Scientists Solve Mystery of Ireland's Moving Boulders

Hugh Pickens writes "How has a 78-ton boulder traveled 130 meters inland from the sea since 1991? Live Science reports that geologists have puzzled for years over the mysterious boulders that litter the desolate coastline of Ireland's Aran Islands that somehow move on their own when no one is looking. The sizes of the boulders in the formations range 'from merely impressive to mind-bogglingly stupendous,' writes geoscientist Rónadh Cox. While some researchers contend that only a tsunami could push these stones, new research finds that plain old ocean waves, with the help of some strong storms, do the job. Some boulders move inland at an average rate of nearly 3 meters per decade, with one rock moving 3.5 meters vertically and 69 meters horizontally in one year. The team compared modern high-altitude photos of the coastline to a set of meticulous maps from 1839 that identified the location of the boulders' ridges — nearly 100 years after the most recent tsunami to hit the region, which struck in 1755. The Aran cliffs rise nearly vertically out of the Atlantic (video), leaving very deep water close to the shore. As waves slam into the sheer cliff, that water is abruptly deflected back out toward the oncoming waves. This backflow may amplify subsequent waves resulting an occasional storm wave that is much larger than one would expect. 'There's a tendency to attribute the movement of large objects to tsunami,' says Cox. 'We're saying hold the phone. Big boulders are getting moved by storm waves.'"

Comments

Well holy god

[hmmm]

Next thing "science" will probably try and explain moving statues.

Re:Well holy god

[thePig]

My understanding is that they have not solved it, rather they have just suggested a mechanism. They found that even when there are no tsunamis the rocks are moving. They now think that storm waves could be a reason for it. If I understand correctly, they have not done the calculations for it.

So, now we have a hypothesis. Once the calculations and simulations are done, only then we will know for sure. Moving such big rocks means a lot of energy. Especially when it doesnt float. Can a positive feedback loop generate this much energy ? If so, who knows, positive feedback tidal waves could be the next big thing in renewable energy :)

Re:Well holy god

[Troyusrex]

Once the calculations and simulations are done, only then we will know for sure.

I couldn't agree LESS. Simulations don't prove anything. They are just imperfect models of the world to help our understanding. Proof would be to measure a REAL storm wave moving the bolder.

I thought the cause was established years ago

[Grayhand]

I was always told the cause of seeing boulders move in Ireland was Whiskey.

Re:I thought the cause was established years ago

[c0lo]

I was always told the cause of seeing boulders move in Ireland was Whiskey.

Depends... if you see the boulder moving up, 't's Whiskey and you're lying on the ground... if downward, it's stout (and you're taking a leak on the boulder).

Sea aliens??

[dkf]

Why would anyone think that sea aliens would do such a thing, when there are Selkies about?

Re:Wow

[sleiper]

It was a local man that told the US students about how the sea "washed" a 78 tonne boulder up onto the beach. I would suggest the locals knew this happened and just didn't care or bother to work out why. Occasionally a storm will blow sea-weed from the beach 2 miles to my front door during a storm, so I assume that's normal because it always happens. Their rocks are just a bit bigger :D

I went to a catholic school in Northern Ireland

[neokushan]

In the middle of one of our courtyards, we had a small shrine with a statue of Mary, depicting the appearance of her at Lourdes. There was also a lot of rocks and plants for decoration.

One day, we came into school and one of the larger boulders had been moved across the yard to the other side. It had a note attached to it saying "It's a miracle, it moved!".

True story.

And no mention of their American Cousins?

[way2trivial]

has no one heard of the sailing stones?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_stones

Sailing stones, sliding rocks, and moving rocks all refer to a geological phenomenon where rocks move in long tracks along a smooth valley floor without human or animal intervention. They have been recorded and studied in a number of places around Racetrack Playa, Death Valley, where the number and length of travel grooves are notable. The force behind their movement is not confirmed and is the subject of research.

Which by the way- occur on land masses devoid of water????

Re:And no mention of their American Cousins?

[drinkypoo]

The force behind their movement is not confirmed and is the subject of research.

Irony: It has been confirmed, and it is ice

Re:Wow

[Intrepid imaginaut]

There isn't one sentence in there resembling reality. The country was bankrupted by a lying scumbag (Ahern) and an incompetent Finance Minister (Lenihan). Cowen was just a puppet. I must have missed the great fornication debate that seems to be taking up 100% of the time of 100% of the politicians in the country. Oh wait, no I didn't, because it was one back country TD making one ridiculous comment. More news you appear to have missed, the landlords of some twenty plus houses were forcibly evicted from their own palatial residence recently, there are plenty of unemployed solicitors, and even bankers have joined the dole queues. I know a few of them personally.

Perhaps the time has come for you to take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself who is looking back, because its not someone with a firm grasp on reality. That's even if you are in Ireland, because nobody here refers to solicitors as "lawyers".

Re:Wow

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Sorry to burst your bubble but the Irish are not a race.

Oh no; we're a competition.

Re:Wow

[garyebickford]

Cool! An Irish flame war - that's something I haven't seen on /. before! *GB fills his cup, sits back to watch.