Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is delighted to announce that Dan Bosence, Emeritus Professor Geology at Royal Holloway University of London, is coming to Dorset to give a presentation about newly discovered circular structures on the seafloor of Weymouth Bay.
The new images obtained by Dorset Wildlife Trust’s DORIS (Dorset Integrated Seabed Survey) project provide new insights into the classic geology of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. Large circular structures have been discovered in the Purbeck Limestone that have not previously been seen in any of the coastal cliffs or quarries from Durlston Bay to Portland, despite over a hundred years of geological research.
The talk will describe the dome-shaped structures visible on the DORIS data and discuss their possible modes of formation. The geographical implications of the three very different explanations for these will also be discussed.
During the talk Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Policy and Evidence Manager, Peter Tinsley, will give an introduction about the Dorset project DORIS, which in effect ‘peeled’ back the sea revealing Dorset’s seabed for the first time.
Peter said, “It’s hard to think back to how little we used to know about the seabed before DORIS. Most of our information came from point sources – a grab sample or a dive. Even on a good day, a diver can only see about 10m in any direction, so it would take an awful lot of dives (and many of them very similar) to fill in all the gaps. DORIS was much more efficient – able to survey 100m wide strips in great detail. That means we can now see every ledge, large boulder and sand-wave – but that still took over 11,000km of survey lines. Perhaps the biggest surprise was just how much of the seabed geology was visible – the strong tidal currents keep most of the seabed clear of overlying sediments, and that’s what makes it so fascinating. For a preview – go to www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/doris”
The talk, organised by the ‘Destination Kimmeridge partnership’, will be held at The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life, in Kimmeridge on Sunday 23rd September 2018 starting at 2.30pm. A suggested donation on the door of £4 is requested. Reserve your place and find out more on 01929 481044 or email Kimmeridge@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk. It is open to everyone and may appeal to geologists, divers and those with a natural curiosity to know more about our natural world. The Clavell’s Restaurant (opposite the museum) is open for refreshments and meals following the talk.
Read more about the DORIS project here: www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/hres/DORIS%20report