross sections of these ridges are asymmetrical with steep seaward faces. Lower ridges may occur to landward, separated from the main one, and at some promontories more than three ridges or boulder piles exist, all older than the main one. A special aspect are two different types of ripples: small ones parallel to the ridge crests at the landward slope, and wider diagonal and curved ones forming the main ridge in a longer row.
Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 2006
ABSTRACT Grain-size characteristics (by laser granulometry) and foraminiferal assemblages have be... more ABSTRACT Grain-size characteristics (by laser granulometry) and foraminiferal assemblages have been established for silts accumulated in five, dissimilar tidal palaeochannels of mid or late Holocene age in the Severn Estuary Levels, representative of muddy tidal systems. For purposes of general comparison, similar data were obtained from a representative active tidal inlet in the area, but all of these channels have been subject to human interference and are not relied upon as a model for environmental interpretation. Although the palaeochannel deposits differ substantially in their bedding characteristics and stratigraphical relationships from the level-bedded salt-marsh platform and mudflat deposits with which they are associated, and although the channel environment is distinctive morphologically and hydraulically, no critical textural differences could be found between the channel deposits and the associated facies. Similarly, no foraminiferal assemblages distinctive of a tidal channel were encountered. Instead, the assemblages compare with those from mudflats and salt-marsh platforms. It is concluded that the sides of the subfossil channels carried some vegetation, as was observed to be the case in the modern inlet. An alternative approach is necessary if concealed palaeochannel deposits are to be recognized in muddy systems from limited numbers of subsurface samples. Although the palaeochannels afforded no characteristic textural signature, they yield transverse grain-size patterns pointing to coastal movements during their evolution. Concave-up trends suggest outward coastal building, whereas con vex-up ones point to marsh-edge retreat.
Zeitschrift Fur Geomorphologie, Jul 1, 2010
ABSTRACT The Holocene evolution of estuaries along the coast of New South Wales, southeastern Aus... more ABSTRACT The Holocene evolution of estuaries along the coast of New South Wales, southeastern Australia, has been the subject of conceptual models based primarily on amino acid racemisation- and radiocarbon-dated lithostratigraphic studies. This study examines the effectiveness of foraminiferal biostratigraphic indicators in support of the model of barrier estuary evolution. Four modern assemblage zones in the Minnamurra River estuary are clearly distinguished through cluster analysis characterising salt marsh, mangrove, pneumatophore (mangrove roots), and unvegetated tidal flat environments. This forms the basis for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of depositional environments in an 8.55 m deep radiocarbon-dated sediment core, taken 4 km upstream of the present estuary mouth. Foraminifera are relatively abundant and well preserved in the initial marine transgressive sand sheet that represents a tidal flat at the site by around 7 ka. Sub-tidal conditions then develop, implying a ria-like environment with restricted tidal access to the estuary basin before c. 5 ka. Between c. 4.6 and 0.96 m depth a shelly sand with a diverse marine foraminiferal assemblage that includes extra-estuarine taxa, indicates significant sediment infilling from marine-sourced deposition. AMS radiocarbon dating indicates rapid deposition during the interval 3.9-2.1 m (between 5274-4709 and 4535-3893 cal. yrs BP, respectively), which coincides with deposition of a sand sheet with similar characteristics in the adjacent Dunmore coastal basin. The foraminiferal assemblages in both the Minnamurra and Dunmore deposits indicate basin-wide high-energy barrier overwashing, possibly due to tsunami. Sediments between 0.96-0 m are barren of foraminifera and are interpreted as floodplain deposits. Foraminiferal evidence indicates that mangrove and salt marsh environments are entirely lacking from the core sequence.
Routledge eBooks, Nov 23, 2000
ABSTRACT An elevated and unusual coarse shelly sedimentary unit is found in a pocket embayment at... more ABSTRACT An elevated and unusual coarse shelly sedimentary unit is found in a pocket embayment at Batemans Bay in SE Australia. The sheltered and elevated nature of the deposit along with the coarse sediments, diverse microfauna and large shelly macrofauna of mixed affinity suggest that the deposit is the result of high-energy deposition. The deposit is poorly constrained to approximately 1000 years old and the presence of rock encrusting oyster shells and large articulated bivalves in the coarse shelly unit is particularly noteworthy. Although this coast experiences frequent large storms with offshore wave heights exceeding 10 m it is unlikely that the shell-rich unit is the result of storm waves as they are significantly attenuated by the offshore bathymetry and rarely exceed 0.1 m at the site. The sedimentology also suggests that the depositional event must be capable of removing and transporting coarse sediments and heavy fauna from a variety of seaward environments and depositing them with little abrasion, something storm waves would not do. The deposit is likely to be the result of large-scale washover by tsunami in the late Holocene and may be coeval with the deposition of the sandsheets described elsewhere that extend over more than 130 km of the coast.
