It's been a couple of weeks since the significant wave event during the early January storms, but I've been working on a small side project to document some of the storm impacts on Bodega Head.
At the offshore buoy maximum recorded swell heights reached ~31 feet during the early morning of 5 January 2023. Impressively, there were sustained swell heights of over 25 feet for at least 5 hours that day (coincident with a high tide), and swells over 20 feet continued for at least 24 hours. These powerful waves sheared off many pieces of rock from the bluffs on Bodega Head. Here's one example from a site that is ~30-40 feet above sea level. The smoother, somewhat orange-colored rock is the new rock surface exposed after the storms.
3 comments:
Wow, that IS impressive.
Thanks for the link to the website that records the buoy's data!
Walking from the Birdwalk trail to Doran Beach and South on the beach, the storms have changed the the beach area. Rather than a gently sloping beach, the ocean waves scoured the former edge where the vegetation started and a sand wall has been created with plants and trees uprooted. It looks like the sand wall would be difficult to climb over if there was a high tide that rose up to the sand wall. There is a large telephone pole size log pole now that is on a dune close to the stairs to the subdivision on the bluffs above.
Thanks for your information on the waves from the storms. Now I know why the beach has been impacted.
I am so happy to received this email Jackie! thank you! And hi to Vi Strain!
I'm preparing a short article for our RBHS (Rancho Bodega Historical Society) newsletter due out April 1, just in time for Fish Fest. The entire issue will is about Fish Fest History, the Golden Hook Award for the biggest salmon of the season and the weather buoy that George Boos helped save decades ago. Jackie's reference gives me all the information I need. And plus, I love Geology. If you are interested joining RBHS (it's only $15 a year!) please be in touch at RBHS@Bodegamoon.net Sending unstoppable friendship to you all! My Best, Melinda Pahl in Bodega Bay
Post a Comment