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NEW RESEARCH SHOWS that storm waves in 2013 and 2014 along the west coast of Ireland were strong enough to move boulders – and deposit new ones on the top of a cliff.
In a new paper in Earth Science Reviews, researchers from Williams College in the US show that the storms shifted smaller boulders as high as 26 metres above high water and 222 metres inland.
Many of the boulders moved were heavier than 100 tons, and the largest moved was 620 tons – the equivalent of six blue whales or four single-storey houses.
They say that it was previously assumed that only tsunamis could move boulders of the size seen displaced in Ireland. But their work provides direct evidence that storm waves can do this kind of work.
The researchers say the work is important as according to the UN, about 40% of the world’s population live in coastal areas (within 100 metres of the sea), so millions of people are at risk from storms.
Understanding how those waves behave, and how powerful they can be, is key for preparation. It is therefore important to know the upper limits of storm wave energy, even in areas where these kinds of extreme wave energies are not expected.
“The effect of the storms of winter 2013-14 was dramatic,” said Dr Rónadh Cox, Professor and Chair of Geosciences at Williams College and lead author of the study.
“We had been studying these sites for a number of years, and realised that this was an opportunity to measure the coastal response to very large storm events.”
So in the summer after the storms, Professor Cox and a team of seven undergraduate students from Williams College surveyed 100 sites in western Ireland, documenting with photos the displacement of 1,153 boulders.
They measured the dimensions and calculated the mass of each boulder.
As they knew where 374 of the boulders had come from, for these they also documented the distance travelled.
The largest boulder, at 237-239 m3 was an estimated 620 tons; the second biggest, at 180-185 m3, was about 475 tons. These giant rocks were close to sea level (although above the high tide mark). At higher elevations, and at greater distances inland, smaller boulders moved upwards and inland.
The boulders are usually created quite near to where they are deposited.
Thus boulder creation generally happens quite close to the site of deposition, so although clasts are deposited in many cases quite far inland and well above the high water mark, net transport distances are often not that large.
Previous studies seemed to indicate that storm waves couldn’t move or deposit boulders that large or too high above sea level. But this research shows that this isn’t always the case.
Their analysis showed that the waves had most power at lower elevations and closer to the shore. They say that while this may not be surprising, “the sheer energy of the waves and their ability to move such large boulders was – and this evidence proves that not only tsunami but also storm waves can move such large objects”.
Cox added: “Now that we know what storm waves are capable of, we have much more information for policy makers who are responsible for preparing coastal communities for the impact of high-energy storms.”
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This can’t be much comfort to affected mortgage holders.
Remember being told bankers salaries in state owned banks would be capped.. Then finding out this was not being enforced.
Then that waster Noonan comes out and does nothing more than ask politely for caps to be adhered to…
Let them cop on a small bit and pay back their mortgages. Too much “can’t afford it” but out socialising at the weekend, still driving big cars and no respect for the common folk that have to bail them out.
Pay up or get out
Mike Murphy, I like your pose. You look just like you are about to have a massive bowel movement with excitement.
Ah ,Peter , be nice to him , he’s just set up a face book account ,so that he can troll ..That’s probably a flattering photo of him ..
Thomas, true. A sad case.
Thomas and Peter – 2 more Burdens to society that spent more than ye can afford and don’t like having to drop the high life and pay it back.
Feel free to mock me and my weight and health issues but I’m not ROBBING anyone..
The banks and bondholders were bailed out. The Euro 6 billion paid to the banks to sort the mortgage debt problem was used to boost the banks balance sheet.
It is important to know who was bailed out and who was not.
Not mocking you at all ,Mike (ahem)
I have a fantastic job in the public health services , job for life , and very soon I’ll be getting a lump sum = 1 1/2 times my final salary and will cash in my two pensions .. So I’m not robbing anyone ..life is great !
Cash in your two pensions… You sound like you need that alright – Whole other discussion but I’d be careful when I say “not robbing anyone”…
I’m wondering what the love child of Michael Noonan and Margaret Thatcher might look and sound like.
I’ve no need to be careful !
I’s am a proud freeloader ..lol I’s will milk those cows for all it’s worth..lol Mr Bank manager ,how’s are youse today ..lol I’s have € 100 for mortgage this month , youse are lucky ..lol let’s sit down and play a game of poker ..lol we’ll play with real money ..lol youse heard of securitisation ..lol it’s Ponzi with a triple a+ ..lol
Anyone that tries to take my cosy home will get the business end of Bertha. Everyone suffers but the people who caused it still roll in the big bucks. You couldn’t write this crap. Sorry, that Shatter chapie could.
I’m probably paying for it…
Good!
Your money goes along way so.
AIB = Absolutely Incredible Bargains !
What a joke if a tenant doesn’t pay their rent they’re evicted and rightly so.
So why does it make a diiference if you have a mortgage,you don’t own the property until the mortgage is paid off.
Roll on the repossesions
Well Said!! Roll on!
Roll on deals!
Some balls on you to call on ‘roll on repositions’ like that.You really need to get your head out of your ass,snort out the shite and go back to junior infants..
