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The Silent One

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A couple of days ago a storm system showed up mid-Atlantic, with winds hitting Force 11 (Violent Storm) and open ocean waves sending the wave buoys up to around the 30ft mark.


The main thing about this storm was that no-one really noticed it. Perhaps due to the brilliant sunshine and blue skies that arrived at the same time, the lack of a grey canopy and squally rain making folk unaware of the stormy seas nearby.  There were few reports on the radio or TV, no warnings about walking on the beach, or storm watching. All was silent. So I thought I might get a sneaky wave at Sennen.

Cornish Fireworks at Sennen
The swell was too big to surf though, with waves bursting over the cliffs in a fifty mile an hour SW breeze, watched only by a handful of dog walkers and locals.

Longships in a cloak of spray
So I returned to the south coast, where the recent storms have uncovered remnants of a forest, believed to have covered the entirety of Mount's Bay about 5,000 years ago, when sea levels were obviously a lot lower.

Uncovered in front of the promenade
Artistic shapes in the bay



Stumps, roots and whole logs are visible at low tide
In a lot of the wood sections large holes have been drilled into the ends. This is most likely the activity of the Teredo Beetle, or perhaps the Gribble Worm, the scourge of wooden sailing ships and one reason better ships put copper over the woodwork that was below sea level, making them impervious to attack.  Hence the term 'copper bottomed' to describe a solid investment that wouldn't sink.


Teredo action
The log in the shot above however, seems to have been cut across with a saw, not an implement that was around 5,000 years ago, so perhaps there's another story residing in these decidedly artistic aquatic sculptures.

There's a proper storm hitting today, 75mph winds, 25ft seas, this time including grey skies and rain, so you know it's a storm.  Wonder what will be uncovered this time?
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Comments

  1. Tony Plant28 February 2014 at 00:34

    loving this Mike, a storm report that includes reference to the Gribble Worm just has to be worth reading, stay funky, t x

    ReplyDelete
  2. foreveryoung28 February 2014 at 00:53

    Everyone should know about the Gribble Worm to complete their education! x

    ReplyDelete

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