Solved: The Mystery of The Loch Ness Monster

Compared to the earth shattering events of 400 million years ago the modern Great Glen is not at all active. Nethertheless it remains one of the most geologically active parts of the United Kingdom with about three minor earthquakes occurring each century.

In 2001 an Italian geologist Luigi Piccardi suggested that sightings of the Loch Ness monster could be attributed to local earthquakes. An earthquake could produce surface ripples, efflux of gas from beneath the loch and loud rouring sounds which have been associated with some sightings.  

The modern Great Glen clearly shows the scars of glaciation.  Loch Ness lies in a very steep valley whose walls rise abruptly to some 1,500 feet.  The coastline is so steep that there is almost no marine vegetation within the Loch.  At one point the Loch is over 500 feet deep within 60ft of the bank.  In fact, the lake bed lies far below sea level.  Such deep scouring was possible because the fault line contains many shattered rocks that were easily eroded during the ice age.

There are unusual water currents in Loch Ness.  The SW-NE orientation corresponds to that of the previaling winds. Frequent south westerly winds push surface water towards the northern end of the Loch. When the winds relent the waters return to the southern end of the Loch.  Wheras the deep waters of the Loch maintain a constant temperature the surface layers vary in temperature depending upon the seasons.  In summer, the upper layers are warmed by the sun and are at a higher temperate than the deep water.  In fact this striation complicates sonar surveys of the Loch.  Due to the differences in temperature, the water currents can be much greater at depth than on the surface. When the loch appears calm to the naked eye a great deal may be happening below the surface. Sometimes riples can break out on the surface, dark peat stained waters can rise to the surface, and debris, such as decaying logs, can be brought up from the depths. Any one of these features could be misinterpreted as Nessie. 

When one looks into the dark waters it becomes clear that the science surrounding Loch Ness contains many mysterys that complicate the search for the Loch Ness monster.