Effect of a Groyne Investigation
Groyne Investigation FINAL Report, Alice Cearns
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the investigation is to analyse the effect a groyne has on a beach’s formation and sand deposition, and the seasonal impact the ocean has on its shoreline.
South Cottesloe beach contains native plants, from berry saltbushes to red-eyed wattles; it has accumulated sea wrack and rocky surfaces especially south of the groyne, and sand dunes running down to the swash zone. With fences running parallel to the water line, this environment we measured was not only challenging due to many different levels of it surface but also very diverse in its composition. We were able to measure the beach’s profile by using a metre ruler with a leveller attached and a measuring tape at one end. The ruler to record the width of the beach whilst the tape recording the rise or fall of the surface every metre, and the leveller making sure our measurements were accurate at a horizontal tangent.
The independent variable of this investigation is the seasonal effect on the sand deposition and the dependant variable was measuring how much sand is deposited on the beach.
Unusual materials and method -
South Cottesloe beach has adopted a pattern of the beach’s profile since the groyne has been put in place between seasons, summer and winter. The major result seen from this investigation indicates from the data collected that the pattern observed gives a seesaw effect upon the beach. In summer the beach collects more sand on its shore south of the groyne then north, and vice versa in winter. This can be seen as a see-saw effect because through changing seasons the amount of sand from one side is deposited to the other and then back again, continuing this effect every seasonal change (summer to winter).
A conclusion can be made that the data collected in 2012 in Summer and 2013 Winter it supports the hypothesis that in Summer the beach profile of sand deposit is greater south of the groyne than the north at south
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the investigation is to analyse the effect a groyne has on a beach’s formation and sand deposition, and the seasonal impact the ocean has on its shoreline.
South Cottesloe beach contains native plants, from berry saltbushes to red-eyed wattles; it has accumulated sea wrack and rocky surfaces especially south of the groyne, and sand dunes running down to the swash zone. With fences running parallel to the water line, this environment we measured was not only challenging due to many different levels of it surface but also very diverse in its composition. We were able to measure the beach’s profile by using a metre ruler with a leveller attached and a measuring tape at one end. The ruler to record the width of the beach whilst the tape recording the rise or fall of the surface every metre, and the leveller making sure our measurements were accurate at a horizontal tangent.
The independent variable of this investigation is the seasonal effect on the sand deposition and the dependant variable was measuring how much sand is deposited on the beach.
Unusual materials and method -
South Cottesloe beach has adopted a pattern of the beach’s profile since the groyne has been put in place between seasons, summer and winter. The major result seen from this investigation indicates from the data collected that the pattern observed gives a seesaw effect upon the beach. In summer the beach collects more sand on its shore south of the groyne then north, and vice versa in winter. This can be seen as a see-saw effect because through changing seasons the amount of sand from one side is deposited to the other and then back again, continuing this effect every seasonal change (summer to winter).
A conclusion can be made that the data collected in 2012 in Summer and 2013 Winter it supports the hypothesis that in Summer the beach profile of sand deposit is greater south of the groyne than the north at south