Cretaceous Research, Apr 1, 1994
ABSTRACT
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Apr 11, 2011
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to test the validity of the curriculum auditing tool Sustain... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to test the validity of the curriculum auditing tool Sustainability Tool for Auditing University Curricula in Higher Education (STAUNCHq), which was designed to audit the education for sustainability and global citizenship content of higher education curricula. The Welsh Assembly Government aspires to incorporate sustainability across all sectors and required an audit of all higher education curricula within Wales. The paper also discusses responses to the auditing process, findings at an institutional and national level and proposes recommendations for improvements. Design/methodology/approach-The University of Wales, Newport, provides the case study to test the validity of the STAUNCHq software. Findings-The quality and effectiveness of the curriculum content was not identified by the audit. The audit identified what the curriculum offered but did not necessarily reflect that studied by students. Modules offered on more than one course were awarded credit within the "cross-cutting" criteria of the audit and this distorted the final results. The audit enabled curriculum managers to identify programmes of study which exhibited strengths and limitations in this area. Utilising a common auditing tool across the Welsh higher education sector allows for future developments to be collective and collaborative. Practical implications-A general consensus of opinion from a network of Welsh higher education institutions regarding any future use of this auditing tool is currently one of uncertainty as far as any validity the tool may bring to driving the sustainability agenda forward. Alterations to the STAUNCHq software and auditing process are proposed if possible future audits are to be more effective. Nevertheless, within a relatively short time span education for sustainable development and global citizenship within Welsh higher education is gaining momentum. Amendments have been made to university documentation, staff-training initiatives developed and the potential impact of curriculum development in this area is beginning to be realised. Originality/value-This paper discusses the application of a new sustainability curriculum-auditing tool and the validity of the tool in progressing sustainability within the higher education sector.
The Welsh History Review, Dec 1, 2021
Jesus College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, was founded in 1571 by Elizabet... more Jesus College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, was founded in 1571 by Elizabeth I. The college has benefitted from parish patronages, with the right of advowsons, which have assisted the college's development. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the college held twenty such advowsons, including a relationship with Llandysul parish in Ceredigion (Cardiganshire) that was established in 1680 and survived until 1944. This study uses the college archive to provide an initial investigation into the historical connections before and since 1680, so raising awareness of the historical link with Llandysul and providing a framework for future research.
Sedimentology, Apr 1, 1995
The extent of quartz cementation in shallow marine sandstones of the Brora Arenaceous Formation (... more The extent of quartz cementation in shallow marine sandstones of the Brora Arenaceous Formation (Oxfordian) is closely related to the occurrence and abundance of Rhaxella perforata sponge spicules. Three cement morphologies are identified, chalcedonic quartz, microquartz and mesoquartz. Chalcedonic quartz forms matrix-supported cements which preserve moulds of Rhaxella spicules. Chalcedonic quartz crystals have inequant development of crystal faces, on average 0.1 pm in diameter, and are the first formed cement and reveal homogeneous dark grey tones on the SEM-CLIBEI. Microquartz forms 5-10 pm diameter crystals, which commonly grow on chalcedonic quartz substrates and show various grey tones under SEM-CLIBEI. Mesoquartz crystals grow in optical continuity with their host grains, have >20 pm a-axial diameter crystals, and exhibit distinctly zoned luminescence. Although no opaline silica is preserved, the quartz cement is interpreted to have formed from an opaline precursor. Detrital quartz has an average 6 ' * 0 composition of + 12.2%0 and mesoquartz (syntaxial overgrowth) has an average 6I8O composition of + 20.0%0. Estimates of the 6I8O compositions of microquartz and chalcedonic quartz are complicated by the problem of isolating the two textural types; mixtures of the two give consistently higher 6 ' * 0 compositions than mesoquartz, the higher estimate being +39.2%~. From oxygen isotope data the formation of quartz, microquartz and chalcedonic quartz is interpreted to have taken place between 35 and 71°C in marine derived pore waters. Organic and inorganic maturation data constrain the upper temperature limit to less than 60°C.
