Some Aspects of the Hydrology of the Thames Basin.

Abstract

The Paper is introduced by a brief history of the earliest records of the flow of the Thames, and of the first systematic recording of the daily discharge at Teddington Weir. The surface catchment area is discussed, and reference is made to the changes that have been taking place in its character, caused by housing and other forms of development. The hydro-geology of the basin is briefly described, and an estimate is made of the true area believed to be contributing to river discharge. The methods of obtaining rainfall statistics are discussed, and the sites of the recording stations are shown on a map. Distribution of rainfall on the catchment area is shown on a map from which mean annual rainfall on the principal geological formations within each tributary was obtained and tabulated. The sites of observation wells are shown, in which the rest-water level in the chalk and oolites is regularly observed. Groundwater is defined and methods of estimating monthly and annual average discharges are described and the results are shown in a number of tables. Direct or storm run-off in relation to rainfall is examined from the data of a large number of floods and lower discharges, with special referentcoe a ntecedent rainfall conditions. The unit hydrograph is discussed and comparison is made between unit hydrographs for Teddington resulting from rainfall of various durations. Long-term averagesa re compared with thosefr om a large numbero f rivers in Great Britain, enabling mean annual losses to be deduced from a table and a graph. Floods on the Thames and tributaries, their history and frequency are referred to, and flood frequencies are shown graphically. Some high flood discharges of a number of tributaries are tabulated, the run-off per unit area given, and comparison made with run-ofaf t Teddington. Dry weather flows are discussed and their frequency for the Thames at Teddington is shown graphically. Comparison is made between dry weather discharges of the principal tributaries and of the Thames.

Examining geological controls on baseflow index (BFI) using regression analysis: An illustration from the Thames Basin, UK

“…The Chalk and Oolite classes have positive coefficients as would be expected of aquifers, while the Diamicton, Thames and Weald Clay classes represent aquitards and have negative coefficients. The Chalk co-efficient is greater than that for the Oolites and this is consistent with the observations of Andrews (1962) that groundwater discharges from the Jurassic Limestones above Days Weir yield water more quickly than the Chalk in the Lower Thames. It is interesting to note that Diamicton is identified as having a significant negative co-efficient in Models 1a and 1b.…”

“…However, there is only one basin-wide study of the relationships between groundwater and surface water in the peer-reviewed literature (Andrews, 1962). Andrews (1962) investigated, at a basin scale, the geological controls on the nature of groundwater discharge to the Thames above Teddington Lock.…”

“…However, there is only one basin-wide study of the relationships between groundwater and surface water in the peer-reviewed literature (Andrews, 1962). Andrews (1962) investigated, at a basin scale, the geological controls on the nature of groundwater discharge to the Thames above Teddington Lock. For example, based on expressions for natural recession of groundwater discharge at Teddington Lock and at Days Weir, Andrews was able to show that the rate of groundwater flow at Days Weir diminishes 1.7 times faster than at Teddington Lock.…”

The Thames flood series: a lack of trend in flood magnitude and a decline in maximum levels

“…The capacity of the Teddington reach in the late nineteenth century is uncertain 265 but Andrews (1962) was applied 6 . 408…”

A long‐term study of stable isotopes as tracers of processes governing water flow and quality in a lowland river basin: the upper Thames, UK

“…The relationship between geology and hydrology across the Thames basin is examined in greater detail by Andrews (1962) and Bloomfield et al (2011).…”