Beach Zonation and Tarpon Springs’ Man-Made Beaches Introduction In this module, we’re studying seawater, the air/sea interactions, and introducing ocean circulation. In this assignment, we’ll visit Maderia Beach and study Beach Zonation discussing how the interaction between the air/sea forms these zones, then we’ll go to Tarpon Springs and highlight some of these topics and a whole lot more by looking at man-made beaches. We need to pay attention to how the wind affects both sides of the island and how water circulation determines whether we have an erosional or depositional environment. We’ll also introduce how people battle these forces when we discuss causeways, riprap, and sea walls. We’ll touch upon salinity and brackish water as well. Background for each location: Beach Zonation at Maderia Beach In these videos, we learn the zones of the typical Gulf beach from the Gulf (or Ocean) to behind the dunes plus how they are formed and maintained. Fred Howard Park Fred Howard Park consists of 155 acres and is located on the Gulf of Mexico. Fred Howard Park’s location provides access to the Gulf of Mexico by a 1-mile-long causeway. Fred Howard Park protects many important and disappearing Florida habitats, such as seagrass beds, wetlands, mangrove estuaries, salterns, coastal scrub, long leaf and slash pine flatwoods, and turkey oak – long leaf pine sandhill. Sunset Beach Built in 1926, Sunset Beach and the causeway enhanced one of the city’s favorite recreational area, making this beach park possible. This beach hosted the state American Legion convention the following year, but the park’s heydays ended in 1963 when a fire destroyed its pavilion. It is protected from the Gulf by Anclote Key and has low wave action (low energy beach) and is quite shallow. Video Links to YouTube Playlist (each video is embedded in the class as well): Beach Zonation https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHrjtNV3LsSYbLE22zrhpNbb_olj4V7HQ Tarpon Beaches https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHrjtNV3LsSaBw4fCZlouv0wn9gpTLCFy Assignment For this assignment, you will write a paper using the outline below. Cover Questions answered in full sentences Questions Beach Zonation List/Describe the beach zones starting with the Gulf and ending with the dunes. What do we call the area where flotsam and other debris builds up? What do Madeira’s jetties do? What is the “Surf Zone?” At what depth do water waves break? Why are our beaches so white? Tarpon Beaches Why are there little to no waves at Sunset Beach even though it is quite breezy? How are causeways constructed? What are the Pros and Cons of a causeway? How do engineers allow for tidal flow when constructing causeways? Where does the sand at Fred Howard Beach come from? Why are sea oats protected? What is our state tree? What are the differences between the windward side and leeward side of Fred Howard Park. What is Spartina? Why do leeward sides of islands tend to have a muddy substrate? How do currents determine areas of erosion and deposition? Why are mangrove areas perfect habitat for small organisms? Sediments in the shallow saltmarshes of Fred Howard Park are colored different. Why? Why are estuaries called “The Nurseries of the Sea?” Don’t forget your references!
