Leaving Certificate

Geographical Investigation, Geomorphic processes of

transportation and deposition in a coastal environment, 1day

Please visit http://www.field-studies-council.org/outdoorclassroom

for alternative Leaving Certificate courses

This course prepares students for Topic 1. Geomorphic processes of transportation

and deposition in a coastal environment of the geographical investigation. During

this day students will follow a route of enquiry to investigate how transportation

and deposition have affected Bundoran Beach. Students will be introduced to a

range of techniques which will give experience of practical geographical techniques

as well as sharpen their data analysis and interpretation skills.

FSC Head office, Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 1HW Tel: 01743 852100 Fax: 01743 852101 Email: headoffice@field-studies-council.org Website: www.field-studies-council.org

Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW

Leaving Certificate

Geographical Investigation coastal, 1day

COURSE LENGTH Sessions from 9.30am-4.00pm

9:30am- 1:00pm 1:00pm -1:30pm 1:30pm-4:00pm 4:00pm

Morning session Lunch Afternoon session Depart

Extensions can be arranged, including evening meals and an overnight stay. This makes more time available for follow up discussions and analysis; ensuring students make the most of this outdoor learning opportunity.

COURSE CONTENT Definitions and Concepts Sampling and Experimental Techniques Deposition

Transportation

Longshore drift

Wave frequency

Energy

Refraction

Load

Sediment

The students work in groups of 4 – 6. The students visit 5 sites along the shore from North to South. The following coastal parameters are measured.

Beach profile – tape measure, ranging pole, clinometer. 1 transect at each site.

Wind direction/speed – anemometer, compass – 1 measurement at each site.

Wave direction/frequency/height –stop-watch. 1 measurement at each site.

Longshore Drift – float/buoy, stop-watch, tape. 1 measurement at each site. Whole Class Measurements

Sediment size – 3 samples are collected from each site, dried, sieved and weighed.

Meteorological data – Detailed weather and surf forecast analysed in relation to data collected

This course of study takes place on Bundoran Beach, Co Donegal. The beach is located approximately 250m

north of Bundoran Main Street. It is a sandy beach facing Donegal Bay and the Atlantic bounded on the North

and South by rocks and on the east by the promenade roadway. The beach is constantly being modified by the

processes of transportation and deposition by waves and currents. The amount of sand in the beach system

remains fairly constant but the profile changes with the season. Journey time is approximately 40 minutes

from the centre.

Protecting fieldwork opportunities for everybody Growing pressures on outdoor learning has led the FSC to take on an important role; championing the rights and opportunities for people of all ages to experience the environment at first hand. The FSC has lead in campaigns to reverse the continuing decline in fieldwork within secondary schools and to build opportunities for out-of-classroom learning. As a registered charity, the FSC receives no statutory funding. It relies solely on fees charged for courses and membership. Therefore, by visiting an FSC Centre not only are you receiving a high quality educational experience for your students, you are also you are helping to protect fieldwork opportunities for everybody.

External Recognition of Quality All our centres have been awarded the

Quality Badge by The Council for Learning

Outside the Classroom. The badge is

awarded to organisations that have

demonstrated that they consistently

deliver high quality teaching and learning

experiences and manage risk effectively.

This means that you will have to complete

less paperwork when visiting our centres

High Quality teaching It is the same inside the classroom as it is outside the classroom; the teacher delivering the content plays a vital role in ensuring successful learning outcomes are achieved.

This is why every FSC Centre has taken great care in developing a team of gifted field teachers with a real passion for the subject being taught.

Not only are they experts, they are gifted teachers with a real passion for the subject being taught. FSC field teachers are the reason why many schools return year after year.

FSC Head office, Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 1HW Tel: 01743 852100 Fax: 01743 852101 Email: headoffice@field-studies-council.org Website: www.field-studies-council.org

Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW

Leaving Certificate

Geographical Investigation coastal, 1day

LEARNING OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES

Learning Objectives Learning Outcomes

Provide students with the opportunity to observe, identify and measure the dominant coastal processes occurring at Bundoran beach, concentrating on transportation and deposition

Investigate the formation of storm ridges and sloping beach profiles

Investigate the physical characteristics of the changing beach profiles along the bay

By the end of a course we expect all students to:

Use and be able to recall several techniques to measure beach parameters

Recognise a range of processes operating in a coastal landscape

Identify a summer and winter beach and some of its associated characteristics

We also hope that students will:

Recognise a range of processes operating at the coast and how some of these relate to the formation of the beach profile

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The results and conclusions depend on the river conditions on the day of the fieldwork as well as on the

specific site measured. The following are examples of likely outcomes:

The profile measurements show that the beach is steeper at the south and smoothly sloping at the

north. The southern section is representative of a winter storm beach where it has shelter from the

summer tides. This indicates that deposition is occurring during the winter whilst the northern section

shows seasonal transportation of the beach.

The sediment measurements indicate that there is some sorting of beach material by wave action in

both downshore and longshore directions. Larger grains will be found towards the back of the beach

and on the southern ridges. The larger the material the more stable it is and therefore steeper beach

slopes will be produced.

The lateral shift in beach material will be observed by changing beach height along the bay and the

dominant drift direction will be measured by plotting buoy/float movement. The direction and rate

could be determined in this way and link to other factors i.e. profile, tidal or wind conditions.

Please note: It is not usually possible for the students to analyse their own results on a day visit due to time constraints.

The students will be able to look at likely outcomes and explanations. A longer stay (extended day or two day visit) will

allow the students to draw conclusions from their data and complete their geographical investigation report

FSC Head office, Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 1HW Tel: 01743 852100 Fax: 01743 852101 Email: headoffice@field-studies-council.org Website: www.field-studies-council.org

Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW

Leaving Certificate

Geographical Investigation coastal, 1day

FSC DERRYGONNELLY Located in the unspoilt West Fermanagh countryside, FSC Derrygonnelly is 10 miles from Enniskillen, 20 miles from Ballyshannon and only 15 miles from the Donegal coast. The River Sillees runs through the centre grounds and an excellent variety of habitats including rocky shores, freshwater, sand dunes, rivers, bog and heathland are within easy reach.

PRICES Prices start at €21/£17 per student. For more information please contact the centre directly.

TO BOOK THIS COURSE, SIMPLY: 1. Choose the time of the year you would like to attend 2. Check availability online or contact FSC Derrygonnelly For alternative Leaving Certificate courses, please visit: http://www.field-studies-council.org/outdoorclassroom The FSC prides itself on being flexible; the course content can be tailored to meet your needs. Alternatively, we can work with you to create a fully bespoke course to meet your exact requirements.

Derrygonnelly ROI Tel: 04868641673 NI Tel: 028 686 41673 Email: enquiries.dg@field-studies-council.org

DG

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