Professor John Tellam BSc, MSc, PhD, FGS

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Professor of Hydrogeology

Contact details

Telephone: +44 (0)121 41 46138
Fax: +44 (0)121 41 44942
Email: j.h.tellam@bham.ac.uk

Address: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

John Tellam’s main research interests are in inorganic, surface-interacting, solute and particle transport in groundwaters, with a particular emphasis on sandstone aquifers.

Qualifications

BSc in Geological Sciences, University of Southampton
MSc in Hydrogeology, University of Birmingham
PhD in Groundwater Chemistry, University of Birmingham

Teaching

BSc taught modules, year 3 &4: Pollution Hydrogeology; Engineering Geology; Natural Hazards (part)
MSc Hydrogeology Course taught modules: Hydraulic Properties (part); Inorganic Chemistry and Groundwater; Hydrogeophysics; Water Resources Studies (part)
MSc Hydrogeology Course tutor; senior MSc Course tutor and Research Ethics Coordinator for GEES; Fieldwork Safety Coordinator for Earth Sciences.

Postgraduate supervision

John Tellam’s current research interests focus on the quantification of surface-reacting solute transport and inorganic nanoparticle movement in ground waters. This work involves laboratory and field experimentation and modelling. Within the Water Sciences group, there are extensive facilities for this type of research, including an on-campus research borehole array.

Professor Tellam's most recent research projects have centred on: virus movement in ground waters; nanoparticle movement in ground waters; and applications of biogeochemistry in nuclear waste disposal. PhD and PDRA research has recently included work on: characterising surface properties of rocks; examining particle-virus interactions; quantifying correlations between hydraulic properties geochemical properties, and lithofacies; quantifying ion exchange reactions; and developing new methods for borehole logging interpretations. Professor Tellam has supervised nearly 50 doctoral researchers in a wide range of groundwater subjects, and is always keen to consider new applications.

Other activities

Member of the Council of the Geological Society of London, and member of the Society’s Science and Election Committees.
Member of the EPSRC review college.
Member of the Steering Committee, UK Groundwater Forum.
External examiner to the MSc Course in Environmental Hydrogeology at Cardiff University.
Guest lecturer on the MSc Course in Hydrogeology and Environmental Geoscience, Göttingen University, Germany.

Publications

Recent publications

Book

Tellam, J 2011, Manufactured Nanoparticles: A New Threat to the Security of Some Groundwater Supplies? Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1143-3_16

Article

Rivett, MO, Roche, RS, Tellam, JH & Herbert, AW 2019, 'WITHDRAWN: Increased organic contaminant residence times in the urban riverbed due to the presence of highly sorbing sediments of the Anthropocene', Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.01.008

Rau, GC, Halloran, LJS, Cuthbert, MO, Andersen, MS, Acworth, RI & Tellam, JH 2017, 'Characterising the dynamics of surface water-groundwater interactions in intermittent and ephemeral streams using streambed thermal signatures', Advances in Water Resources, vol. 107, pp. 354-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.07.005

Rivett, M & Tellam, J 2015, 'Heterogeneous hyporheic zone dechlorination of a TCE groundwater plume discharging to an urban river reach', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 505, pp. 236-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.09.083

Pandey, SC, Pollard, AM, Viles, HA & Tellam, J 2014, 'Influence of ion exchange processes on salt transport and distribution in historic sandstone buildings', Applied Geochemistry, vol. 48, pp. 176-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2014.07.001

Mcmillan, LA, Rivett, MO, Tellam, JH, Dumble, P & Sharp, H 2014, 'Influence of vertical flows in wells on groundwater sampling', Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, vol. 169, pp. 50–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2014.05.005

Greswell, R, Durand, V, Aller, M, Riley, MS & Tellam, J 2013, 'A method for conducting simultaneous convergent tracer tests in multilayered aquifers', Ground Water. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12101

Riley, M, Tellam, J, Greswell, R, Durand, V & Aller, MF 2011, 'Convergent tracer tests in multilayered aquifers: The importance of vertical flow in the injection borehole', Water Resources Research, vol. 47, pp. W07501. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR009838

Bashar, K & Tellam, J 2011, 'Sandstones of unexpectedly high diffusibility', Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, vol. 122, pp. 40-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2010.11.001

Furlong, BV, Riley, M, Herbert, A, Ingram, JA, Mackay, R & Tellam, J 2011, 'Using regional groundwater flow models for prediction of regional wellwater quality distributions', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 398, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.11.022

Greswell, R, Rahman, SH, Cuthbert, M & Tellam, J 2010, 'An inexpensive flow-through laser nephelometer for the detection of natural colloids and manufactured nanoparticles', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 388, no. 1-2, pp. 112-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.04.033

Chapter

Pokrajac, D, Howard, KWF, Tellam, J & Howard, KWF 2010, Challenges in urban groundwater modeling as an introduction to UGROW. in Advanced Simulation and Modelling for Groundwater Management - UGROW. UNESCO-IHP Report, Urban Water Series, 7.

Paper

Tellam, J, Greswell, R, Riley, M, Rahman, SH, Schirmer, M, Hoehn, E & Vogt, T 2011, 'Manufactured nanoparticle movement in the groundwaters of a redbed sandstone: laboratory experiments and field observations', Paper presented at 7th International Groundwater Quality Conference, Jun 13-18, 2010. Zurich, Switzerland, 1/01/11.

Rivett, M, Cuthbert, M, Mackay, R, Durand, V, Aller, MF, Tellam, J, Greswell, R & Roche, R 2011, 'Natural attenuation potential of the urban hyporheic zone: observations form research sites on the River Tame, Birmingham, UK', Paper presented at European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly. Geophysical Research Abstracts, EGU2011-9838, 1/01/11.

Cuthbert, M, Thatcher, K, Tellam, J & Mackay, R 2010, 'A semi-analytical model for estimating groundwater recharge through fractured till', Paper presented at Proceedings of the XXXVIII IAH Congress on Groundwater Quality Sustainability, Krakow, 12-17 September 2010, 1/01/10.

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