#squeaky beach

Squeaky Beach

This panorama comes from Wilson’s Promontory National Park on the southern coast of Australia. The rocks in the foreground appear to be rounded boulders, most likely granites that have broken into pieces and are weathering along those fractures called joints.

The beach in the distance is nicknamed “Squeaky beach” because when conditions are right, the sand will actually emit a “squeaky” sound when walked on.

The sand at that beach is described as a very well rounded, well-sorted quartz sand. When the grains are rounded, there are no sharp edges where grains get stuck together to resist movement. The grains are therefore able to slide past each other easily. This helps create a sound in 1 of 2 ways; either the sound comes from the grains themselves slipping past each other or the sound comes from air being squeezed out from the spaces between grains; at present the interviews with scientists who have studied the beach don’t seem to have a precise answer out of these 2 options.

-JBB

Image credit: Hadi Zaher https://www.flickr.com/photos/hazara/15258747170

More: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2601532.htm http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park/things-to-do/squeaky-beach

Squeaky Beach

ink, watercolour

Squeaky Beach (variations)