The Holocene, Feb 1, 1998
Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change is investigated at Nyland Hill (Somerset Levels). The li... more Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change is investigated at Nyland Hill (Somerset Levels). The lithostratigraphy comprises turfa peat underlying marine clay, both onlapping a sloping Upper Palaeozoic basement. The altitude of the peat-clay contact ranges from 2.42 to 4.52 m OD, becoming lower down basement slope, yet 14C dates of three samples taken laterally along the contact at different altitudes yield similar ages (3640-3330, 3715-3460, 3725-3465 cal. yrs BP), suggesting either very rapid (‘instantaneous’) RSL rise or sediment compaction. Biostratigraphic data indicate a gradual transition to marine conditions across the peat-clay contact. Therefore, the height difference is interpreted as evidence for significant compaction. We consider 4.64 m OD the minimum pre-compaction altitude, indicating maximum observed compaction of 2.22 m. The clay surface, reclaimed during Roman occupation, represents an anthropogenically induced negative tendency and is dated chemostratigraphically to 1776 ± 46, using a datum related to the onset of local Roman lead mining AD 43-49. Sedimentation rates of the marine clay are established: 1.58-1.92 mm yr-1 and 0.8-0.96 mm yr-1 at sites of maximum and less severe compaction respectively. RSL continued to rise throughout the deposition of the clay unit at a rate of 0.41-0.82 mm yr-1, a view that disagrees with previous models that imply stabilised RSL by 3000 BP. These earlier studies underestimate compaction with implications for subsequent studies employing these sea-level data, particularly in crustal studies where the apparent trend of subsidence is overestimated/increased.
The Journal of Geology, Jan 14, 2022
Hydrodynamic equations are frequently employed in the study of coastal boulder movement to estima... more Hydrodynamic equations are frequently employed in the study of coastal boulder movement to estimate the height of tsunami or storm waves responsible for initiating dislodgement. A recent review has challenged the use of such equations and, through a test using a data set of boulders that were moved during storms over winter 2013–14 in the Aran Islands (Ireland), concludes that the equations are flawed. To evaluate this claim, this study revisits the foundation of the equations and reflects on the recent review. We conclude that, although the review is timely and welcomed for the questions it prompts, it arguably does not provide grounds to pronounce the equations flawed. This is due to various considerations, including (1) the equations have been misapplied to physical settings other than as originally intended, (2) wave-type parameters for estimating tsunami and storm wave heights from boulder measurements appear reasonable and not flawed when used within the intended physical settings, (3) the Aran Islands may not be an appropriate location to test the equations because of their physical setting, (4) the exclusion of storm surge and wave setup effects in the test is likely to underestimate the calculated height attained by storm waves, and (5) for comparison, recently revised equations are used to recalculate the Aran Islands boulder data set, indicating that all but 33 boulders demonstrably moved by the 2013–14 storms may be explained by the maximum storm wave height proposed by the review and that all these moved boulders might be explained if the effects of storm surge are included. Analytical tools, such as provided by hydrodynamic equations for boulder dislodgement, are considered important in the contribution they make to coastal risk assessment and hazard management.
A 13th –14th-century map held in the Bodleian Library (the Gough Map and the oldest map of Great ... more A 13th –14th-century map held in the Bodleian Library (the Gough Map and the oldest map of Great Britain) shows two ‘lost’ islands in Cardigan Bay offshore west Wales, United Kingdom. This study investigates historical sources, alongside geological and bathymetric evidence, and proposes a model of post-glacial coastal evolution that provides an explanation for the ‘lost’ islands and a hypothetical framework for future research: (1) during the Pleistocene, Irish Sea ice occupied the area from the north and west, and Welsh ice from the east, (2) a landscape of unconsolidated Pleistocene deposits developed seaward of a relict pre-Quaternary cliffline with a land surface up to ca. 30 m above present sea-level, (3) erosion proceeded along the lines of a template provided by a retreating shoreline affected by Holocene sea-level rise, shore-normal rivers, and surface run-off from the relict cliffline and interfluves, (4) dissection established islands occupying cores of the depositional landscape, and (5) continued down-wearing, marginal erosion and marine inundation(s) removed the two remaining islands by the 16th century. Literary evidence and folklore traditions provide support in that Cardigan Bay is associated with the ‘lost’ lowland of Cantre’r Gwaelod. The model offers potential for further understanding post-glacial evolution of similar lowlands along northwest European coastlines.
Springer briefs in geography, 2015
Rocky shorelines within southeastern Galway Bay and on the Aran Islands exhibit stepped platforms... more Rocky shorelines within southeastern Galway Bay and on the Aran Islands exhibit stepped platforms as well as steep cliffs with heights up to more than 20 m. Here field research on recent boulder movement by six exceptional strong winter storms of the season 2013/14 has been made. Quantitative data on boulder location, size, distances moved horizontally and vertically, and source of the boulders have been collected, as well as observations and documentation on signatures of the transport process on the rock platforms and on boulders themselves. The results are compared with the size of existing (old) boulders and their potential transport data. During fieldwork special emphasis was given on the morphologic aspects of boulder deposits and their internal architecture, and to imply sites of different intensity of exposure and bathymetry. The investigations should contribute to the question of boulder ridge genesis, with an extended documentation from field impressions in figures and photos as a base for later conclusions.
