Some Aspects of the Pleistocene Succession in Areas Adjoining the English Channel

Abstract

Middle and Upper Pleistocene sea level and climatic successions for the shores of the English Channel are proposed. The sequence is based on the examination of an area of fluvial deposition in south Hampshire and an area of marine, colluvial and aeolian deposition in the Channel Islands.

Five main conclusions are proposed: I, the terrace gravels of south. Hampshire are entirely of fluvial origin and were deposited by the Pleistocene River Solent, These terraces are of end interglacial age and were formed by the large discharges associated with cooling climates, but before glacio-eustatic effects caused sea level to fall greatly from the interglacial level; II, the Hoxnian interglacial sea level was around 100 ft. (30 m.) 0.D. not at the much lower levels previously suggested on the basis of evidence from the coasts of the Western Channel; III, an episode of high sea level at around 60 ft. (18 m.) O.D. is dated to a period within the Wolstonian glaciation. It is suggested that this episode may be the "Ilfordian" interglacial tentatively identified in the valley of the lower Thames; IV, the low level rock platforms of the Channel coasts are the result of erosion at several stages of the Middle and Upper Pleistocene; V, the presence of glacial ice in the English Channel at any stage of the Pleistocene is discounted.

Correlations and parallels with the Pleistocene sequences of other areas of Britain are suggested.