Beach Profiling

This morning we headed to two spots – Rocky Point and Lindsay’s Reef – in order to complete beach profiling. We learned how to complete the task this morning when we got to our first research area. Beach profiling is when you use leveling tools and meter sticks in order to determine the gradient (how quickly the beach slopes into the water). (See the picture to view my group completing beach profiling).

We recorded our data on whiteboards (like the ones we use in our classroom). The primary investigator of this trip, John, will then use all of the data we collected and put it into a 3-D computer program which will make a simulation of the beach. This way he can compare the beach and how it is changing from year to year.

Tomorrow we hope that the weather will be somewhat more cooperative and we will get the opportunity to go snorkeling again. We also hope to be able to begin some of the research in the water that we came here to do, such as looking at coral bleaching and the types of coral we see in the water with our PI Frames.