Is the Old Man of Hoy on his last legs?

A piece in the Scottish papers this week.

One of Scotland's most stunning structures could crumble to the ground within decades, as Mother Nature threatens the sea-born landmark.https://t.co/gQu98TNNJQ

— Scottish Express (@ScotExpress) July 31, 2022

It relates to the Old Man of Hoy, one of the more famous coastal landforms of Scotland.

It quotes some thinking by Professor Jim Hansom, who I have met several times when attending the SAGT Conference over the years. There is a large crack in the structure which is worrying coastal experts.

It turns out too of course, that the Old Man is not actually very old in geological terms.

Prof Hansom told the Scottish Daily Express: " The stack itself could fall in five years' time, 10 years time, it is very difficult to predict when these things happen because the further away they are from the eroding cliff the less vulnerable they become." pic.twitter.com/xCD09X1T6K

— Scottish Express (@ScotExpress) July 31, 2022

Image shared under CC license by Peter Stenzel

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterstenzel/30885431574/sizes/c/