Glacier
Home
Activities
Resources
Virtual Field Trip
Glossary
Geology of Communities
Dynamic Earth
Hot Spots
Geology in the Classroom
GeoToolbox
Especially For Teachers
Hall of Fame
Geological Milestones

Resources
Saskatchewan Evergreen Curriculum
Grade 9 Science: The Atmosphere
Living and Learning in the Space Age
 
 
spacer
Activities

Coastal Erosion

Goal:

To show how rising sea-level leads to erosion of our coastlines.

Case History - The disappearance of Harris Misener's farm. In the video, Harris Misener tells us that his grandfather's farm, located on an island at the mouth of Chezzetcook Inlet, Nova Scotia, has been completely eroded away over the last forty years. We also hear that this is the result of rising sea-level. The objective of this section is to show how this erosion has been documented scientifically and then explain the link between rising sea-level and coastal erosion. This is presented as a series of exercises for the student, followed by short discussions of the resulting information. The exercises involve the interpretation of aerial photographs and geological maps, for which the students need some tracing paper and a piece of string to measure distances. Some additional explanations of basic concepts concerning maps, compass directions and scales may be necessary.

To understand this section, the student will need to be familiar with some of the glacial landforms discussed in Part 1 or in the video, particularly drumlins and beaches. Several terms related to geological materials, such as till, sand and rock, will also be used. The student will be invited to review the video to check on certain answers. Each exercise builds on the previous one, so you will need to check that the student has the answers to one exercise before proceeding to the next.

Objective: To show how geological landforms can be identified from aerial photographs and displayed graphically in the form of maps. Post-Glacial Change Exercise 6 - Interpreting air photographs. Figure 35 is an aerial photograph, taken in 1992, of the coastline where Harris Misener's farm used to be. This photo was taken with the camera pointed directly downward (it is therefore known as a "vertical" aerial photograph). Although some distortion is present at the edges, such photos are generally accurate enough to be used as a map.

There are two main types of geological features or landforms visible on the photo: drumlins made up of till and beaches made up of loose sand and gravel. If you do not remember what these are, please check the video. Several other ground photographs (Fig. 36A through 36D) are also provided to help you identify these features on the aerial photographs.

The story of Harris Misener's farm is told in the video where we can see the other geological features that appear on the photographs.

  1. Trace the outline of the coast on a piece of tracing paper. Draw a neat box around the map you have made and copy the scale bar from the photograph.
  2. The region known as Story Head has a distinctive dark colour on the aerial photograph because it is covered with trees. Using photograph 36A and the video, can you deduce what kind of material makes up Story Head? Is it a drumlin made up of till, or a beach made up of loose sand and gravel?
  3. The long, thin curving piece of land that joins Story Head with the mainland has a different appearance. Based on photograph 36B and the video, what kind of material makes up this stretch of coast?
  4. Based on the aerial photograph and photographs 36C and 36D, can you extend your interpretation to other parts of the aerial photographs? If so, colour in all areas that are made up of drumlins in one colour and all areas that are beaches of loose sand and gravel in another colour.
  5. Draw a legend (key) to your map to explain what the different colours represent.

Figure 35 - Story Head Aerial Photograph
Figure 35. Aerial photograph of Story Head and surrounding landforms. Geological features with locations of photographs of key sites are indicated.

Figure 36A - Story HeadFigure 36B - Story Head Figure 36C - Story HeadFigure 36D - Story Head
Figure 36. (A, B, C, D). Photographs of key sites at Story Head. Photos by R. Taylor

Expected Answers from the students.
   

    Last Modified: 2004-12-10