Thousands of crabs and lobsters washed up on Yorkshire beaches,

[Concerto]

There are huge numbers of crabs and lobsters being washed up on Yorkshire beaches. So far, experts have ruled out sewage, seismic activity or underwater cables as the cause.

Mystery deepens over sea creature massacre after thousands of crabs and lobsters wash up on Yorkshire beaches - YorkshireLive (examinerlive.co.uk)

 

[Habebty]

I have seen similar on a North Norfolk beach, but with starfish - literally carpeting the beach.

 

[Robert Wilson]

We're all DOOMED, Captain Mainwaring, DOOMED, I tell you!

Seriously, that's worrying. I hope an answer is soon forthcoming.

 

[fisherman]

I can tell you that these animals follow the local magnetic field contours, maybe a local anomaly?

 

[Concerto]

I can tell you that these animals follow the local magnetic field contours, maybe a local anomaly?

Iteresting. I had not heard of that.

 

[fisherman]

Iteresting. I had not heard of that.

Chasing these animals for fifty years. I got a magnetic anomaly map from British Geological survey, it showed a relationship to spider crab hot spots.
We know that a crab under forty fathoms of water knows when there's a storm brewing.
There was a piece in New Scientist in the 80s, research showed magnetic variations up to five days in advance of severe weather. (Archive seems to have shut down now)
So that's why your granny gets rheumaticky when there's bad weather coming, and why I and other people who depend on the weather notice flare ups in old injury sites

Edit: found the link on another computer, but can't copy it. It was new scientist 25th dec 1986, the scientist Goesta Wollins. He has several papers about it. The fluctuations are minute, a few gauss in 23000.

 

[Greemble]

Edit: found the link on another computer, but can't copy it. It was new scientist 25th dec 1986, the scientist Goesta Wollins.

This one should work.

 

[fisherman]

This one should work.

Brilliant, thanks. Well worth a read.
It's unthinkable that we evolved without any innate knowledge of the magnetic environment.
I was driven around Lancashire in the dark, we were lost, but at all times I knew which way we were heading.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

wonder if the recent solar flares might have had an effect?

 

[fisherman]

wonder if the recent solar flares might have had an effect?

Yes according to Mr Wollins

 

[Greemble]

Brilliant, thanks. Well worth a read.
It's unthinkable that we evolved without any innate knowledge of the magnetic environment.

That certainly was an interesting read.
I should look it up, but I'm left wondering if any further research as been carried out over the last 30 years since.

 

[Greemble]

wonder if the recent solar flares might have had an effect?

The link in #7 is for the article Fisherman was referencing.
It is a good read, too.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I was referring to the fact that there were 2 major solar flares a some days before this event. So not the general idea from the article but specifically if this event was caused by those flares.

 

[penfold]

wonder if the recent solar flares might have had an effect?

You mean it's not been caused by B****t nor climate change? Heresy!

 

[fisherman]

One frinstance: fishing with pots for spider crabs, moving the gear closer and closer to shore, that's where the best catch was.......I thought the crabs were moving towards the shore, but they were moving out because they knew there was a ground sea coming. Next day, huge swells, couldn't get out of Hayle, and the pots were up at the top of the beach with bathers towels hung on them.
In the days of fragile withy pots St Ives men would say 'if you get double your usual catch bring the gear in' ....the fish have a feed up before everything shuts down in the ground sea.
In the end I learned that when I got pain in my (old broken) ankle, look out for the weather. I contend that the weather didn't affect it, but the magnetic disturbance did, via the nervous system, referred pain, if you like.

 

[ean_p]

there was a ground sea coming.

Off topic but what is a ground sea....? I've been on and near the coast all my life but never heard that term nor understand what it means.........?

 

[fisherman]

Ground sea, or in Brittany lame au fond, waves that are long and big enough to affect the bottom. It can easily move or smash lobster pots, or any other fixed gear. I have some formulae for it somewhere.

 

[fisherman]

From 'Naval Architecture of Small Craft', by D Philips Burt: the height of disturbance at depth =1/3 of wavelength=1/8 wave height. at 1/2wl it is 1/25wh, and 2/3wl it is 1/70wh.
Even so a relatively small 'lift' at depth can involve a large volume of water, and it can make a hell of a mess. And when you look at wave forecasts look at wavelength rather than height. The 2014 storm that wrecked porthleven had wl of 18 secs, it's normally 12.

 

[fisherman]

I was perplexed in Brittany, how many places seemingly very exposed have moorings and low lying villages or camp sites. Thing is, they have very shallow water for miles offshore, the ground sea can't get in, and apparently neither can the lobsters.

 

[claymore]

My friend David Cooper once came back from Hull with crabs....
Just saying.