What are the Coastal Features Found at Folly Point

Portland and what are the factors that are

responsible for their formation?

Name: Alex Clarke

School Name: Kingston College
Candidate Number: 1000570689
School Code: 100057
Date: August 24, 2014
Table of Contents

Aim of Study 1

Location of Study

Map 1: Jamaica , Location of

Folly Point 2
Map 2: Portland, Folly Point 3

Methodology 4

Analysis of Data and Discussion of Finding 5

Conclusion 16

Bibliography 17

Align your page numbers. The pages are not numbered.

Aim of Study

To identify and describe the features which were present at the study location ie. Folly Point, Portland
and to explain the formation of the features.
Map 1: Jamaica, Folly Point
Map 2: Portland, Folly Point
 Methodology

A field trip was undertaken on May 28, 2014 to Folly Point in Portland, Jamaica.

Data was collected using the following methods. In order to find the number of waves which came into contact
with this coast per minute. A stop-watch was used to record the number of waves per minute that came in
contact with the coast. This process was done at each site. From the number of waves counted to have made
contact with coast the type of waves was determined.

The features were identified and measured. Dimensions were estimated where measurements would be
hazardous. Photos were taken of the coastal features present and sketches were made to outline features.
Secondary information was obtained from text books only. Large scale maps were used to identify the site.
Analysis of Data and Discussion of Finding

Introduction
Coasts are the part of the land adjoining or near the sea. The coast is where waves impact the land. These waves
which impact the coast can either help build up the coast through constructive wave which deposit sediment on
the coast or erode the coast through destructive waves which wear away the coast. Folly point is a coast with
many features. The area will be studied and viewed closely to determine whether the features there are erosional
or depositional to find out if the coast at this point (Folly point) is being eroded away or built up.

Site 1
The site was composed of mainly limestone (calcium carbonate), which was lifted above sea level. The wave
count here was 10 waves per minute so the waves were found to be destructive waves. The destructive waves
eroded the coast by the processes of abrasion and hydraulic action. A wave cut platform was identified (see
plate 1). According to Wilson (YEAR) a wave cut platform is a smooth rocky marine platform worn by erosion
by waves and currents along the coast. It is revealed at low tide and it slopes seaward from the base of a cliff.
Plate 1: Wave Cut Platform

Source: Authors Fieldwork {2014}

Label the plate.

At the Wave Cut Platform identified it was observed that the platform cut the wave on impact. When the wave
cut platform cuts the wave it means it causes the wave to break. The wave cut platform was estimated to be
about 3 meters wide and a overhang cliff was present. How are overhang cliffs formed?
This site was being weathered chemically by the processes of oxidation and solution. Solution according to
Ottley (2006) is the chemical decomposition of limestone rocks by sea water. Oxidation according to Wilson
(1999) occurs when a mineral reacts with the oxygen in the air. When an object contains iron it will oxidise and
rust will form on the surface.

Plate 2: Oxidation

Source: Authors Fieldwork label needed.

Site 2
Site two was composed mostly of limestone. The waves at this site were destructive type waves and 10 waves
impacted the coastline per 1 minute. Three headlands were identified. According to Ottley (2006) headlands are
features formed where there are alternate beds of hard rock and soft rock, the hard rocks offer a greater degree
of resistance to erosion. They eventually stand out with steep cliff side projecting out into the sea. A bay was
identified also this is due the softer rock being easily eroded because they are less resistant. In time a circular
indentation in the land called a bay is formed. Figure 1 shows the formation of bays and headlands. The
headlands were the dominant features. The other features were locaed on the headlands.

Figure 1: Headland and Bay Formation

Source:http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/GCSE/AQA/Coastal%20Zone/Landforms/Erosion%20Landforms.htm

At this site several other features were identified such as a blow hole (see plate 3). A blow hole according to
Ottley (2006) a blowhole is a coastal feature formed as sea caves grow landwards and upwards into vertical
shafts and expose themselves towards the surface, which can result in blasts of water from the top of the
blowhole.
Plate 3: Blowhole

label the plate

Source: Authors Fieldwork {2014}

This blow hole was estimated to be 1.7 meters in width and 4 meters in length. The next feature identified at site
2 was an inlet. The inlet according to websites a narrow area of water that reaches from the sea or a lake into the
land. This inlet was 80m in length from view point but the real length was 120m. Several other features were
found, such as a cave. A cave according to Ottley (2006) is a developed indentation formed on the side of
headlands by the erosional processes of abrasion and hydraulic action. (Please See plate 5)

