INCH, CO. KERRY

Inch peninsula progrades into Dingle Bay from the south coast of the Dingle Peninsula.  It extends for some 5.5 km into the bay and is characterised by a long, wide beach (Inch strand) backed by an extensive dune system.  The dunescape consists of a series of elongated dune ridges oriented in the direction of the dominant wind separated by deep, narrow troughs, which sometimes merge into parabolic dunes.  The dunes have been dated at less than 600 years.

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Due to it’s southwesterly orientation, Inch is often subjected to high energy storm conditions and significant wave heights that sometimes reach more than 6 m.  Depending on their duration and strength this can cause either short-term seasonal erosion of the dune face which recovers relatively quickly (days to weeks) or in extreme conditions can cause complete removal of the fore-dunes and depending on the scale of retreat, recovery occurs over a much longer period (months to years).  Decadal scale (c. 30-50 yr) cycles of erosion at Inch have been identified by Orford et al. (1999).  



The general location of terrestrial laser scanning surveys and sediment sampling carried out during this research is an approximately 100 m x 50 m area at the southernmost end of the barrier (area enclosed by box on map shown top right).  

Digital elevation model (DEM) showing dunescape at Inch, Co. Kerry.  The area enclosed by box on bottom right denotes the general location of TLS surveys.

Aerial photo showing dunes at Inch, Co. Kerry.  Source:  coastalhelicopterview.ie