Springer briefs in geography, 2015
This chapter documents the distribution of very large single coastal boulders from recent storm w... more This chapter documents the distribution of very large single coastal boulders from recent storm waves along the most exposed shorelines of Inishmore and Inishmaan as well as from the more protected coast of inner Galway Bay, as well as signatures of the movement process in the form of striations or impact marks on rock and boulders. A comparison of the size and transport distances of freshly moved boulders, old boulders moved recently, and the minimum size of old boulders not recently moved although within the surf belt allows to find a threshold for storm wave power on boulder dislocation. For an objective judgement, field documents from other exposed rocky coastlines of the world are also presented.
Springer briefs in geography, 2015
The organization patterns of large coastal boulder deposits on the Aran Islands and within Galway... more The organization patterns of large coastal boulder deposits on the Aran Islands and within Galway Bay exhibit many different patterns: single platy boulders are leaning in low or steep inclination at structural steps on the upper cliff platform, but also show imbrication from different sides at an obstacle, or form imbrication trains even if the single clasts are many tens of tons in mass. Another setting is balancing on the crests of ridges, even if their mass is more than 10 tons and the crest is positioned at +15 m or more above MHW. The source for single boulders often is the cliff top front, or low structural steps on it, and only in rare cases in the tidal and supra-tidal zones. Most of freshly activated boulders, however, derive from older ridge fronts. The most significant form of deposition is a very long and 20–50 m wide ridge with a relative height of many metres. Cross sections of these ridges are asymmetrical with steep seaward faces. Lower ridges may occur to landward, separated from the main one, and at some promontories more than three ridges or boulder piles exist, all older than the main one. A special aspect are two different types of ripples: small ones parallel to the ridge crests at the landward slope, and wider diagonal and curved ones forming the main ridge in a longer row.
Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 2006
ABSTRACT Grain-size characteristics (by laser granulometry) and foraminiferal assemblages have be... more ABSTRACT Grain-size characteristics (by laser granulometry) and foraminiferal assemblages have been established for silts accumulated in five, dissimilar tidal palaeochannels of mid or late Holocene age in the Severn Estuary Levels, representative of muddy tidal systems. For purposes of general comparison, similar data were obtained from a representative active tidal inlet in the area, but all of these channels have been subject to human interference and are not relied upon as a model for environmental interpretation. Although the palaeochannel deposits differ substantially in their bedding characteristics and stratigraphical relationships from the level-bedded salt-marsh platform and mudflat deposits with which they are associated, and although the channel environment is distinctive morphologically and hydraulically, no critical textural differences could be found between the channel deposits and the associated facies. Similarly, no foraminiferal assemblages distinctive of a tidal channel were encountered. Instead, the assemblages compare with those from mudflats and salt-marsh platforms. It is concluded that the sides of the subfossil channels carried some vegetation, as was observed to be the case in the modern inlet. An alternative approach is necessary if concealed palaeochannel deposits are to be recognized in muddy systems from limited numbers of subsurface samples. Although the palaeochannels afforded no characteristic textural signature, they yield transverse grain-size patterns pointing to coastal movements during their evolution. Concave-up trends suggest outward coastal building, whereas con vex-up ones point to marsh-edge retreat.
Zeitschrift Fur Geomorphologie, Jul 1, 2010
ABSTRACT The Holocene evolution of estuaries along the coast of New South Wales, southeastern Aus... more ABSTRACT The Holocene evolution of estuaries along the coast of New South Wales, southeastern Australia, has been the subject of conceptual models based primarily on amino acid racemisation- and radiocarbon-dated lithostratigraphic studies. This study examines the effectiveness of foraminiferal biostratigraphic indicators in support of the model of barrier estuary evolution. Four modern assemblage zones in the Minnamurra River estuary are clearly distinguished through cluster analysis characterising salt marsh, mangrove, pneumatophore (mangrove roots), and unvegetated tidal flat environments. This forms the basis for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of depositional environments in an 8.55 m deep radiocarbon-dated sediment core, taken 4 km upstream of the present estuary mouth. Foraminifera are relatively abundant and well preserved in the initial marine transgressive sand sheet that represents a tidal flat at the site by around 7 ka. Sub-tidal conditions then develop, implying a ria-like environment with restricted tidal access to the estuary basin before c. 5 ka. Between c. 4.6 and 0.96 m depth a shelly sand with a diverse marine foraminiferal assemblage that includes extra-estuarine taxa, indicates significant sediment infilling from marine-sourced deposition. AMS radiocarbon dating indicates rapid deposition during the interval 3.9-2.1 m (between 5274-4709 and 4535-3893 cal. yrs BP, respectively), which coincides with deposition of a sand sheet with similar characteristics in the adjacent Dunmore coastal basin. The foraminiferal assemblages in both the Minnamurra and Dunmore deposits indicate basin-wide high-energy barrier overwashing, possibly due to tsunami. Sediments between 0.96-0 m are barren of foraminifera and are interpreted as floodplain deposits. Foraminiferal evidence indicates that mangrove and salt marsh environments are entirely lacking from the core sequence.