Plate 5: Cave

Source: Authors Fieldwork {2014}

An arch was identified as well. An arch may be developed from a cave. According to Ottley (2006) an arch is
formed if caves formed on both sides of a narrow headland are eroded or tunnelled through till the caves meet.
(See plate 6)
Plate 6: Arch

Source: Authors Fieldwork {2014}

A Stack was also identified, According to Ottley (2006) a stack is formed by further erosion to an arch causing
the arch to collapse. Stacks when further eroded become stumps.

too many plates. Use a diagram to show the figures or identify them on one plate.
Site 3
At site three a beach and tombolo was identified. Different from the other features mentioned and described
before which were erosional, these features were depositional. At this site wave refraction is occurring. The site
was within a cove which has a small bay. The area was experiencing long-shore drift coming from the north-
west. According to Ottely (2006) a beach is formed from the continuous accumulation of sand, shingles and
pebbles. This type of beach was a bayhead beach. According to Wilson bayhead beaches are formed when
constructive waves deposit sand and other material between two headlands. The beach is seen in plate 7
below.

Plate 7: Beach

Source: Authors Fieldwork{2014}

A tombolo which according to Wilson (1999) a spit of sand and or stones and other sediment joining an island
to the mainland. This tombolo was formed by the deposition of sand and other sediments due to the refraction of
waves in the cove around Woods Island. On the base of the tombolo where it comes into contact the beach two
small areas were studied. These areas labelled A and B. Area A was farther away from the tombolo while area
B was at the base of the tombolo. No, the material was examined on the beach.
 While studying areas A and B it was noticed that the nature and size of the deposited material changed in size
along the beach. At area A the composition of the deposition was as shown in the chart below.

SeDIMENT DISTRIBUTION PERCENTILE ACROSS THE BEACH

SEDIMENTS DEPOSITED

Sand Cobble Shingle

60%
B 10%
30%

10%
A 70%
20%
0 10 20 30 PERCENTAGE40 50 60 70 80

Figure # and source needed! You must mention the figure in the body of the sba.

This Chart shows that the heavier material which was being carried into the bay by the waves such as the cobble
was dropped off closer to point A because point A is a shorter distance to travel than point B, so when the wave
loses its energy it will not have enough power to carry heavy material like cobble so it will leave it at point A.
However the lighter sediments being carried into the bay can travel a farther distance into the bay as the wave
need only little power to carry them, the smaller particles i.e. the sand particle will be carried deeper into the
bay to point B because even though the wave loses energy it can still carry these small particles as they are light
and need little energy to carry them hence Point B is mostly made up of sand the lightest particle while point A
is made up of heavier sediments such as the cobble. On the other hand the shingle is moderate in weight so the
point of maximum deposition is nearly evenly spread across the beach.
Site 4
This site was an island more specifically a stack named Woods Island. This site was determined to be180m in
length and 120m in width. The north side of this site which is exposed to destructive waves and therefore it is
subjected to intense wave erosion. On this island several blowholes and caves were identified. There was a
wave cut platform on the north side of the site and a small beach was being formed on the south side of the
island due to deposition by wave refraction.
Factors responsible for the formation of the features.

The factors responsible for the formation of these features stated in this project the rock type which for most
part was limestone which can be eroded quickly because limestone is soluble in water (dissolves in water to
form Calcium bicarbonate), the wave action was destructive at all site except site 3. The waves at site 3 were
constructive. The waves deposited sediments to build up depositional features such as the beach seen in plate 7.
you are not only looking at wave action. What about the other factors such as weathering and its ability to
weaken the rocks making them vulnerable to erosion? The type of rock is also important.
Conclusion
In conclusion we see that the study area is being weathered or eroded by several processes. Some of the features
identified were depositional features. At the sites where erosional features were formed it was pointed out that
the type of waves were destructive waves while at the sites where depositional features were found the waves
were constructive waves. We can see this coastal region is being both eroded away and constructed because of
these erosional and depositional processes. How were they formed? Summary needed in relation to aim
BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Longman Geography for CSEC by Jeanette Ottley and Marolyn Gentles published in 2006

2. Caribbean Environment For CXC Geography (Fully Revised Edition) by Mark Wilson published in 1999

This is not how it is to be done. Use the sba guide given.

INTERNET SOURCES

1. http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/GCSE/AQA/Coastal%20Zone/Landforms/Erosion%20Landforms.htm
you need the title of the article and the date it was retrieved.