Coastal Processes: West Coast versus East Coast Virtual Fieldtrip

 

Two Virtual Field Trips: San Diego North County and Northwestern Florida

 

Introduction:  This pair of extra credit “virtual” fieldtrips focuses on coastal processes, including wave action, beach sand source and movement, coastal bluff and dunes, and human interferences. You will observe, analyze and compare what is going on along the shore in San Diego North County and along the shore in Northwestern Florida. 

 

Directions:  Go on the two virtual fieldtrips listed below.  Then complete the worksheet that is also provided below.  This assignment is worth up to 10 extra credit points.

 

Fieldtrip #1: The first virtual fieldtrip to the San Diego North County beaches can be found at Chris Metzler’s Coastal Erosion Field Trip Webpage at URL:

 

http://www.miracosta.cc.ca.us/home/cmetzler/field_trip/top.html

 

Fieldtrip #2: The second virtual fieldtrip to a Northeast Florida beaches was created by Joann Mossa of University of Florida:

 

http://www.geoscirocks.com/Coastal_Florida_Virtual_Fieldtrip.pdf

 

 

Coastal processes virtual Feildtrip Worksheet 

 

PART I:  Chis Metzler's Virtual Fieldtrip on Coastal Erosion of San Diego's North County Beaches and Bluffs

 

            http://www.miracosta.cc.ca.us/home/cmetzler/field_trip/top.html

 

Directions:   Below are 18 questions that pertain to the virtual fieldtrip found at the above URL. The questions are arranged according to the various topics covered throughout the trip.

 

Classification of San Diego North County Shoreline

 

         1)  What type of shoreline does San Diego North County have?  Describe it.

 

What are the Major Rock Units of San Diego North County Sea Bluffs

 

2)  List the following information for ALL THREE of the major rock formations observed along the bluffs.

               a) Rock formation name

                b) Principle type(s) of rock that makes up the formation

               c) The geologic age of the rock formation

               d) Relative erodability (Strong, medium, or weak)

 

3) Which of these rock units is considered the most durable, resistant unit – forming the steepest part of a bluff?

 

4) Which of these rock units is considered the least durable, resistant unit – prone to greatest bluff failure?

 

 Agents, Processes and Activities that Cause Sea Bluff Erosion

 

5) List three (3) natural agents, processes or features that help cause bluff erosion?

 

6) Which of the above agents is responsible for the undercutting of the sea bluff?

 

7) Which one would you consider the most powerful/most worrisome? Why?

 

8) List the two (2) human activities that help cause bluff erosion?

 

9) How does climate fluctuations over the last few centuries compare with today’s climate in terms of local bluff erosion? 

 

Agents, Processes and Activities that Reduce or Slow Sea Bluff Erosion

 

10)  List the three (3) human activities that help reduce or slow bluff erosion?

 

11) Which one appears to be the most affective in reducing bluff erosion? Why?

 

12) List the two (2) adverse (negative) effects that seawalls have on the beach.

 

Seawalls and Rip-Rap  

 

13)  Where are seawalls constructed along a beach, and what is their intended purpose?

 

14) What are the seawalls made of, and how much do they cost?

 

15)  Where are piles of rip rap placed along a beach, what are they made of, how much do they cost, and what is their intended purpose?

 

16)  List advantages that rip-rap has over seawalls in protecting bluffs.

 

17)  List disadvantages that rip-rap has over seawalls in protecting bluffs.

 

18) Which one would you choose if you were a bluff homeowner?  Why?

 

PART II:  Joann Mossa's Virtual Fieldtrip on Coastal Dynamics of Northeast Florida's Beaches and Dunes

 

           http://www.geoscirocks.com/Coastal_Florida_Virtual_Fieldtrip.pdf

 

Directions:   Below are 18 questions that pertain to the virtual fieldtrip found at the above URL.   The questions are arranged according to the various topics covered throughout the trip.

 

Beach and Dune Shoreline Geography

 

1)  What are the two principle materials that Florida beaches are made of? 

        List and describe the following               

               a) Principle mineral(s)

                b) Sediment grain size(s)

               c) Source of the sediment?

 

2) Describe the beaches in Northeastern Florida, with some detail.

        Make sure to include characteristics like Width and Slope

 

3)  What are the Florida shoreline dunes made of? 

        List and describe the following               

               a) Principle mineral(s)

                b) Sediment grain size(s)

               c) Source of the sediment?

 

4) Describe the coastal dunes in Northeastern Florida

        Make sure to include characteristics like Width and Slope

 

5) Compare and contrast the two different shorelines of the local barrier islands - the inner versus outer sides.

         a) Describe the similarities and differences between the open-ocean

            shorelines and the lagoonal shorelines, in terms of beach size, slope and

            sediment characteristics.  

         b) Why the difference between the two?

 

Agents, Processes and Activities that Cause Changes to Beaches and Dunes

 

6) List and describe the agents or processes that move the beach material.

 

7) List and describe the agents or processes that move the dune material.

 

8) What is the relationship between the beaches and the coastal dunes?

 

9) Did you see examples of both beach and dune erosion and deposition?  List and describe what you observed.

 

10) What are the significant causes of beach and dunes erosion here?

 

Processes and Activities that Reduce or Slow Down Beach and Dune Erosion

 

11) What are the natural means of stabilizing the coastal dunes?  How and why does it work?

 

12) List the ways that humans have tried to help reduce or slow coastal erosion.

 

Processes and Activities that have Adverse Effects on Beaches and Dunes

 

13) What are the similarities and differences between groins and rip rap revetments, in terms of what they are made of, their location/orientation to the shore, and their intended purpose?

 

14) What are the negative effects that groins and rip rap revetments have on beaches and dunes?

 

15) What do think about these revetment structures, in terms of the positives versus the negatives?  Should the building of these structures be encouraged or discouraged?    Why?

 

Comparison of West and East Coast Shorelines

 

16) Make a simple comparison between the two shorelines that you studied during the two virtual fieldtrips.   What did you find similar?  What did you find significantly different?  

 

17) Which shoreline do think is in the most trouble, in terms of erosion?  Why?

 

18) Which shoreline would you prefer to spend time at?  Why?

 

 

 Post Trip Reflection

Write a reflection of your virtual fieldtrip experience (150 word minimum).  What did you discover and learn on this excursion?  How did this trip contribute to what you learned in the classroom?  What did you enjoy most about this virtual fieldtrip?