GEOG 1218: Lab 1 Coastal and Wind Landforms needs to use google earth to.complete Document Preview: GEOG 1218: Lab 1Coastal and Wind Landforms Name _________________________________________ Lab: M,...

GEOG 1218 Lab 1: Coastal and Wind Landforms Spring 2016
1
GEOG 1218: Lab 1 Coastal and Wind Landforms
Name _________________________________________ Lab: M, T, W, Th
INTRODUCTION: The goal of this lab is utilize Google Earth
1
to practice landscape interpretation and
landform identification in coastal and eolian (wind) environments. Utilizing the tools in Google Earth and
related websites, you can view past landscape change, visualize future changes and consider human impacts of
these changes.
Part I: COASTAL PROCESSES & LANDFORMS
1. Zoom to Surf City, New Jersey. Is Surf City a spit or a barrier island? How can you tell?
Answer:
Surf City, New Jersey is a barrier island as it is a type of dune system formed parallel to the mainland
coast because of the tidal or wave actions. Also, it forms a chain and has relatively much flat and lumpy
area. While, Spits are attached to the mainland but barrier island runs parallel to it.
2. Zoom to Seaside Heights, New Jersey (just a little bit to the north of Surf City). Click on the clock
icon on the upper tool bar to reveal a timeline that will let you see all available imagery for the
site. In late October of 2012, Hurricane (“Superstorm”) Sandy hit the east coast and became the second
costliest hurricane in US history.
a. Compare the coast before and after the storm by toggling between imagery from 9/20/2010 and
11/3/2012. Describe the effects of the storm.
9/20/2010 11/3/2012

Due to storm there has been decrease in the deposition of silt is the coastal area and this has
been mainly attributed to the storm. Also, after the storm area looks very devastated.

1 You can turn off the tilt of the Earth as you zoom in by going to Tools on the top toolbar  OptionsNavigation, and in the lower
right box choose the top option “Do not automatically tilt while zooming”.

GEOG 1218 Lab 1: Coastal and Wind Landforms Spring 2016
2
b. Looking just to the north of Seaside Heights on the 2012 image (a little south of “Vision Beach”
marker), use your measure tool to measure how far sediment (sand) was washed inland by the
storm. Report your measurement in miles for full credit.
Answer: 0.5 miles
3. Zoom to Watari, Japan (Miyagi Prefecture). Continue Zooming until the color changes to a greyscale
image. On March 11, 2011 a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit Japan and resulted in a tsunami. Using the
historical imagery time slider, toggle between March 11 and March 12, 2011 to see the effects of the
tsunami. Using the measuring tool, estimate how far (in miles) the wave washed inland (where you can
see standing water) in this coastal location.
Answer: 8 miles
GEOG 1218 Lab 1: Coastal and Wind Landforms Spring 2016
3
Turn OFF clock icon. Zoom to Atlantic Beach, NY.
a. What is the name of the features on the beach perpendicular to the coastline that jut into the
water?
Answer: Groyne
b. Indicate the direction of littoral (beach) drift on the picture below.
Answer:
c. Explain how you can tell for full credit.
Answer: The net movement of the sediment is towards the south and this is because of the wave
coming from the north.

4. Zoom to Chatham, MA. What direction is the littoral drift moving here? How can you tell? Explain
your reasoning for full credit (you can sketch a picture if it is helpful).
Answer: Littoral drift is moving towards the north direction here and this has caused reduction in the
beach length towards the south part while it is increasing in the northern region. This is mainly because
of the wave coming all along the southern region due to the shape of the coastline.

5. Zoom to Virginia Beach, VA. Follow the coastline north until the beach starts to...