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Saturday 19 February 2022

Glacial landscape effects in Pembrokeshire

 


Glacially eroded and sculptured landscape on the cliffs of Pencaer.  The Strumble Head lighthouse can be seen in the distance.  In the foreground, overriding ice (during the LGM) has removed almost all of the superficial deposits, leaving expansive areas of bare rock exposed.  I have never quite worked out why sediment removal has been more efficient here than in other coastal locations.......



The coastline at Pem Morfa (Morfa Head) on the north side of Newport Bay.  The left embayment seems to have been modified by meltwater flow exploiting a fault line, but the one in the centre of the photo has been dramatically modified through landsliding and slumping processes.  As on other sections of the coast between Newport and Ceibwr, I suspect that this might be due to pressure release following the wastage of Irish Sea ice along the cliffline. 



A very unstable coastline at Cell Howell, SW of Ceibwr.  Here, for a distance of almost 2 km, the whole cliffline is subject to large-scale slumping, causing the frequent realignment of the coastal footpath.


A more or less semi-circular landslide scar at Cell Howell.  Landsliding and sediment flowage processes are still very active.


Another active semi-circular landslide scar at Cell Howell.  There have been multiple phases of movement.

The oblique photos above are stills from an S4C film  -- very relaxing it is -- which follows the whole coast of Wales, filmed from a light aircraft. If you want to watch the whole film, set aside 4 hours of your time and enjoy it in a gently meditative state.........



 



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