Voluntary - Extra Credit Field Trip #2 - Coastal Erosion –

 Moonlight Beach to Beacons Beach, Encinitas

Sunday, July 17, 2011   

Introduction

This voluntary fieldtrip assignment is optional and involves participating in a coastal oceanography field trip for extra credit.   Students have an option of either, going in-person on a real field trip to a local San Diego North County beach that is guided by the instructor, OR completing an online virtual fieldtrip.   Students can complete either trip for extra credit (up to 15 points).   Those who participate on the in-person trip will receive extra credit if they show up and participate. Those who choose to complete the field trip online will receive extra credit when they respond to this assignment by answering (correctly, of course) the Virtual Fieldtrip Question Worksheet file included on this assignment page. Completion of the online virtual fieldtrip must be by 11:55 p.m. on July 20.  Below is information for both, the in-person, and online alternative fieldtrips.

Option #1 – The In-Person Coastal Erosion Fieldtrip  --

Date: Sunday July 17, 2011    Meet at 9:00 AM   Finish by 11:00 PM

Where to meet: Moonlight Beach, Encinitas   - Meet at the picnic tables between the bathrooms and the volleyball courts.

How to Get There: A number of road maps are posted at this site that should be sufficient for finding all the field trip stops. If there still is uncertainty, then check with a good road map. It would be a good idea to download and print-out the road maps for this fieldtrip found at this site.  Below is a link having directions and a map from Google Maps:

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.047743,-117.29771&ll=33.047743,-117.29771&spn=0.1,0.1&t=h

Directions: http://www.a-zsandiegobeaches.com/moonlight.htm

Beach Description : http://www.beachcalifornia.com/moonlit.html

How long?: The trip will probably take about one and a half hours to complete (9:00 am to 11:00 pm).

Cancellation due to Weather: The field trip will be cancelled if it rains (very unlikely!!).

General Purpose: To familiarize students with the coastal geology of San Diego North County, and to better understand the concepts concerning sedimentary rocks, depositional environments, shoreline processes, geomorphology,  and weathering and erosion, with an emphasis on the recent bluff failures and seawall construction.

Activities: Observe, study, and discuss the recent bluff failures and seawall construction along local beaches, with consideration of the nature and origin of the beaches, ocean waves and currents, and bluff geology.  We will hike from Moonlight Beach to Beacons Beach and back.

Field Assignment: Students will be required to complete a field trip question handout, which includes answering fill-in questions, observing ocean and bluff conditions, and writing a short reflection on the field trip experience to be turned in via the online classroom assignment portal.  The required worksheet that you must bring with you is found at the following link:

Required In-Person Worksheet Download link:   http://oceansci.com/costa_ocean_fieldtrip3_worksheet.pdf   Note: the fieldtrip lists Fieldtrip #3, but its the correct one.

Grade Points: Students will receive up to 30 credit grade points for completed the field trip, which includes attendance and the completion and submittal of a written reflection.

What to Bring: Students should bring the worksheet, a clipboard, writing tools, water, sunscreen, and a camera. - Surfboard and Frisbee optional.

What to Wear: Loose, comfortable clothes (T-shirt and shorts is good) along with a sweatshirt or windbreaker. Beach weather may could range from sunny and warm to overcast and cool. So it is a good idea to be prepared either way.

 

Option #2 - Online Coastal Erosion Virtual Field Trip

 

This fieldtrip can also be completed on line, instead of the in-person trip described above.  The virtual fieldtrip can be found at Coastal Erosion Field Trip URL:

 

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

 

The required virtual fieldtrip worksheet that must be completed can be downloaded from this link:

 

http://oceansci.com/virtual_fieldtrip3_worksheet.htm

 

 For those that complete the trip online, the above worksheet must be completed and submitted (as a response to this assignment) by June 19th.

Activities: Read and view images of the coastal geology, shoreline features and coastal processes of San Diego North County off a website.

Field Assignment: Students will be required to complete a 25 question worksheet, and writing a short reflection on the field trip experience to be turned in via the online classroom assignment portal.