Coastal fieldwork Flashcards
What is quantitative data?
Gives a definitive measure, can be put into graphs, charts and tables
What is qualitative data?
Expresses an opinion or approximates but doesn’t give a definitive measure usually from interviews or pictures
What is secondary data?
Data collected from other people (outside your group) e.g. maps, interviews
What is primary data?
Data you and year group have collected e.g. data collected from the fieldwork day
Aim/ hypothesis for the project:
Does Long Shore Drift occur on the Holderness shoreline?
What were the three methods for collecting quantitative data?
Stone sampling
Clinometer reading
Sediment sampling
How did we do stone sampling?
Collected 10 stones in a 1m² area every 250m - data reliable we can get an average
Used a random number generator to collect rocks to remove bias
What types of sampling methods were used for stone sampling?
Systematic - data collected 5 times for 250m
Random - used a random number generator for picking rocks
How did we do clinometer readings?
Person A stood on the shoreline facing the cliff
Person B stood 10m away
Clinometer measured the gradient
Person A moves to where person B was standing
The process is repeated 5 times 250m apart
What types of sampling methods were used for clinometer readings?
Systematic - data collected 5 times for 250m
Stratified -repeated 5 times so we can see a change in data
How did we do sediment sampling?
We used two 1 metre sticks
Random number generator to select two numbers
Measured the longest side - a-axis
Measured the width - b-axis
What types of sampling methods were used for sediment sampling?
Random - used a random number generator
What were the two types of secondary we used to gather information?
Geology maps
ARC GIS
How did we use geology maps?
It relates the type of the rock to the features found or the processes we are likely to see
How did we use ARC GIS?
We looked at Sewerby beach and Hornsea before
So we can compare before and after of the shape of the beach - chalk was carried down and more rocks at site 1 than 4 +5
What were the limitations of qualitative data collection?
Pictures only taken at one place - can’t make a comparison
Pictures taken same time- can’t make a comparison of change over time
What were limitations of secondary data collection?
Geology maps give a generalised picture - can’t see fine detail
Don’t know what measuring instruments were used and the amount of training they had - difficult to accurately compared data
What did we do to gather qualitative data?
We annotated a picture
What were the limitations of quantitative data collection?
Tide was in - less of angle to measure on the clinometer
Rock sphericity is subjective
Chose a small section if the beach - don’t get the full picture + unintentional bias
How did we annotate a picture?
Boulder clay at a gentler angle than chalk (boulder clay is softer)
Chalk sediment on beach due to hydraulic action and abrasion
What are the pro’s and con’s of using scatter graphs to present data?
Need to manipulate data (averages) - helps to analyse results and spot patterns
Compares all sites
Helps answer the main question
What are the pro’s and con’s of using box + whisker plots to present data?
Need to manipulate data (median + IQR) - helps to analyse results and spot patterns
What are the pro’s and con’s of using beach profiles to present data?
Data presentation method
Simple to complete
Compares all sites
What are the pro’s and con’s of using annotated field-sketches/ pictures to present data?
Qualitative data presentation
Allows several observations + explanations to be pulled together
Provide explanations for quantitative data results
What are the pro’s and con’s of using ARC GIS graphs to present data?
GP’s located graphs
Able to see trends on the coast on a map or satellite image
What were the main conclusions made?
Beach got wider as more angles were recorded further down the beach
Median rock size increased going down the beach
Chalk deposited along the beach as far as South Hornsea whilst white chalk cliffs end on Sewerby beach
How did ICT help with this project?
Used Survey 123 and GPs to record where we measured data
How could we use ICT further in this project?
Finding secondary research/data e.g. Hull university share a lot of data about the Holderness coastline
What were the pro’s of beach profiles?
Easy to collect data
Systematic sampling allowed us to cover a large sample area quickly
What were some risks and how do we manage them?
Slips, trips and falls - wear appropriate footwear, take care on slippy rocks, teachers have first aid
People drowning - no one is allowed in the water
Sunburn or Hypothermia - check weather forecast, wear appropriate clothing
What were the con’s with beach profiles?
Not always accurate as people sunk into wet sand
Two people weren’t always the same height
How could we improve beach profiles?
Use better equipment like Dumpy Level + Staff
What were the pro’s of sediment sampling?
Simple method
Systematic sampling covers a large sample area quickly
Random number generator removes bias
What were the con’s of sediment sampling?
Measured to the nearest cm
Only done once
Sphericity is subjective
How could we improve sediment sampling?
Measure to the nearest mm
Repeat this in different times of year, month, day
What were the pro’s of our results?
Easy to compare graphs
What were the con’s of our results?
Not accurate as human error can occur in data manipulation
How could we improve our results?
Using excel would improve data presentation methods
What were the pro’s of ARC GIS?
Graph made at specific GPs points along the coast
Showed clear trends of stones getting smaller
What were the con’s of ARC GIS?
Stone sizes were too big
Harder to see trends for sphericity of stones
