COASTAL INVESTIGATION

Changi Beach Park

1.1 INTRODUCTION

• Write generally about what your Geographical Investigation (GI) is about.– State the type of investigation i.e. Measuring

Longshore Drift / Plotting Beach Profile / Measuring Wave Steepness

– State your hypothesis e.g. The greater the wave height, the steeper the wave steepness

• You should also include some simple background information about Changi Beach and your observations through your environmental sensing of the field site.

1.2(3) FIELD INVESTIGATION 11.2(3).1: Methodology• Describe clearly and in sequence, the

methods used to collect data in this field investigation.

1.2 FIELD INVESTIGATION 11.2(3).2: Data Representation and Analysis • Represent the data collected through

survey using a mode of representation (e.g. bar graph, pie chart or table)

• Did the data that you collected answer your hypothesis? (Validity of Hypothesis)

1.2 FIELD INVESTIGATION 11.2(3).3: Limitations of Fieldwork • What are some limitations of this

fieldwork?• How can I improve to make the result

of this fieldwork more accurate or reliable?

1.4 REFLECTION & CONCLUSION• Write a reflection of your fieldwork. You

could consider the following questions for your reflection.– Has the field inquiry helped to deepen

your understanding of coastal processes and landforms, acquire geographical field techniques and develop an appreciation of the dynamism of the coastal environment?

– What other skills (may not be related to Geography) have you learnt during this fieldtrip?

MEASURING LONGSHORE DRIFT

1.2(3).2: Data Representation and Analysis • What is the wave direction?• What is the direction of longshore

drift?• What is the speed of longshore drift?– Distance travelled by drop / time taken

for drop to travel from Point A to Point B

PLOTTING BEACH PROFILE

1.2(3).2: Data Representation and Analysis • Plot the beach profile on a piece of

graph paper.

Transact Distance (m) Elevation (o )

A – B

B – C

C – D

PLOTTING BEACH PROFILE

1.2(3).2: Data Representation and Analysis • Plot the beach profile on a piece of

graph paper.

Transact Distance (m) Elevation (o )

A – B 3.6 2

B – C 3.2 3

C – D 2.1 5

MEASURING WAVE STEEPNESS

 

H (cm)Wave

Height 

T (s)Wave Period =

Time taken for 10 wave crests to pass a point/10

L (cm)Wave

Length(1.56 x

T2)

S (cm)Wave

Steepness = H/L

 Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 4

Wave 5

Wave 6

Wave 7

Wave 8

Wave 9Wave

10

MEASURING WAVE STEEPNESS

 

H (cm)Wave

Height 

T (s)Wave Period =

Time taken for 10 wave crests to pass a point/10

L (cm)Wave

Length(1.56 x

T2)

S (cm)Wave

Steepness = H/L

 Wave 1 9

58/10 = 5.8s

Wave 2 3

Wave 3 4

Wave 4 13

Wave 5 12

Wave 6 10

Wave 7 9

Wave 8 5

Wave 9 4Wave

10 8

MEASURING WAVE STEEPNESS

1.2(3).2: Data Representation and Analysis • Construct a scattergraph that plots

wave steepness against wave height and draw a line of best fit.– Plot wave height on the x-axis– Plot wave steepness on the y-axis– Draw a line of best fit