Routledge eBooks, Nov 23, 2000
ABSTRACT An elevated and unusual coarse shelly sedimentary unit is found in a pocket embayment at... more ABSTRACT An elevated and unusual coarse shelly sedimentary unit is found in a pocket embayment at Batemans Bay in SE Australia. The sheltered and elevated nature of the deposit along with the coarse sediments, diverse microfauna and large shelly macrofauna of mixed affinity suggest that the deposit is the result of high-energy deposition. The deposit is poorly constrained to approximately 1000 years old and the presence of rock encrusting oyster shells and large articulated bivalves in the coarse shelly unit is particularly noteworthy. Although this coast experiences frequent large storms with offshore wave heights exceeding 10 m it is unlikely that the shell-rich unit is the result of storm waves as they are significantly attenuated by the offshore bathymetry and rarely exceed 0.1 m at the site. The sedimentology also suggests that the depositional event must be capable of removing and transporting coarse sediments and heavy fauna from a variety of seaward environments and depositing them with little abrasion, something storm waves would not do. The deposit is likely to be the result of large-scale washover by tsunami in the late Holocene and may be coeval with the deposition of the sandsheets described elsewhere that extend over more than 130 km of the coast.
Cretaceous Research, Apr 1, 1994
ABSTRACT
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Apr 11, 2011
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to test the validity of the curriculum auditing tool Sustain... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to test the validity of the curriculum auditing tool Sustainability Tool for Auditing University Curricula in Higher Education (STAUNCHq), which was designed to audit the education for sustainability and global citizenship content of higher education curricula. The Welsh Assembly Government aspires to incorporate sustainability across all sectors and required an audit of all higher education curricula within Wales. The paper also discusses responses to the auditing process, findings at an institutional and national level and proposes recommendations for improvements. Design/methodology/approach-The University of Wales, Newport, provides the case study to test the validity of the STAUNCHq software. Findings-The quality and effectiveness of the curriculum content was not identified by the audit. The audit identified what the curriculum offered but did not necessarily reflect that studied by students. Modules offered on more than one course were awarded credit within the "cross-cutting" criteria of the audit and this distorted the final results. The audit enabled curriculum managers to identify programmes of study which exhibited strengths and limitations in this area. Utilising a common auditing tool across the Welsh higher education sector allows for future developments to be collective and collaborative. Practical implications-A general consensus of opinion from a network of Welsh higher education institutions regarding any future use of this auditing tool is currently one of uncertainty as far as any validity the tool may bring to driving the sustainability agenda forward. Alterations to the STAUNCHq software and auditing process are proposed if possible future audits are to be more effective. Nevertheless, within a relatively short time span education for sustainable development and global citizenship within Welsh higher education is gaining momentum. Amendments have been made to university documentation, staff-training initiatives developed and the potential impact of curriculum development in this area is beginning to be realised. Originality/value-This paper discusses the application of a new sustainability curriculum-auditing tool and the validity of the tool in progressing sustainability within the higher education sector.
The Welsh History Review, Dec 1, 2021
Jesus College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, was founded in 1571 by Elizabet... more Jesus College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, was founded in 1571 by Elizabeth I. The college has benefitted from parish patronages, with the right of advowsons, which have assisted the college's development. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the college held twenty such advowsons, including a relationship with Llandysul parish in Ceredigion (Cardiganshire) that was established in 1680 and survived until 1944. This study uses the college archive to provide an initial investigation into the historical connections before and since 1680, so raising awareness of the historical link with Llandysul and providing a framework for future research.
Sedimentology, Apr 1, 1995
The extent of quartz cementation in shallow marine sandstones of the Brora Arenaceous Formation (... more The extent of quartz cementation in shallow marine sandstones of the Brora Arenaceous Formation (Oxfordian) is closely related to the occurrence and abundance of Rhaxella perforata sponge spicules. Three cement morphologies are identified, chalcedonic quartz, microquartz and mesoquartz. Chalcedonic quartz forms matrix-supported cements which preserve moulds of Rhaxella spicules. Chalcedonic quartz crystals have inequant development of crystal faces, on average 0.1 pm in diameter, and are the first formed cement and reveal homogeneous dark grey tones on the SEM-CLIBEI. Microquartz forms 5-10 pm diameter crystals, which commonly grow on chalcedonic quartz substrates and show various grey tones under SEM-CLIBEI. Mesoquartz crystals grow in optical continuity with their host grains, have >20 pm a-axial diameter crystals, and exhibit distinctly zoned luminescence. Although no opaline silica is preserved, the quartz cement is interpreted to have formed from an opaline precursor. Detrital quartz has an average 6 ' * 0 composition of + 12.2%0 and mesoquartz (syntaxial overgrowth) has an average 6I8O composition of + 20.0%0. Estimates of the 6I8O compositions of microquartz and chalcedonic quartz are complicated by the problem of isolating the two textural types; mixtures of the two give consistently higher 6 ' * 0 compositions than mesoquartz, the higher estimate being +39.2%~. From oxygen isotope data the formation of quartz, microquartz and chalcedonic quartz is interpreted to have taken place between 35 and 71°C in marine derived pore waters. Organic and inorganic maturation data constrain the upper temperature limit to less than 60°C.
