This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Whidbey Island, Washington is a fantastic place to see glacial deposits while you enjoy some seascapes.
You can also see excellent evidence of why it's not a good idea to build on a bluff. We didn't actually mean to see those. My intrepid companion and I meant to go see a fine example of a clastic dike. I should have remembered lessons learned from Doctor Who: "Turn Left." If I had, we'd have ended up at Blowers Bluff as intended. But, like Donna, we turned right, and will have to get it right (left?) on a second go.
No matter. It turned out to be a happy little accident. There's enough in the bluff that is not Blowers Bluff to keep a person interested in both geology and sea critters happy for hours. And it has some textbook examples of erosion.
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These glacial sediments are quite firm, even hard, but they're more like dried mud than rocks: classic unconsolidated sediments, which haven't had the opportunity to turn to stone just yet. And between the waves from Puget Sound and the gargantuan amounts of rain we get here in the winter, they have a habit of eroding rapidly.
This is why Scenic Heights Road is endeavoring to become Scenic Lows Road.
There were moments photographing this bluff when I questioned the wisdom of standing beneath it. This closeup of the eroded bit of road should explain why:
The US Geological Survey estimates that 51% of Island County's shorelines are unstable (pdf). All around Puget Sound, you can see signs of mass wasting. Waves make the bluffs too steep, while soaking rains cause the compacted sediments to lose cohesion, leading to landslides and debris flows. It can get rather exciting round here in the winter.
Before I began my geological adventures, I used to think I'd like a nice house on the seashore, probably perched up high with a view of the ocean. These days, I'm content living inland. Don't get me wrong: I liked The Little Mermaid, but I'd rather not have "Under the Sea" stuck in my head because that's where my house landed.
References:
Tucker, Dave (2010): "Blowers Bluff, Whidbey Island." Northwest Geology Field Trips.
Crucher, Suzanne (2008): "Determination of Shoreline Erosion Rates of Double Bluff." University of Washington Earth & Space Sciences.
Shipman, Hugh (2004): "Coastal Bluffs and Sea Cliffs on Puget Sound, Washington." U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1693.
