University of Portsmouth researcher makes huge breakthrough in storm power study

It is the first time evidence has been found that moderate storm waves can move very large boulders even in relatively calm waters.

The research, by Linley Hastewell, in the University of Portsmouth’s department of geography, found rocks – some as heavy as 10 tonnes, were being shifted in ‘mild storms’ by the Isle of Wight.

He said: ‘I was surprised. Everyone I’ve talked to about it is surprised. The Solent is a relatively sheltered location which adds to the remarkable nature of what we are seeing here.

It is the first time evidence has been found that moderate storm waves can move very large boulders even in relatively calm waters.

The research, by Linley Hastewell, in the University of Portsmouth’s department of geography, found rocks – some as heavy as 10 tonnes, were being shifted in ‘mild storms’ by the Isle of Wight.

He said: ‘I was surprised. Everyone I’ve talked to about it is surprised. The Solent is a relatively sheltered location which adds to the remarkable nature of what we are seeing here.’

‘Large boulders, some weighing between 5-10 tonnes, are being shifted in mild storms on the sheltered eastern side of the Isle of Wight.

‘It’s a testament to the dynamic nature of our coasts and demonstrates that storm-driven waves have a far greater ability to erode and reshape the coastline than we previously realised.

‘The research suggests we may need to reassess our current understanding of storm wave hydrodynamics.’

Although the research was carried out on the Isle of Wight, the same results are likely to be reflected on rocky coasts globally, he said.

‘These coastal locations, where land meets the ocean, are our first line of defence against the erosive forces associated with storm events. How these areas respond is important for the future management of rocky coasts. The data tells us that boulders are frequently moved some distance and often overturned even in relatively small storms, which until now had never been documented in such detail.’

The research team tracked 104 limestone boulders over three years by inserting radio frequency identification (RFID) tags inside them. The boulders were located near Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight, a site protected from large Atlantic waves and the prevailing winds.

The tagged boulders varied in size from quarter of a metre to more than three metres in length. The RFID technique has been used before in beach pebbles, but it is the first time it has been used in boulders of such size.

The research identified that storms in 2016 flipped a five-tonne boulder, transporting it seven metres, and a boulder heavier than ten tonnes was moved over three metres.