I am very pleased that my textbook Coastal Systems is currently listed as a resource on the Cambr... more I am very pleased that my textbook Coastal Systems is currently listed as a resource on the Cambridge International website to support learners studying AS & A Level Geography 9696. ‘Coastal environments’ is one of the Advanced Physical Geography Options (Topic 8) available to learners. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, I have produced this short guide to online learning resources to assist teachers and learners in continuing to teach and learn about coastal environments.
In addition to the Coastal Systems textbook, which I assume is available online to learners through their institutional libraries as an e-book, I have also made around 50 videos to accompany the textbook which are freely available through my YouTube Channel.
To assist teachers and learners I have mapped the current Cambridge International AS & A Level Geography 9696 Syllabus and Learner Guide to the Coastal Systems resources including suggested reading in the Coastal Systems textbook and links to suggested videos that might be relevant to specific topics. I hope that both teachers and learners might find this useful.
Climate change issues in sustainable development span many spaces and scales, from individual hom... more Climate change issues in sustainable development span many spaces and scales, from individual homes through to local communities, regions and nations beyond, and requiring of students to appreciate these diverse contexts is challenging. Google Earth is a software package that may be downloaded free of charge from the internet and provides continuous global satellite imagery. It has the potential to offer opportunities for educators to embed world sustainability themes within the curricula of almost any subject. This e-publication provides a case study that employs Google Earth in examining climate change impacts and sustainable development issues in North Africa.
Wales Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 2018
Haslett, S. K., & Usei, C. B. (eds), 2018. Wales Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Educa... more Haslett, S. K., & Usei, C. B. (eds), 2018. Wales Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Volume 1, Number 1, 1-80pp.
Wales Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 2019
Haslett, S. K., & Usei, C. B. (eds), 2019. Wales Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Educa... more Haslett, S. K., & Usei, C. B. (eds), 2019. Wales Journal of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Volume 1, Number 2, 81-166 pp.
Bath Spa University College Occasional Papers in Geography, 2002
The rocks that occur around Usk in central Monmouthshire were deposited in a shallow sea during t... more The rocks that occur around Usk in central Monmouthshire were deposited in a shallow sea during the Silurian geological period just over 400 million years ago. The fossils that are found within these rocks are famous for their diversity and preservation, and this booklet acts as an introductory guide. Alfred Russell Wallace, who developed the theory of evolution alongside Charles Darwin, was born in Usk in 1823 and, although he moved away at 5 years old, it is possible that the fossils of Usk sowed a seed from which his later works grew. Simon Haslett is Professor of Physical Geography and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wales. In 1988, as a student, he undertook an undergraduate geology mapping project on the Usk inlier and made notes to assist him in identifying the fossils he found. This previously unpublished booklet shares those notes along with photographs and line drawings.
'Somerset Landscapes' investigates and explains the evolution of the beautiful landscape of the E... more 'Somerset Landscapes' investigates and explains the evolution of the beautiful landscape of the English county of Somerset. It is illustrated with the authors photographs and line diagrams. It is aimed at the interested lay-reader, School and University/College students studying Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, and also of interest in Archaeology and History.
Somerset Landscapes investigates and explains the evolution of the beautiful landscape of the Eng... more Somerset Landscapes investigates and explains the evolution of the beautiful landscape of the English county of Somerset. It is illustrated with the authors photographs and line diagrams. It is aimed at the interested lay-reader, School and University/College students studying Geography, Geology, Environmental Science, and also of interest in Archaeology and History.
Following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 2011, and the impact on nuclear power faci... more Following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 2011, and the impact on nuclear power facilities, coastal communities around the world are re-evaluating the potential risk from tsunami hazard. Although the coastline of Britain has experienced few large tsunami some have occurred, such as tsunami generated by the prehistoric Storegga submarine slide and the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Also, in southwest Britain, a flood in 1607 inundated lowlands along 540km of the Bristol Channel and the Severn Estuary coast, killing approximately 2000 people and causing much damage. The source of the 1607 flood is disputed, being caused either by a storm surge or tsunami. Evidence for two earthquakes in 1607 is presented here for the first time, suggesting this was a seismically active period. This has relevance for future planning of nuclear power facilities in the Bristol Channel, which is currently the location of the Hinkley, Oldbury, and (now decommissioned) Berkeley nuclear power stations.
