Fieldwork

Question 1

What is the title of the physical fieldwork enquiry for Walton-on-the-Naze?

Answer 1

How effective is the coastal management at Walton-on-the-Naze?

Question 2

Where is Walton-on-the-Naze located?

Answer 2

Walton-on-the-Naze is a small town in Essex, England, on the North Sea coast.

Question 3

Why was Walton-on-the-Naze suitable for the investigation?

Answer 3

It has a public access beach with a managed section and an unmanaged section very close together, allowing for easy comparison within a day.

Question 4

What was the purpose of the bipolar analysis in the investigation?

Answer 4

To grade 6 categories around the effectiveness of beach management (e.g., aesthetic, quality, lifespan) and score them from 3 to -3 for easy analysis and comparison.

Question 4

What method was used to measure the shape of the beach in the investigation?

Answer 4

A beach profile using a clinometer to measure the angle of the beach every 1m at both the managed and unmanaged sections.

Question 5

What was the purpose of the field sketch in the investigation?

Answer 5

To note the management in place, evidence of erosion, and the effectiveness of management at both the managed and unmanaged sections of the beach.

Question 6

What were the 3 ways we collected primary data?

Answer 6

bipolar analysis, beach profile and field sketch

Question 7

What were the limitations of this location?

Answer 7

Only one small section of coastline was visited

Question 7

What were the risks?

Answer 7

1. Drowning 2. Rock falls from slumping cliffs

Question 8

How were these risks reduced?

Answer 8

1. Stay away from the water 2. Stay away from cliffs

Question 9

Why was the bipolar analysis reliable and accurate in the investigation?

Answer 9

It allowed for quick and easy data collection, providing quantitative data to analyse the effectiveness of both groynes and the sea wall.

Question 10

Why were the measurements used in the beach profile method reliable and accurate?

Answer 10

The measurements were objective, taken every 1m, providing a clear understanding of the shape of the beach.

Question 10

How did the field sketch contribute to the reliability and accuracy of the investigation?

Answer 10

It ensured careful observation of features and processes that might not have been seen in photographs, providing a more comprehensive analysis.

Question 10

Why was the bipolar analysis not reliable and accurate in the investigation?

Answer 10

Scores were based on personal opinion, leading to potential bias. Some categories, like lifespan, were difficult to score without more information.

Question 11

Why were the clinometer readings not reliable and accurate?

Answer 11

The bright sunlight affected readings, and it was the first time using the clinometers, which could have led to human error.

Question 12

Why was the field sketch not fully reliable and accurate?

Answer 12

It only provided a snapshot of one moment in time, and beaches can change very quickly.

Question 12

What sampling method was used for the beach profile measurements?

Answer 12

Systematic sampling – the angle of the beach was measured every 1m up the beach, providing good coverage without bias.

Question 12

What sampling method was used to compare the managed and unmanaged beach?

Answer 12

Stratified sampling – 2 pre-selected sites to see the difference between the managed and unmanaged beach.

Question 13

What is a potential limitation of the systematic sampling used for the beach profile?

Answer 13

Key information, such as a dip in the sand between two points, may have been missed.

Question 13

What data presentation method was used for the bipolar analysis of the groynes and sea wall?

Answer 13

The bipolar analysis was plotted on a radar graph for both the groynes and sea wall.

Question 14

How was the beach profile data presented?

Answer 14

A cross section of the beach was plotted onto a graph, comparing the managed and unmanaged profiles.

Question 15

How did the radar graph help interpret the data for the bipolar analysis?

Answer 15

It made it easy to compare the two types of management and different categories, providing clear visual insights.

Question 16

How did the cross-section graph help interpret the beach profile data?

Answer 16

It gave a clear understanding of the beach shape at both the managed and unmanaged sites, allowing for an easy comparison on one graph.

Question 17

What is a disadvantage of using the radar graph for bipolar analysis?

Answer 17

its bias

Question 18

What is a disadvantage of using the cross-section graph for beach profile data?

Answer 18

It only provides a snapshot of time, and beach shapes can change quickly. Mistakes in data collection can skew the entire dataset, making the beach appear a very different shape.

Question 19

What did the bipolar analysis of the management techniques reveal about the sea walls and groynes?

Answer 19

The sea walls were in good condition, while the groynes were in poor condition but trapping some sediment, as there was more sand on one side than the other.

Question 20

What did the beach profile reveal about the managed and unmanaged beaches?

Answer 20

The managed beach had an overall gradient of 10, while the unmanaged beach had a gradient of 2, indicating the managed beach was steeper due to more sediment build-up from the groynes.

Question 21

What did the field sketches show about the sea walls, groynes, and the cliffs?

Answer 21

The sea walls were in good condition and used as a path, with cliffs behind covered in plants, indicating no erosion. The groynes were in poor condition with gaps but still collecting sediment. Destructive waves were observed on this coastline, and there was no beach with cliffs slumping on the unmanaged beach.

Question 22

How could the reliability and validity of the conclusions have been improved by increasing the number of sites?

Answer 22

Visiting more sites would provide a broader dataset, leading to more valid conclusions by accounting for different conditions and variations across the beach.

Question 22

How could visiting on more than one day improve the reliability of the conclusions?

Answer 22

Beaches can change a lot due to varying waves and conditions, so multiple visits would make the conclusions more reliable across different times and conditions.

Question 23

How could inaccurate data affect the conclusions, and what could be done to improve it?

Answer 23

Inaccurate data, such as human error with the clinometers, could skew results. Practicing the technique, measuring at more locations, and averaging data across different groups would help remove outliers and increase reliability.

Question 24

How could the sample sizes have been improved in the investigation?

Answer 24

Measuring the beach profile at more locations, rather than just one part of the beach at the managed and unmanaged sites, would provide a more accurate and reliable representation of the beach’s shape.

Question 24

How could the use of secondary data improve the reliability and validity of the conclusions?

Answer 24

Using more secondary data, like geology maps, could provide additional context and support for the findings, making the conclusions more robust.