Student
Name: Grade:
Observations and ANALYSES of
ENCINITAS SHORELINE
Wave
Conditions
1. Observations and Interpretation of the
Swell(s)
Swell height? ______ Surf height? ______ Wave period? ______ Swell direction? ______
2. Observations and Interpretation of the Tides
a) Last tide: H or L?__ Height? ____ Time? ____ b) Next tide: H or L? __Height? ___ Time? ___
c) Ebb, flow or slack? _______ d) Neap or Spring? _______ e) Diurnal, Semidiurnal, or Mixed?
3. Observations and Interpretation of the
Littoral and Rip Currents
a) Longshore current present?_____ If yes: Direction?: _________ Speed?:________
b) Does longshore current direction
jive with swell direction (angle)? ________
c) What affects might longshore
currents have on the beach sand (drift)?
d) Rip currents present? _____ If yes: Number?____ Spacing? ________ Intensity? ________
e) What affects might rip currents
have on the beach sand?
Bluff
Rock Geology and Erodability:
4. List the geologic
names and ages for the two rock formations making up the bluff.
Rock Formation Name
Age Rock
Type Erodability
Factor
On Top:
Bottom:
b) Which rock unit is considered the
most erosion-resistant (steepest part of bluff)? ___________
c) Which rock unit is considered the most erosion-prone
(angled part of bluff)? _______________
5. Any evidence of active weathering
and erosion occurring on the bluff? In
other words, does it
appear that the
bluffs are a significant source of sand for the beach? Yes?
No? ______
Describe and explain below your conclusions
using your observations as evidence:
Processes
and Activities that affect the rate of Sea Bluff Erosion
6.List four (4) processes (natural and human-related) that help cause bluff erosion?
a)
________________ b)_________________ c) ________________ d) _________________
Which process above appears to be the most
affective in causing local bluff erosion? Why?
7. List four (4) processes (natural
and human-related) that help
reduce/prevent bluff
erosion?
a)
________________ b)_________________ c) ________________ d) _________________
Which process
above appears to be most affective in eliminating or reducing bluff erosion?
Why?
Human-Made
seawall Structures:
8. What types of materials are used in the construction of
seawalls?
a) __________________ b) _________________ c) ________________, d) _______________
9. a) What appears to be the seawall’s primary intended purpose? _________________________
b) Does it appear that they are doing their job? Explain in
some depth.
10.
List advantages that rip-rap has over seawalls in protecting bluffs.
a) ________________________ b) _____________________
11.
List disadvantages that rip-rap has over seawalls in protecting bluffs.
a) ________________________ b) _____________________
12. List the three (3) adverse
(negative) effects (direct or indirect) that seawalls have on the beach.
In other words, how could seawalls affect
the beach sand supply and beach stability?
a) _______________________ b) _____________________ c) _____________________
13. Estimate the cost to construct one
of these seawalls. $ ______ to $___________ per linear foot
14. If you were a bluff-top homeowner
with a failing bluff, what types of actions would you take?
15. Post Trip Reflection:
a) Purpose of trip:
_____________________________________________________________
b) What did you learn on this
trip? ________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
c) What did you find most
interesting and/or important? ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
d) What did you find most difficult
or challenging? _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
e) How could the fieldtrip have
been better designed or executed? ______________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________