Atlantic Coastal Erosion Increasing In UK As Wave Height Grows

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"Storm waves over 20m high are getting bigger, more frequent and eroding Britain's Atlantic coast, experts say. The waves rip huge boulders from cliff faces and sweep them up to 50m inland in exposed areas such as Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles.

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The study shows these are not deposited by tsunamis (tidal waves generated by volcanic eruptions or earthquakes) as had been thought, but by storm waves. Dr James Hansom, a geologist the University of Glasgow, told delegates at the International Geographical Union congress in the Scottish city that the erosion was expected to accelerate because sea levels are rising and the coastline is sinking.

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The average wave height during winter is said to have increased 15% between 1985 and 1995 in the area to the west of Shetland. Data also suggests that global sea levels have increased by one millimetre per year over the past century.

Previous research in Australia and the Caribbean suggested similar effects there were caused by tsunamis. But the last known tsunami in the North Atlantic occurred 4,900 years ago while the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 produced only slight waves in Scotland."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3575944.stm