VIRTUAL INVESTIGATION INVESTIGATING THE DIFFERENCES IN THE BEACH GRADIENT and SEDIMENT CHARACTERISTICS AT MAZOTOS AND ALAMINOS BEACH (CYPRUS)

Instructions for the overall presentation (format) of your investigation: Left margin at least 3 cm. Font style Arial, font size: at least 11. For headings and sub-headings a larger size may be used. For annotations, a smaller size may be used. Line spacing: 1.5 Page number

Section a Purpose of the investigation 1- Purpose of the investigation 2- Location of the study area and physical and human characteristics of the two areas. 3- Aims of the investigation (Justified=linked to the geography theory they are based on).

to examine the differences in the gradient and sediment characteristics at Mazotos Beach, a shingle beach and Alaminos Beach, a sandy beach. The PURPOSE of this investigation is

Figure 1 The location of our study area Annotation to describe location of two beaches. Mazotos Beach (near Camel Park) Alaminos Beach (Aldiana Hotel)

Figure 2 Characteristics of the study areas- Go to Google Earth and copy two clear satellite images. Figure 2 will show the characteristics of the two beaches Add two satellites images, one for each beach. Annotate them with the physical and human characteristics of each area.

E.g.Characteristics of Mazotos Beach.

Mazotos Beach-Cliff

Mazotos and Alaminos Beach have been chosen as our study areas as the variation of coastal processes, sediment size and human impact along these two stretches of coast will provide more opportunities to investigate the factors affecting beach gradient and sediment characteristics.

AIMS OF THE INVESTIGATION The following aims are based on the characteristics of the two areas and the geographical theory related to the purpose of the investigation:

A- To investigate the differences in beach gradient and sediment characteristics between the two beaches. Furthermore, as it is expected that primary data will show differences on gradient and sediment characteristics between the two beaches, we plan:

B- To investigate the coastal processes which affect sediment size and gradient at these two locations. C- To investigate the impact of human activity on the gradient and sediment characteristics of the two beaches.

Geographical Theory

Beach profile -Mazotos

Impact of Longshore Drift Assuming that wave energy inputs are equal along the beach, when beach material is carried by longshore drift, it becomes: (i) Smaller and more rounded due to attrition. Attrition is the gradual wearing down of rock particles by impacts and abrasion during transport. (ii) Better sorted. Waves of a given energy can shift particles up to a certain threshold size. The greater energy waves move stones of all sizes but the weaker waves can move only the smaller particles. Mazotos Beach is a low-energy wave environment and we expect the sediment to become increasingly sorted as it is moved by longshore drift. In reality, beaches show more complex patterns because of variations in wave energy and new sediment inputs, for example from river mouths [i.e River Pouzis].

Well sorted at the swash zone Poor sorting above the swash zone Sediment size increases up the beach profile. Sorting and sediment size up the beach profile at Latchi Beach

Wave refraction

WAVE REFRACTION

Wave diffraction