The coast represents the crossroads between the oceans, land and atmosphere, and all three contri... more The coast represents the crossroads between the oceans, land and atmosphere, and all three contribute to the physical and ecological evolution of coastlines. Coasts are dynamic systems, with identifiable inputs and outputs of energy and material. Changes to input force coasts to respond, often in dramatic ways as attested by the impacts of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the landfall of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast of the USA in 2005, and the steady rise of global warming driven sea-level. More than half the world’s human population lives at the coast, and here people often come into conflict with natural coastal processes. Research continues to unravel the relationship between coastal processes and society, so that we may better appreciate, understand, manage and live safely within this unique global environment.
Coastal Systems offers a concise introduction to the processes, landforms, ecosystems and management of this important global environment. New to the second edition is a greater emphasis on the role of high-energy events, such as storms and tsunamis, which have manifested themselves with catastrophic effects in recent years. There is also a new concluding chapter, and updated guides to the ever-growing coastal literature. Each chapter is illustrated and furnished with topical case studies from around the world. Introductory chapters establish the importance of coasts, and explain how they are studied within a systems framework. Subsequent chapters explore the role of waves, tides, rivers and sea-level change in coastal evolution.
Students will benefit from summary points, themed boxes, engaging discussion questions and new graded annotated guides to further reading at the end of each chapter. Additionally, a comprehensive glossary of technical terms and an extensive bibliography are provided. The book is highly illustrated with diagrams and original plates. The comprehensive balance of illustrations and academic thought provides a well balanced view between the role of coastal catastrophes and gradual processes, also examining the impact humans and society have and continue to have on the coastal environment.
Linking Research and Teaching in Higher Education constitutes the proceedings of the Newport NEXU... more Linking Research and Teaching in Higher Education constitutes the proceedings of the Newport NEXUS Conference 2009. The Conference explores the interface between research and teaching in Higher Education, comprising themed Symposia and Keynote presentations that address ways in which subject-based research may be linked to student learning (research-teaching nexus), and examine the pedagogic research that promotes and develops research-informed teaching. Linking research and teaching in HE includes 20 full papers and a further 43 abstracts. It will be of the interest to HE lecturers, researches, managers, administrators, support staff and postgraduate and undergraduate students.
The Regeneration and Learning Conference 2008 provided academics, professionals, and practitioner... more The Regeneration and Learning Conference 2008 provided academics, professionals, and practitioners working in related fields, with the opportunity to come together and learn from each other, acknowledging the diversity and cross disciplinary nature of the regeneration agenda. Held at the Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport, South Wales, the home of the 2010 Ryder Cup, the core focus of the conference aimed to discuss the role of Higher Education in the regeneration agenda, and how Higher Education could further define that role appropriately with a range of public, private and volunteer groups to facilitate appropriate training, skills, education and entrepreneurship.
Regeneration and Learning includes six essays and papers from international authors and a further 25 abstracts. It will be of interest to Higher Education lecturers, professionals and practitioners, researchers, managers, administrators, support staff, and postgraduate and undergraduate students.
Focusing on lifelong learning, using education as a tool for regeneration, building social capital and cohesion through regeneration and examination of sustainable regeneration and education, our goal was to disseminate our own practice and also provide academics, professionals and practitioners working in related fields with the opportunity to come together and learn from each other, acknowledging the diversity and cross-disciplinary nature of the regeneration agenda, and exchange good practice, knowledge and experience.
The Mendip Hills are an Area of Outstanding Beauty and rightly so – a jewel in the crown of the S... more The Mendip Hills are an Area of Outstanding Beauty and rightly so – a jewel in the crown of the Somerset landscape. The geology of the Mendips gives a good insight into the dynamics of the earth, with tectonic folding and volcanic activity, and also the nature of past tropical sea environments as indicated by fossils in the rocks. Also, climatic extremes of later geological episodes are evident from lithified desert sands to deposits laid down in the cold conditions of the ice age. The Mendip Hills also boast some internationally famous landforms. In this article, Professor Simon Haslett (University of Wales) leads us through geological time with reference to three sites; Black Down, Maesbury Castle and Shute Shelve Hill. He also explains how geological hillslope processes occur, what alluvial cones are, and what causes Mendip streams to occasionally turn milky white. The article is illustrated by line drawings, tables and plates.
The Somerset Landscapes Series is a collection of articles extracted from Professor Haslett's book of the same name. The Series provides an introduction to many of the famous landscapes of Somerset, including the Mendip Hills, the Quantocks, the Chew, Axe and Yeo Valley’s, Cadbury Castle, Pennard, Ham and Dundry Hills, Ebbor and Avon Gorges, Burrington and Blagdon Coombes, Porlock, Brean Down, and the coasts of the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. Simon Haslett is Professor of Physical Geography and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wales.
