Chasing the Silver Dragon

The Tewkesbury based Severn Unit finished their Winter programme at the end of March when they welcomed Professor Sir Michael Berry FRS as their guest speaker.

His talk, “Chasing the Silver Dragon”, was largely about the Severn Bore which can be seen on the tidal reaches of the River Severn as far north as Gloucester and beyond.

It’s formed when the rising tide moves into the funnel-shaped Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary with the surging water forced upstream in a series of waves.
The Severn has the second-highest tide in the world which can be a dramatic phenomenon as the river flows backwards.

HOU Nic Price said, “We had a most memorable and interesting evening, as we train up and down the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel.

This was a chance to learn about the Severn Bore and the gravitational effects of the moon and tide was of particular interest to us.

Pictured: Sir Michael Berry with members of Severn Unit