Coastal Erosion at Santa Monica Beach EarthCache
Coastal Erosion at Santa Monica Beach
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Coastal Erosion affects coastlines around the world
Here at Santa Monica Beach ,California is no different. As you can see here at ground zero and also further up the coast on the cliff face erosion is a concern .
Ground zero is over looking the famous Jetty and beach with a steps leading down to a road where a small number of homes are.
To log this cache you need to learn a little about erosion, observe the area and the forward the answers to questions listed below .
Causes of Coastal erosion and our changing coastline
1-Waves generated by storms ,wind,or fast moving motor craft can cause coastal erosion ,which may take the form of long term losses of sediment and rocks ,or merely the temporary redistribution of coastal sediments;Erosion in one location may result in accretion near by .
2-Humans altering the shape of the coastline by retaining cliff faces to build homes or shopping centres above the cliff or cutting out to make roads
3-Climate change
Sea Level Rise – As the planet warms, seawater will expand, ice sheets will melt and water levels will rise, flooding beaches. Normally, beaches might naturally migrate inland in response, but oftentimes beaches are trapped between rising seas and structures like buildings and roads, leaving them nowhere to go.
Storms – Climate change isn’t expected to increase the number or strength of storms in California. Still, a normal storm event will likely cause greater damage to the shoreline because sea level rise will cause the water line to be higher.
Sand and Erosion – Changes in rainfall may alter when and how much sediment washes down rivers to the sea, and changes in sea level, seawater temperature, and other ocean dynamics may change how much the ocean contributes to the erosion of beaches. Studies that model these complicated processes have shown that climate change may alter where “erosion hotspots” occur along the California coastline
How we are helping with erosion
The shore line here has tripled over what it was a century ago due to the area being nourished with added sand.
Dredged sand from infrastructure projects and other sources of nourishment have made this happen.
This is protecting the beach /coastline here by changing its shape
Beach restoration of approx. 3 acres of sand re landscaped with native vegetation to foster growth of beach sand dunes,which accumulate sediment and help prevent erosion.Dunes are meant to alleviate the effects of rising sea levels which could soon threaten the area .
In essence using mother to protect area from mother nature by providing mother nature with some space on the beach area
This area is aprox. 1/2 mile from the pier which you can see from the cliff top .
Information for this earth cache obtained from
Sand erosion-explore beaches california
Wikipedia.org -coastal erosion
Please forward answers to your questions and go ahead and log
I will notify if not ok
Q1
What affect has coastal erosion had at GZ as you look towards the steps
Q2
Has erosion been caused by
Wind
Water
Climate change
Man
Or all the above ,give reasons for your answer
Q3
Has man attempted to stop erosion at the steps and if so how ?
Q4
Do you think that fostering the growth of beach sand dunes will help with coastal erosion and if so how?
We hope you enjoy your visit to the area as much as we did while visiting the States from Australia
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