3 days ago
Incredible sand formation spotted on Aussie beach
A dog walker was 'amazed' by this rare phenomenon that appeared on an Aussie beach, and experts say the spectacle would have likely materialised in milliseconds.
Sybil Robertson spotted the sprawling sand formation at Ocean Beach on Tasmania's west coast, telling Yahoo News, 'it was as big as a couple of tables, big eight-seater dining room-sized.'
Professor Patrick Hesp, an expert in coastal geomorphology, explained that sand dunes can 'get quite significant sheet wash.
This means the water is flowing across the surface and washing a fan of sand down.'
He added that 'on occasions, [the process is] more localised, and it produces these saturated flows that just lose all of their water suddenly and stop in place.'
When Sybil returned to Ocean Beach just days later, the intricate sand formation was completely gone.
Video transcript
A dog walker was amazed by this rare phenomenon that appeared on an Aussie beach, and experts say that the spectacle would have likely materialised in milliseconds.
Sybil Robertson spotted the sprawling sand formation at Ocean Beach on Tasmania's west coast, telling Yahoo News it was as big as a couple of tables, big, eight-seater dining room sized.
Professor Patrick Hess, an expert in coastal geomorphology.
explained that sand dunes can get quite significant sheet wash.
This means the water is flowing across the surface and washing a fan of sand down.
He added that on occasions, the process is more localised and it produces these saturated flows that just lose all of their water suddenly and stop in place.
When Sybil returned to Ocean Beach just days later, the intricate sand formation was completely gone.
