[shark]

[tomtom]

For today at least, the UK's highest unbroken above ground waterfall... #geonerd

[Will Hunt]

What's actually caused this? I was to believe that the water normally sinks into underground channels that come out from under the cove - so have these been overwhelmed? And if so, does that mean that these recent months have been the wettest in living memory? Or has there been an underground rockfall that means the underground channels now have less capacity and this could become a more regular event?

[tomtom]

I suspect it's a mix of local runoff and possibly the capacity of the sinkholes that take the river from Malham tarn have been exceeded. Like large scale Hortonian flow..

[tomtom]

But that's a estimate - if you were stood at the top you'd see I recon.. The latter parts of the vid show there's a lot coming from the beck - so wouldn't surprise me if the subterranean channels had backed up..

[SA Chris]

All we need now is a freeze.

[moose]

Impressive. Beautiful.... and a depressing sign that maybe I should buy a Depot 10 climbs concession pass.

[dave]

What's actually caused this? I was to believe that the water normally sinks into underground channels that come out from under the cove - so have these been overwhelmed? And if so, does that mean that these recent months have been the wettest in living memory? Or has there been an underground rockfall that means the underground channels now have less capacity and this could become a more regular event?

As a note on this, I think I am correct in saying that the stream that disappears at the top and the stream which emerges at the bottom are two different streams.

[andy_e]

I think you're correct there Dave, it rings a bell somewhere that they poured dye in at the top of the stream to see how long it took to appear at the bottom of the cove but it never appeared so they poured another load in and found it coming out elsewhere, but I can't remember where.

Given the amount of rain that fell, it's probably not necessary to require an above average groundwater level prior to the stream, the volume of water was simply too great and filled the cave network (effective porosity) up, therefore the water needed to flow along the next easiest route, along Watlowes dry valley, then pissing off the top of the cove.

[lagerstarfish]

then pissing off the top of the cove.

what's that in layman's terms?

[andy_e]

Projecting majestically from the summit of the arching cliff face, home to some of Britain's most difficult rock challenges.

[tomtom]

then pissing off the top of the cove.

what's that in layman's terms?

Hortonian overland flow.

[SamT]

What's actually caused this? I was to believe that the water normally sinks into underground channels that come out from under the cove - so have these been overwhelmed? And if so, does that mean that these recent months have been the wettest in living memory? Or has there been an underground rockfall that means the underground channels now have less capacity and this could become a more regular event?

As a note on this, I think I am correct in saying that the stream that disappears at the top and the stream which emerges at the bottom are two different streams.

Its all a bit of a mystery,

If anyone has any knowledge - its these guys (well - pitlamp in particular, you many have seen him kitting up and diving the resurgence at malham if you're a regular there).

http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=4382.msg61936#msg61936

[slackline]

From above...

[slackline]

Another drone shot without the drone in view this time...

[Peakboy]

Anyone checked out the state of Gordale... Would be interesting to see the level of water gushing through there if Malham is like this!

[Fiend]

Right wing looks in fine nick as usual.

Good shout on Gordale!

[lagerstarfish]

Gordale

[Will Hunt]

I was having a mooch in the work library today and came across an old tome by the good Doctor Raistrick. It concerns Malham and I thought one particular section might interest a few folk here.

[Dolly]

What's actually caused this? I was to believe that the water normally sinks into underground channels that come out from under the cove - so have these been overwhelmed? And if so, does that mean that these recent months have been the wettest in living memory? Or has there been an underground rockfall that means the underground channels now have less capacity and this could become a more regular event?

As a note on this, I think I am correct in saying that the stream that disappears at the top and the stream which emerges at the bottom are two different streams.

Yes you're right Dave. A level geography trip in 1982 where we were told that. I remember that and trying to get off with Julie Hobson in the mini bus on the way back

[SA Chris]

I remember that and trying to get it off with Julie Hobson, in the mini school bus on the way back

[Johnny Brown]

I was having a mooch in the work library today and came across an old tome by the good Doctor Raistrick. It concerns Malham and I thought one particular section might interest a few folk here.

That's great Will. Any chance we can have the next page, you've left us hanging with the Charles Kingsley teaser?

[Nibile]

No offence guys, but all these nerdy geology posts after the mighty sight and sound of Malham waterfall, seem to me a little bit like thinking about the names of each anatomical part when you go down on your girlfriend.
 

[andy_e]

Some people are scientists, others are artists...

[tomtom]

Some people are scientists, others are artists...

And some are neither...