Making sense of coastal erosion
The east coast of England is being washed away. Tidal currents sweeping down from the north are gradually eroding the coast from Flamborough Head south to Suffolk, moving shingle and silt down into long narrow spits as at Spurn Head and Orford Ness, collapsing the shingle banks in front of the wetland reserves of Cley and Minsmere and eroding the soft sandy cliffs of Dunwich. Accelerated by high tides and strong winds, the topography is changing. Acres of agricultural land are threatened along with scores of coastal communities. To some extent,... Read more »
Despatches from Derbyshire Ice Field (3)
0645 GMT 07/12/10 Successful expedition. Grytviken basking in balmy zero. Back on shelf at minus 14, well stocked with lamp oil, whalemeat, blubber, pickled cabbage and two bottles of aquavit!! Freezing fog. When we speak outside, the words stay in the air and hang around the tent. Voice message from Oates... Read more »
Despatches from Derbyshire Ice Field (2)
0610 GMT 04/12/10 Minus 15 with precipitation! Visibility 200 yards. Ice! Transport held fast. Frost forming on rigging. Troops down in mouth. Fog freezing on beards! Try to encourage. ‘Chin up!’ But supplies low. Half rations. Last banana. No brandy. Fear mutiny. If no improvement, will try dash to base camp tomorrow Scott, i/c expedition. Read more »
Despatches from Derbyshire Ice Field (1)
0755 GMT 2.12.10. Snow flurries overnight but pressure rising. Blizzard yesterday made transport impossible; even sledges didn’t run. By 6pm, snow tractor got through. Now stuck in drift. Troops digging out. Mount Sheffield completely cut off. No radio contact. Supplies will last another week. Plenty of logs for oven. Bags of flour,... Read more »
