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Why Llandudno?
Location can be reached within day trip from Manchester
Shingle beach - possible to measure difference in sediment size + shape, not possible on sandy beach
Accessible location - no access issues/dangers associated with getting onto beach
Plenty of space for data collection in groups
Opportunities to make comparisons between western + eastern sections of beach
Managing health and safety
Dress appropriately for weather e.g. sensible shoes
Point side of ranging pole facing downwards
Stay away from cliff, might collapse on you
Stay in groups - stay safe, don’t get lost
Map - don’t get lost
Enquiry questions
How does size + shape of sediment change with distance from sea?
Particles get bigger as you move further from sea
How does beach slope angle change with distance from sea?
Angle increases with distance from sea
Shingle beach
Large sediment size
Steep angle
Particles deposited by swash
Water drains down through large spaces between particles so backwash won’t carry sediment back out to sea
Sediment therefore piles up on beach, creating steeper beach
Sandy beach
Small particle size
Flatter angle
Water doesn’t drain through closely packed sand so backwash carries more material back out to sea
Primary data
Data you collect yourself
e.g. pebble measurements, questionnaire response, photos
Secondary data
Data from another source, including published data
e.g. census results, historical data and data collected by others
Quantitative data
Data that records quantities
e.g. numbers, sizes, frequencies
Qualitative data
Data that records subjective qualities
e.g. opinions, attitudes
Primary quantitative data collection methods
Measurement of beach sediment size
Measurement of beach slope angles
Classification of sediment index using Powers Index of Roundness
Primary qualitative data collection methods
Annotated photos of beach and sediment features
Annotated field sketches
Secondary data collection methods
Local geology map
News articles about north shore beach
Table of tide times (important for planning)
Sampling
Process of collecting data from a selection of sites/people to obtain a perspective on the wider area/population
Applicable to both quantitative and qualitative methods
Sample size
Minimum number of questionnaires/pebbles to be a representative sample because it isn’t possible to measure every pebble/ask every person
min. 25 pieces of data, allows you to carry out statistical test to find out if answer has occurred by chance or is it likely to be an accurate pattern
95% reliability in Geog
Random sampling
Each location/member of population is equally likely to be included
Systematic sampling
Observations are taken at regular intervals, such as every 10m or every 5th person
Stratified sampling
A proportionate number of observations is taken from each part of population/study area
Accuracy
How close a measurement is to true value, inaccurate results lead to inaccurate conclusions
Reliability
The extent to which results are consistent
If you repeated data collection, would you get same results and conclusion?
Validity
Valid data collection method is appropriate to aim of investigation
Valid data presentation technique is appropriate for data set in question
Valid conclusion follows on logically from results and links back to original aim of enquiry
Tape measure
To measure width of beach between start point (next to sea) and end point (base of promenade)
To measure distances between data collection points
Ruler
To measure size (in mm along longest axis) of pieces of sediment
Clinometer
To measure slope angle between two points on beach
Ranging poles
To ensure accuracy + consistency when measuring slope angle between two points on beach
Copy of Powers Index of Roundness
To classify shape of piece of sediment
Data recording sheet
To record results in organised fashion, allowing for easier + more effective collation and analysis
Phone
To take photos of study area (qualitative data)
Measuring sediment size and shape
Measure total width of beach using tape measure
Start at safe distance from water’s edge and finish at base of promenade
Divide total distance by 10 to give regular intervals at which to collect data (systematic sampling)
e.g. beach width of 50m would give interval of 5m
Site 1 is at 0m (close to water), Site 11 is finishing point (base of promenade)
At each site, collect 10 pieces of sediment
a. Measure each piece of sediment in mm along longest axis using ruler and record result
b. Classify each piece of sediment according to Powers Index of Roundness and record result
Repeat for each site
Measuring beach slope gradient
Study beach carefully and decide where changes in slope angle occur
Likely to be several changes in slope angle between sea and promenade
Work in pairs, with each person holding ranging pole
One person should stand at start point and one person should stand at position of first change in slope angle
Hold poles up straight
Measure horizontal distance between ranging poles carefully using tape measure (ensure it’s horizontal + taut)
Slope angle can measured by lining up clinometer between two points of exactly same height on ranging poles
Record slope angle
Repeat for each location where slope angle changes
Photographs and field sketches
Take photos of study area and of data collection being carried out
Make a sketch of beach where data collection took place
Annotate sketch with relevant info, such as:
Points where slope angle changes
Observations about sediment sizes/shapes
Important coastal features visible
Physical/human influences that might have had impact on beach
Accuracy of data collection
Weather - questions smaller sample size
Tide time - beach size
No. of transects
Average/mean (human error)
Instruments/measuring - tape measure
25 data points
Anomalies
Human impact - other students moving around rocks
Reliability of data collection
One day/few hours (small sample size)
Time restraint
Secondary data
Sample size
Presenting info on sediment size + shape
Draw line graph to show how mean sediment size changes with distance from sea
Draw line graph/bar chart to show how shape of sediment changes from site to site
Draw divided bar chart to show how % of sediment in each shape category changes with distance from start point
Compare data sets collected from western + eastern sections of north shore beach
Presenting info on beach slope gradient
Construct beach profile using gradient measurmenets and distances between each change in slope angle
Need protractor + graph paper
Compare beach profiles drawn for western + eastern sections of north shore beach
Combining data on sediment characteristics and beach slope gradient
Add pie charts to a copy of beach profile to show how sediment size + shape changed with distance from start point
Location of each pie chart on diagram should match site at which data was collected
Area of circle used for each pie chart should be in proportion to mean sediment size at that site
Each pie chart should be divided into categories from Powers Index of Roundness
Compare diagrams drawn for western + eastern sections of north shore beach
Conclusion: how sediment size + shape changes with distance from sea
Along majority of beach transects, sediment tended to increase in both size and angularity with distance from sea
Positive correlation between distance from sea and sediment size + angularity
Conclusion: how slope angle changes with distance from sea
Along majority of beach transects, slope angle tended to be shallower close to sea + steeper further from sea
Appeared to be some relationship with sediment size, larger sediment corresponding to steeper gradient
Beach profiles were often quite complex, with several changes in gradient and a number of ridges/berms rather than simple increase in gradient from sea to back of beach
Conclusion: difference between eastern and western ends of bay
Trends in sediment characteristics + beach profile were stronger/clearer at eastern end of bay
Less human influence
Fewer rocks have been added as coastal defence measure, allowing more ‘natural’ coastal processes and patterns to develop