Welcome to the beautiful Fort Lauderdale white
sand beach. I hope you enjoy this cache and learn a little bit
about the everchanging face of our beaches. Plenty of paid parking
right nearby although it could be extremely crowded on the
weekends.
Beaches are areas of loose sediment. Depending
on where the beach is located will depend on what composes the
sediment on the beach. Beaches can be made up of loose gravel,
stones, shells, coral, and even lava. Here in Florida, the beaches
are comprised of mostly rocks, gravel, ground up coral and shells,
and quartz. The quartz is what gives Florida its notable
“white sand” beaches.
Beaches have several characteristics to them.
These are often affected by ocean wave action as well as wind
forces. Many towns will create dunes to limit beach erosion from
wind forces. An easy way to tell how rough the wave action has been
is to look at the berm (if there is one). The more defined the
berm, the more likely there has been rough wave action that has
eaten away at the beach.
Florida is also known for its shallow offshore
sand bars. These offshore bars affect beach erosion by dictating
the rip currents that flow along the beaches. These currents can
sweep sand from one beach to another either up or down the shore.
These currents can take so much sand from one beach to the other,
that it can actually create little islands called barrier
islands.
On many beaches elsewhere, and at some Florida
beaches, you will see groins or jetties to help stop the erosion of
sand from these longshore currents.
A major way to combat this beach erosion is
through beach replenishment or nourishment. This is where sand is
pumped from offshore sites back onto the beaches to replace the
sand that was swept away by the wind, waves, and currents. The
replenishments programs from Florida to New Jersey have worked very
well to replenish the beaches and help slow the erosion
process.
To get credit for this cache, you must do the following:
1) Identify what direction the
longshore currents are flowing. Can you see where the sand has been
dragged to and built up?
2) Determine if there is a berm on
the beach and estimate how far from the waters edge it is, as well
as describe the berm (e.g. sharp cliff v. soft hill)
3) (OPTIONAL) If you would like, this is a wonderful place
for a photo op….say cheeeeze!
Send your answers for #1
and #2 to me in an email. Do not include in your "Found It" Log.
Violators will be prosecuted even though I may defend you. Be sure
to use the links in the pictures for extended
information.