Thanks Enda ..lol
Well said Jeremy I hate mortgage holders who don’t pay their mortgages and ones who cant they’re sc#@of the earth,god bless all the renters who work hard pay PAYE pay rent to landlords every month and have to listen to this crap,mainland Europe sort out the Irish pleaseeeeeeeee
I’s thought that I’s spoke poorly , lol I’s cannot understand yours, Declan ..lol I hates I hates can’y mortgage holders ..lol
Mike and Jeremy, I have a barrel for each of you. Feel free to invade my property and attempt to tuft me out. Bertha shall let blaze with both barrels. I applaud anyone who opposes these parasitic bankers.
There was a time when Irish tenant farmers fought for their farms and ultimately won.
One should feel solidarity with our fellow citizens and no respect for foreign vultures.
Peter ,Peter ,,lols ..youse are playing with fire ..lol youse would take these boys down with your knowledge of the system ..lol youse took out the loan youse must pay it back ..lol blah blah blah ..Oggie doesn’t care about the banks ,or the trolls ,or the ones that aren’t ..lol I’s have paid my dues ..lol I’s am logging off now, ‘cos my fingers are tired and my brain needs to slow down ..lol wife no1 will help me now ..lol
Ahhhhhhh now I understand peter Michael davitt and the land wars
The Land League which led to reforming legislation, starting with Gladstone in the 19th Century. .
Some have values and interests which coincide with those of the Bankers and speculators. My identification is with unfortunate persons on reduced incomes who can no longer afford to repay exorbitant mortgages on previously priced homes. Where will all of these dispossessed people go?
I have 2 years to go on an affordable mortgage on an affordable home but my heart and support goes out to those who through no fault of their own were ripped off to enrich greedy bankers and reckless developers.
Too right Jeremy, I note that the trollers with serious debts are in the ‘denial’ phase and are getting more vocal and more desperate on here!!
The more repossessed houses the better, man things are getting better, more repossessed houses on the market than ever before. Plus I just got promoted with 10% payrise and more stocks, to add to my 6 figure deposit. I might even buy Dexters house and pinch his bum on his way out!
Ahhhhhh Gladstone and the 19th century,welcome to the 21st peter,your trolling,where should the dispossessed go ehhhhhhh TO HELL OR TO CONNAUGHT :))))))
Declan, the use of odd emphasis refelects your cognitive deficit and your inability to thing about the true cause of the mortgage impairment in crisis. You will observe how I managed to convey my view without use of parenthesis and letter repetition.
You must have got prescribed less ..
The likes of Dave end up in Connaught , as they couldn’t afford to buy in Dublin ..
Hey Thomas, I can buy up to e350k, and if I get my partner involved, I can go up to about e500k. I can easily afford in Dublin. It’s overpriced though because of the freeloaders not paying mortgages.
You wouldn’t understand, you live in the sticks, and are a bit stupid. haha
Youse should have given the mortgage holders a chance to bid on their loan ..lol but this is not the way to do business ..lol here youse go buyers , youse can have my mortgage for 40c in the pound ..lol but we all happy now , lol sold down the swanny ..lol
Those in Nama will and have bought back their loans at a greatly discounted rate. And they can claim loses to offset their tax bill.
With FG/Labour the little man get nothing. That is an immutable law.
You have sized Ireland up very well Oggie3rd.
There you have it
The “Special” Liquidators solemn word.
“What more do you want guys??”
“A man’s word is his bond”
The “Special” Liquidator AKA the one and only KPMG
The same KPMG that gave Irish Nationwide (now part of IBRC) a clean bill of health when it was bust.
Would you not say that there was just a tad bit of a conflict of interest here??
I wonder how much KPMG are getting paid to administer this travesty???
“Champers tonight boys” Ehh??
“Scoff”
“Scoff”
“Oink”
“Oink”
Nonnan said they are protected, they might as well move now because once you here that you know you truly truly fcuked
Lm
Free Education meant you had all the opportunity in the world to stare out the window all day…….every day!
Hows the form,Dave ?
Space after the ,
Not in Cork,boi !
Good to see you back Ritchie, what can you say about them lying lowlifes in FG, they are lower than a snakes belly, and you look up to them, it shows how low you are,
PS I did not avail of the free education, I went private unlike you,
Dane, Richie, how many stitches did you get the last time you got personal with people
Ahh Thomas, the twit from the west! He thinks I’m everywhere. I’m only in D4, the richest and best part of Ireland.
Lol Thomas I crack up every time I see your lame angry comments. You are such a bogger.
I rent yes, you truly are inferior if you think less of people who rent. What a feeble little man out there in your field, all alone.
Come to Dublin, I’ll pay for your dinner in Fire, get you some nice wine. It’s all good over here.
It only means “regulated by the Central Bank”. I think we all know what a “regulation” is worth and it can be redefined at a whim of the ECB board member who runs the Central Bank but has his duty is first to Frankfurt.
Sad but true.
Well if you dont like Regulation there’s always Bitcoin…
If foreign vultures acquire Irish mortgages secured on the homes of Irish citizens, I know what side I am.
