Anna Vance Ocean 230 11/17/11 Fieldtrip C 1) Tsunamis represent very large waves that can affect beach

and coastal environments. Describe two important characteristics of the sedimentary signatures formed by tsunamis, and explain the reasons for the origins of the signatures. Tsunamis leave a peat layer which is caused by uplift during earthquakes. Salt-intolerant vegetation on the land dies and becomes peat. The second characteristic is that there is a sand layer, which is brought by waves. It is laterally extensive and sometimes liquefaction occurs and quicksand comes up. 2) Tidal inlets naturally migrate. Explain why they migrate, and how this has affected Cape Shoalwater at the entrance to Willapa Bay. Tidal inlets migrate because of longshore drift, which occurs when waves break on the beach at an agle. This causes the spit to elongate and the inlet to move. Cape Shoalwater has been affected by intense erosion- some of the most rapid erosion on the Washington coastline. 3) What types of engineering structures are used to stabilize inlets, and what problems can they cause? Jetties are used to stabilize inlets. They are usually miles long and are perpendicular to the shoreline. Problems they cause include sediment being trapped downstream which means that the sediment being eroded by waves on the beach is not being replaces. Thus, the beach shrinks. Sometimes large waves can go over the jetty and cause erosion as well. 4) The beach at Grayland is part of a large study to investigate Washington coastal erosion, which became noticeable a couple of decades ago. Explain the suggested cause of enhanced erosion. Why was the impact delayed until recently? The cause of enhanced erosion at the Grayland beach is due to the Columbia dams. The impact was delayed because the dams were placed upriver, and the sediment below it still had normal activity. Recently though, the effects of less sediment have been observed. Coastal erosion has also increased because of wave energy increase. Wave height has increased significantly (up to a meter more) because of global changes like the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. 5) The headland beaches at Kalaloch differ significantly from the beaches at Grayland. Describe the differences in the sources of beach sediment, the grain sizes of sediment found on the beaches, and the slopes of the foreshore regions. At Kalaloch, the headland beaches receive most of its sediment from local sources, like glacial sediment erosion from sea cliffs. This sediment is mostly sand. At the Grayland beaches, most sediment comes from distal sources, like the Columbia River. Here, the sediment is varied in size. The slope of the beach at Grayland is steeper than the slope of the beach at Kalaloch.

6) The bedrock exposed at Kalaloch has an interesting origin, briefly explain where and how it formed. The bedrock formed is turbidites, which are formed by turbidity currents. Turbidites form on the base of the continental slope, or on the continental rise in the deep ocean. They may have formed at the fan of the base of a submarine canyon. The sediment turns into rocks through high temperatures and pressure. The turbidites reaches the beach through plate tectonics, where the oceanic crust scraped them off. This explains the reason why they are upside-down. 7) What is the value of engineered log jams? Engineered log jams stop erosion and stop the river from migrating into the cut banks. Engineered log jams are more natural than rip rap and help to create habitat for fish. 8) Are all dams created by humans? Justify your answer with an example. Not all dams are created by humans. Glacial dams, landslide dams (such as the one in Lake Crescent), and beaver dams exist as well. 9) The Elwha River is losing both of its dams. Is this necessarily a good thing? Explain any potential negative impacts. Positive impacts of the removal of the Elwha River dams are that fish and other organisms can migrate into habitat that was once closed off. Also, there will be a larger sediment delivery to the shore. Negative impacts include increased turbidity which is detrimental to fish. Also, sediment released could fill the river bed and enhance flooding. Some sediment may use up oxygen in the river which changes its composition for the organisms that live in it. 10) Ediz Hook and Dungeness spits are major coastal features, briefly explain what is necessary for their formation and health. Ediz Hook and Dungeness spit were formed by longshore transport and perturbation to the shoreline. To maintain their health, they need sediment delivery, mostly from river and cliff erosion.