Loggerhead Island

On the side of the island with the sea turtle nesting we needed to consider the precautions of the public being a disturbance, and we also needed relocate the police and fire station on one side of it and the research center on the other for patrol. We made a timer on the street lights so that they do not disturb the nesting. We placed our fishing dock on the lagoon side of the island because its calm  and peaceful over there and lots of fish will stay over there.Our golf course could be flooded by the oceanic side of the island but its close tot he lagoon as well so it may not have any issues. We placed a large netting around the sides so that the golf balls don't enter the ocean. The economic benefits are the public housing is mostly on the lagoon side away from the economic stuff. Humans negatively impact the coastal ecosystems with there rowdiness, pollution, and the electricity distributed around the streets. With healthy vegetation and economy we can severely prevent the issues of storms starting. I wish that made the gold course larger, had more public attractions, and more security of sea turtle nesting

A Beach by its Name

Primary and Secondary coasts are very different by there natural formation. A primary coast is formed by the erosion of land. Primary coasts are generally young and are shaped by terrestrial processes, including erosion, river/stream deposition, glaciers, volcanism, and tectonic movements. Secondary coasts are shaped mainly by marine erosion or deposition due to wave action, sediment transport by currents, or building activities of certain organisms and generally these coasts are older. Secondary coasts are formed by large waves, more exposed to tropical storms, shore straightening occurs most rapidly here. Estuaries are classified into five different groups based upon there circulation and salinity. The five major groups known as,salt wedge, fjord,slightly stratified, vertically mixed, and fresh water.Bar-built estuaries are formed when sandbars build up along the coastline. The first stage in the formation of a tectonic estuary is when the rapid movement of the Earth’s crust causes a large piece of land to sink, or subside, producing a depression or basin.While strongly affected by tides and tidal cycles, many estuaries are protected from the full force of ocean waves, winds, and storms by reefs, barrier islands, or fingers of land, mud, or sand that surround them.The shallow, nutrient-rich waters of estuaries and associated wetlands create a highly productive environment for plants and animals. In fact, estuarine environments are among the most productive on earth. The high concentration of nutrients and shallow depth support phytoplankton, seagrasses, macroalgae, emergent grasses and, in tropical environments, mangroves.The economy of many coastal areas relies on the natural beauty and bounty of estuaries. When those natural resources are imperiled, so are the livelihoods of the many people who live and work along the coast. As our population grows, the demands imposed on our natural resources increase and protecting these resources for all their natural, economic, and aesthetic values becomes even more important. Dunes are natural barriers to the destructive forces of wind and waves, sand dunes are our first line of defense against coastal storms and beach erosion. They absorb the impact of storm surge and high waves, preventing or delaying flooding of inland areas and damage to inland structures. They are also sand storage areas that supply sand to eroded beaches during storms and buffer windblown sand and salt spray.

Grain of History

On this lab we were to examine many examples of sand from diffrent places in the world. These sand samples were taken by students from wherever they travelled, and it really is incredible how diffrent they all really are. I never noticed so much of a diffrence. The first sample i examined was from Brazil, it was clear and tan rocks that are most likely from a grain source. It was wells sorted and round as well as big minerals.
I then examined Cancun Mexico, and these minerals were white and medium sized. They were well sorted and most likely came from a grain source. Next was Key West, and these minerals were crystal-like with black edges. Small minerals that were very subangular and were moderately sorted. The bahamas sand strain very light colored almost white, very small and subangular, The rocks minerals were a grain source that are moderately sorted. Maui, my favorite, was black under the scope. These minerals were magnetic and subangular shaped. Minerals are well sorted and are most likely from a volvanic source. St. Martin's sand in the carribean is very beautiful and white, medium sized and subangular. It has a very poor sorting arrangement but very white minerals, most likely from a grain source. Hampton beach, the most local beach to us is very clear rock/ crystal like mineral. The minerals are big, rounded and very well sorted.Finally Gloucster is very clear and small. The shape is subangular and well sorted rocks.