We don’t have to be overly scrupulous about the legal methods deployed to resist vultures who have bought the mortgagee’s interests with their eyes fully open.
Yeah, right. They will be fully protected!
This should indeed be very good news for all Irish Nationwide Building Society Family Home mortgage holders , as the purchasing Groups will most probably be purchasing the mortgages concerned at about a third of the pre- bust values.
This should afford those – especially outside of the immediate Dublin area , an opportunity to refinance the “purchase” of their mortgages back at huge discounts .
The Government , in the meantime , must now ensure availability of “new” mortgages being made available to the existing Family Home Owners !
Why?
So they can mess up again and not pay back what they borrowed?
Wise up Ciarraioch
Jeremy – presumably you have been out of the Country for the past six years while the worse recession in the history of the State has been underway – while almost a half million people have been out of work and while a quarter of a million of our people have emigrated ??
You should wise up and show some respect for people less lucky in life obviously, then you !
Jeremy is an Ironman ..lol
@ciarraioch all the mortgage holders in arrears with plasma TVs sky digital,car in the driveway holidays abroad,lots of kids etc etc dont worry I’ll work extra hours while being taxed up to fu@#in bollix to pay for it,cut out the luxury pay your mortgages and shut up ireland
Well said Declan
No one put a gun to their heads and marched them into the bank to take out a mortgage they couldn’t afford,every decision you make comes with a conseqeunce.
You took out more than you can pay back,tough luck give it back it’s not yours you simply borrowed it.When will these greedy idiots learn its unacceptable to borrow without paying back.
Roll on the Repos i for one will be celebrating i hope you will be too Declan
I’s will never pay back full debt ..lol no way Jose ..lol thanks Jeremy ..lol
I’s have a 42″ plasma , I’s have a car in the driveway , I’s go on a holiday , and I’s have a very nice bank manager , he’s lovely ..lol
I can’t stop laughing @ Ciarraiochs comment
” while the worse recession in the history of the State has been underway ”
Oh yeah,you know it’s hell on earth when someone refuses to pay their mortgage and can still afford holidays,nice cars,fancy tv’s,modest luxuires of the modern world etc.
Oh it’s really bad my heart goes out to them
Youse are learning so much stuff on the Internet ..lol It’s great to see , how youse just learnt this knowledge from Declan ..lol youse really are a quick learner ..lol I’s believe that in a recession , youse must do what youse has to do ..lol I’s tell peoples , don’t be afraid ..lol Jeremy will pay for it ..lol
Banks inveigled people into paying unaffordable prices for sub standard homes fuelled by excessively plentiful credit, promoted by the criminally irresponsible Central Bank of Ireland and the complicit IFSRA.
Look at the causes first.
@ Jeremy.
All the mortgages that the jokebanks sold between the early noughties and the point where they (all bar none) corruptly/criminally bust themselves, were basically of a subprime, built to fail standard.
The culprits not only were allowed to walk freely away from their responsibilities but were handsomely rewarded with money that was basically stolen from their victim’s pockets.
The Irish Bernie Madoffs get kept in clover on their victim’s money, instead of the 150 years in jail that they deserve.
The country has been sentenced to eternal debt slavery by corrupt/criminal elitist sycophants who laugh at you from their perches above the law.
Who really gives a fcuk if anyone pays their mortgage to these toxic jokebanks at this stage?
The veil has been lifted mate.
This is inaccurate. , it’s a Vokubtary agreement to adhere to the code of conduct . This gives no protection . The vulture fund could change their mind. This is a last minute sinister move. Too little too late. Protest tomorrow at. 1pm outside Leinster house
Repossessions need to happen, people not paying their mortgages need to be removed from their proprieties asap, I can’t buy a house because of these boom-time freeloaders.
I’s am going to have great fun ..lol I’s am a freeloader and proud of it ..lol Thank youse for helping me in all the subsidies that I be getting ..lol Mike , youse will be proud of what I get off the system and I’s also do odd jobs at weekends ..lol
Protected but not for long. All those freeloaders will get kicked out of their houses and the likes of me will come in like a vulture and get me some nice property. I will be laughing all the way watching the poor souls having to move to Letrim (or worse, to where Tommy lives) with tears in their eyes. Happy days.
DaveMac, I hope that you are using a touch screen instead of a hard keyboard in view of your splashing.
Here’s some porn for you to jerk off to
DaveMac(s),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXep2SsJlHw
And here’s a guy who will do a nice refurb on your new repo for you DaveyBoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqb6ZIXoX2w
Is there a lot of houses in D4 that are about to be repossessed ? Gee, I was informed by a troll , that all the rich people reside there ?!
Poor old ,Dave , and his pretend money , so sad, missed out in the boom , in the bust , and now the boom , again !!
Great times are here again ..10% in Dublin , so that would probably be another 15-20% in D4 , hahahaha , missed out again ..
Aww little Thomas is getting frustrated at my superiority! Little man.
Of course I missed out in the boom, stupid. Because of that I have 6 figure savings.
I am in the process of looking for a house, price rises are good in my view! are you really that stupid? haha, what a weirdo you are!
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