Student
Name: Campus:
Observations
and ANALYSES of ENCINITAS SHORELINE
Marine Conditions
1. Describe the coastal weather conditions
today:
Time Air temp Wind (speed & direction) Humidity Clouds Other
2. Observations and Interpretation of the
Swell(s)
a) What is the swell height? Surf height? What’s the difference?
b) What is the wave period?
c)
What is the wave direction(s)? One
swell or more than one?
d) Do the incoming wind waves break parallel to the beach, or at an
angle?
e)
Describe the quality of the breaking waves, in terms of surfing.
f) What
created these ocean swells?
g) Where did these swells most likely originate? Hint: Note the wave direction and period.
3.
Observations and Interpretation of the Tides
a) What is the tide doing? Going
up or down?
b) Describe the tidal cycle today, in
terms of times and heights.
c) Will tomorrow’s daytime high tide come earlier, the same, or later
than today’s? Why?
d) Which type of tide do we have?
Diurnal, Semidiurnal, or Mixed?
e) What
creates the ocean tides?
f) How do the tides affect the shoreline here?
4. Observations and Interpretation of the
Littoral Currents
a) Do you notice
a longshore current? If yes: Direction?: Speed?:
b) What is causing the
longshore current (if any) along the coast?
c) What affects might longshore
currents have on the beach sand? On Swimmers?
d) Do you notice any rip currents? If
yes: Number? Orientation? Shape?
e) What is causing rip
currents to form along the coast?
f) What affects might rip currents have
on the beach sand? On
Swimmers?
Geology of the Bluff Rocks:
5.
List the geologic names and ages
for the major rock formations making up the bluff.
Rock Formation Name
Age Rock
Type Erodability
a)
b)
6. Which of these rock units is
considered the most durable, resistant unit – forming the
steepest
part of a bluff?
7. Which rock unit is considered most
prone to bluff failure (weakest - most easily eroded)?
Weathering and Erosion of the Bluffs:
8. Is there evidence of active weathering and erosion
occurring on the bluff? Yes? No?
Describe
what you observe here:
9. Observe any of these types of mass
wasting features? Landslides? Slumps? Flows?
10. Observe any bluff material infringing and/or
mingling with the beach deposits. Yes?
No?
11. Does it appear that the bluffs are
a significant source of sand for the beach?
Yes? No?
Briefly explain your
conclusion:
12.List the three (3) natural processes or
features that help cause bluff erosion?
a)
b)
c)
13.
List the two (2) human activities that help cause bluff erosion?
a)
b)
Processes and Activities that Reduce or Slow
Sea Bluff Erosion
14.
List the three (3) human activities that help reduce or slow bluff
erosion?
a)
b)
c)
15.
Which one appears to be the most affective in reducing bluff erosion?
Why?
16. List the two (2) adverse (negative) effects that seawalls
have on the beach.
a)
b)
Observations
of the Human-Made Coastal Structures:
17.
What appears to be the seawall’s primary intended purpose?
18. Does it appear that they are doing
their job? Explain in some depth.
19.
What types of materials make up the seawalls?
a)
______________ b) ______________ c), _____________, d) ____________
20. Estimate the cost to construct one
of these seawalls. $ ______ to $_______ per foot
21.
How could the seawalls affect the sand supply for this beach? Explain
Rip-Rap versus Seawalls
22. List advantages
that rip-rap has over seawalls in protecting bluffs.
a)
b)
23. List disadvantages
that rip-rap has over seawalls in protecting bluffs.
a)
b)
24 If you were a bluff-top homeowner
with a failing bluff, what types of actions would you take?
Post Trip Reflection
Write a reflection of your fieldtrip experience (about 120 words). What did you
discover and learn on this excursion? How did this trip contribute to what you
learned in the
classroom? How could
the fieldtrip have been better planned and/or designed? What did you
enjoy most about this fieldtrip?