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Effect of an oak tree on seasonal ground movements in the Lower Lias Clay, Bristol, UK

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Abstract

Changes in ground elevation were monitored between 1990 and 1997 at depths of 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 m and distances of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 50 m from a mature oak tree on the Lias Clay of Lower Jurassic age. Whilst movement was evident at all monitoring points, it was most pronounced within 5 m of the tree where in 1995 a maximum seasonal difference of 63 mm was recorded at 0.4 m depth, compared with only 14 mm at the same depth but 10 m from the tree. The influence of the tree on the geotechnical properties of the Liassic clays is reported.

Résumé

Des modifications de cote des terrains ont t mesures entre 1990 et 1997 des profondeurs de 0,4m, 0,8m, 1,2m et 1,6m et des distances de 1m, 2,5m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m et 50m d’un chne adulte enracin sur les argiles du Lias, d’ge jurassique infrieur. Alors que le mouvement tait vident pour tous les points de mesure, il tait le plus prononc des distances de l’arbre infrieures 5m o une diffrence saisonnire de mouvement de 63mm a t enregistre 0,4m de profondeur en 1995, comparer avec seulement 14mm la mme profondeur mais une distance de 10m de l’arbre. L’influence de l’arbre sur les proprits gotechniques des argiles liasiques est souligne.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Bristol Water for permission to set up the field experiment on their land and Marcus Hawkins for drawing the figures.

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Correspondence to A. B. Hawkins.

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Fisher, A., Hawkins, A.B. Effect of an oak tree on seasonal ground movements in the Lower Lias Clay, Bristol, UK. Bull Eng Geol Environ 71, 37–50 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0407-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0407-2

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