Megagravel deposits on the west coast of Ireland show the impacts of severe storms

Coastal boulder deposits on Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands off Ireland's west coast, showcase many of the classic features. Note the adult human for scale (in the yellow circle). The cliff-collapse block in the foreground is the largest ever documented to be moved by storm waves. Weighing 620t, it was shifted several metres during the storms of 2013-2014. The platform on which it sits is 5m above high water, and the block is 30m inland. The cliff at this site is 9m high. The boulder ridges behind the figure on the cliff top are 11-15m above high water, and the front of the pile ranges from 45-64m inland. A number of the biggest blocks on the upper platform, which weigh several tens of tonnes, were also moved sideways during the 2013-2014 storms; and within the ridge, the pale grey colours show smaller (1-15t) boulders that were overturned. Drone photograph taken by Dr Eugene Farrell (NUI Galway). Used with permission.