The Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is a tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, lying predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north, and Long Island in New York to the south. From west to east, the sound stretches 110 miles from the East River in New York City, along the North Shore of Long Island, to Block Island Sound. A mix of freshwater from tributaries and saltwater from the ocean, Long Island Sound is 21 miles at its widest point and varies in depth from 65 to 230 feet.
What makes The Long Island Sound special?
The fact that the Long Island Sound is an estuary, a place where saltwater from the ocean mixes with fresh water from rivers draining from the land is what makes it different. Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They serve as feeding, breeding, and nursery areas for many species that spend most of their adult lives in the ocean. This estuary is home to more than 1,200 species of invertebrates, 170 species of fish, and dozens of species of migratory birds live at least part of the year.
So what is an estuary?
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Although influenced by the tides, they are protected from the full force of ocean waves, winds and storms by land forms such as barrier islands or peninsulas.
What is a groin (groyne)?
A groin, built perpendicular to the shore, is a rigid hydraulic structure built from an ocean shore or from a bank that interrupts water flow and limits the movement of sediment. This depletes the sand supply to the beach area immediately down-drift of the structure. Groins serve to prohibit erosion and stabilize a beach on the updrift side. It is usually made out of wood, concrete, or stone.
The negative impact of groins on downdrift shorelines is well understood. When a groin works as intended, sand moving along the beach in the so-called downdrift direction is trapped on the updrift side of the groin, causing a sand deficit and increasing erosion rates on the downdrift side.
QUESTIONS/TASKS:
1. What time and date did you visit? Would you say that the water was mainly fresh, brackish or salty at the time of your visit? How did you determine this?
2. What observations do you make regarding the ecosystem of the Long Island Sound (include flora and fauna along with any seasonal impact)?
3. What indications of erosion are you able to observe from this beach?
4. How many groins can you observe from this point? Why do you believe there are multiple groins in this stretch of beach?
5. To prove that you were here, please post a picture of yourself or your GPS with the sound in the background. Any other photos of the area are also greatly appreciated.