Virutal Coastal Geology Field Trip
Part 1: BEACH VEGETATION (32 points)
- What kind of beach is Caladesi Island? (3)
- What are the four major factors on a beach that plants have to adapt to? (4)
- What are two ways plants adapt to high amounts of sunlight and avoid dehydration? (4)
- List 3 plants and describe their adaptations. (6: 3 for listing, 3 for describing them)
- What do plants at the top of the dunes have to adapt to the most? (3) What are some adaptations they use to combat these forces? (3)
- What is the term for the specialized rooting systems connecting some plants? Think about how the root systems of these plants grow. (ex. morning glories, sea purslane, sea oats) (2)
- How are the plants stabilizing the sediment? (3)
- Describe a plant that you thought was interesting or did not know prior to this section of the online field trip. (4)
Part 2: LONGSHORE CURRENTS AND SETTLING VELOCITIES (12 points)
- What is the name of the current that moves parallel to the shoreline? (2)
- What are the two main sources of energy on a beach that distribute sediments? (2)
- Explain how we measure currents. (4)
- How does water movement differ from close-to-shore to further offshore? (2) What factors are influencing this? (2)
Part 3: TIDAL WAVE ENERGY (6 points)
- What are the two ways wave energy moves sediment? (2)
- Explain how waves are able to sort sediments. (2) Where would you find the coarsest sediments being moved by wave energy? (2)
Part 4: SEDIMENT CORING (12 points)
- Why do we look at sediment cores? (2) What can they tell us? (2)
- What does a shell layer in a sediment core represent? (2)
- What is cross bedding? (3)
- What does a fine dark layer of buildup in a core represent? (3)
Part 5: BEACH PROFILING AND CHARACTERIZATION (8 points)
- Why do we do beach profiling? (1) Who would this information be beneficial to? (1)
- What are the four main parts of a barrier island beach system? (4)
- What is the name of the tool used to make beach profiles? (1) What is being measured with this tool? (1)