Professor Simon Haslett (University of Wales) looks at the processes that create landscapes, proc... more Professor Simon Haslett (University of Wales) looks at the processes that create landscapes, processes that work within and on the surface of earth, and provides an overview of how these have helped to create the beautiful and scenic landscape of the county of Somerset in south west England. He also explores the fascinating geological history of Somerset, travelling through times when tropical seas covered the county to times when upheavals in the earth created mountains whose remnants still remain. Illustrated by line drawings, tables and a plate, this article gives an general introduction to the landscapes and geology of Somerset.
The Somerset Landscapes Series is a collection of short articles extracted from Professor Haslett's book of the same name. The Series provides an introduction to many of the famous landscapes of Somerset, including the Mendip Hills, the Quantocks, the Chew, Axe and Yeo Valley’s, Cadbury Castle, Pennard, Ham and Dundry Hills, Ebbor and Avon Gorges, Burrington and Blagdon Coombes, Porlock, Brean Down, and the coasts of the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. Simon Haslett is Professor of Physical Geography and Dean of the School of STEM at the University of Wales.
Reconstructing changes in the environment which have occurred over recent geological time is fund... more Reconstructing changes in the environment which have occurred over recent geological time is fundamental in placing the modern environment into context and in shaping predictions for the future. Records of past environmental changes can be found in a range of natural archives, such as ice sheets, coral reefs, sedimentary sequences and fossils, all of which can make vital contributions to studies of contemporary global environmental issues, such as climate and sea-level change, acidification and water pollution. The specific focus of this book is on the use of microfossils in the reconstruction of palaeoenvironments.
Each chapter of Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology deals with a different microfossil group, thus covering a wide range of environments including the marine realm, estuaries, freshwater rivers and lakes, and the terrestrial zones. The emphasis throughout is on explaining the environmental applications of the analysis of microfossils, although each contribution also provides annotated guides to further reading for those wishing to pursue topics such as taxonomy, classification and evolution. Additional useful features for students include chapter summaries, highlighted key words, international examples and case studies and an Appendix of statistical techniques. The book is also extensively illustrated with figures and photographs.
This book will be an invaluable guide for students of geography, geology, oceanography, environmental archaeology and environmental science.
Malaysian National Physics Conference (Persidangan Fizik Kebangsaan, PERFIK) 2021, Jun 30, 2021
Storm waves and tsunamis have been responsible for the movement and deposition of boulders locate... more Storm waves and tsunamis have been responsible for the movement and deposition of boulders located near or at a shore. Nott [1,2] proposed a set of formulas to calculate the minimum incident wave velocities required to dislodge cuboid-shaped boulders. These formulas depend on boulder properties, local terrain, water wave parameters and mechanism of dislodgement. Further, Nott proposed a formula to compute the wave height corresponding to the wave velocity, and including a parameter depending on whether the wave arose from a storm or a tsunami. The dislodgement formulas have been improved and extended (cf. Haslett and Wong [3], Nandasena [4]) and references therein) to include additional boulder configurations. Recently, Nott’s approach to inferring wave height and wave type has been criticised. This work is a preliminary study to link boulder- and wave-parameters to a Froude number which might be useful as an alternative approach to deciding between storm waves and tsunami waves as a cause of boulder displacement.
Celebrating the Welsh College, 2021
The flood of 1607 was the worst natural disaster ever recorded in the British Isles. The flood af... more The flood of 1607 was the worst natural disaster ever recorded in the British Isles. The flood affected most of the South Wales coast from Carmarthenshire in the west to Monmouthshire in the east. On the other side of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary, parts of Southwest England were also severely affected stretching from North Devon, through to Somerset and Gloucestershire, which together with South Wales amounts to 570 km of coastline. The coastal population was devastated with at least 2000 fatalities according to one of the contemporary sources. In some parts of the coast the population never recovered from the social and economic disaster. But what caused the flood? This seminar looks at historical documentary and geographical fieldwork evidence collected by Professor Simon Haslett and co-workers in proposing that the 1607 flood may have been due to a tsunami.
Doctoral Network and Advisory Seminar, Hong Kong Management Association, 2021
Publications are an important aspect of the work of an academic; remaining the principal vehicle ... more Publications are an important aspect of the work of an academic; remaining the principal vehicle through which research is reported, opinions aired, reviews undertaken, and knowledge transferred, and writing is also a useful learning exercise. For many, it also underpins teaching and curricula, means greater success in research grant applications, and a good publication track record is still seen by many institutions as a key recruitment and promotion criteria. Yet traditionally how to get your work published has not been taught, but learnt through trial and error, mainly from rejection by journal editors. This seminar is aimed at inexperienced academic authors and explores and discusses the issues surrounding the strategy and publication of academic work, and addresses some of the myths and barriers that might discourage would-be authors after the research and writing process is complete.