This earthcache can be attempted on any part of Ocean City’s beaches!
Parts of the Beach:
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Swash zone: is alternately covered and exposed by waves.
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Beach face: sloping section below berm that is exposed to the swash of the waves.
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Wrack line: the highest reach of the daily tide where organic and inorganic debris is deposited by wave action.
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Berm: The nearly horizontal portion that stays dry except during extremely high tides and storms. May have sand dunes.
What is a Flat Coast?
At a flat coast or flat shoreline, the land descends gradually into the sea. Flat coasts can be formed either as a result of the sea advancing into gently-sloping terrain or through the abrasion of loose rock. They may be basically divided into two parallel strips: the shoreface and the beach. Flat coasts consist of loose material such as sand and gravel. Wind transports finer grains of sand inland over the dunes. The sea washes pebbles and sand away from the coast and dumps it at other locations.
Signs of a Flat Coast:
Ridge and runnel systems - Ridges and runnels form parallel to the shoreline in the foreshore zone. Ridges are areas of the foreshore that are raised above the adjacent shore which dips into a runnel. The runnels are disrupted by channels that help to drain the water down the beach. Ridge and runnel systems are formed due to the interaction of tides, currents, sediments and beach topography. They only form on beaches with a shallow gradient. They form as a simple drainage route for tides. Water flows in and out via the runnel. Runnels are a pretty common occurrence in Ocean City during high tide and after storms. Most visitors to Ocean City will see runnels around the summertime. Visit this article for more information: https://www.oceancitytoday.com/column_posts/on_guard/tide-pools-form-this-time-of-year/article_d22fadee-c50b-11e9-b487-672ce8a0e86c.html.
“Sand Cliffs” - Beaches along flat coasts are usually heavily eroded during storm surges and spring tides. This tends to steepen a portion of the beach and creates a small vertical cliff. Under normal circumstances, wave action on flat coasts tends to raise the beach. In Ocean City, there are reports that small “sand cliffs” occur the most in the winter. It is uncommon for them to appear in the summertime, but it is possible under the right conditions. Visit this article for more information: https://www.baltimoresun.com/weather/bs-md-ocean-city-ledge-20150807-story.html.
Logging Tasks:
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What part of Ocean City’s beaches did you visit today? (For example: Visited and recorded answers from the beach between 83rd and 84th streets)
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Ocean City can be considered a flat coast. Depending on the time when you visit, was there any runnels or “sand cliffs” present on the shore?
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If you see a runnel, how deep is the water in it?
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If you see “sand cliffs” how estimate the height of them.
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What types of debris did you find at the wrack line? Name specific examples that you observe.
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As of June 2019, earthcaches are now allowed to have a required photo logging task. Please provide a photo of yourself, your GPSr, or a personal item that proves that you have visited this site. Please post this in your log.
**Geocachers that do not complete all of the necessary logging tasks above will result in a log deletion.**
Congrats to sno_man on the FTF!
Enjoyed finding this EarthCache? Consider awarding it a favorite point!
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_coast
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/nyc-region-runnel-formed-beach-a-bar-migrates-shore
https://www.alevelgeography.com/landforms-of-deposition/
https://www.oceancitytoday.com/column_posts/on_guard/tide-pools-form-this-time-of-year/article_d22fadee-c50b-11e9-b487-672ce8a0e86c.html
https://www.baltimoresun.com/weather/bs-md-ocean-city-ledge-20150807-story.htm
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