Coastal Sediment Analysis Paper Example: Exploring the Vadose Zone & Water Cycle

Section 1

These are tools used to analyze and explain the different sediment outputs and inputs on the coasts(Keller, 2011). The resultant analysis is then used to predict morphological change along the coastline over time.

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A sketch of the water cycle

The vadose zone, Difference from the zone of saturation

The vadose zone is the part of Earth, which lies between the top of the phreatic region and land surface (Keller, 2011). Zone of saturation, on the other hand, is the zone in bellow the vadose zone in which all the rock fractures and pores filled with water.

What is Eutrophication?

Eutrophication is a term given to describe a situation when water bodies are saturated with nutrients minerals such that it supports the growth of plants and algae (Keller, 2011). Eutrophication frequently occurs when there is runoff from land into the ocean, which results in the accumulation of nutrients, minerals, and seeds in water surface leading to the dense growth of plants.

What is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal is a combination of two Greek words geo meaning Earth and thermos meaning hot. Therefore, geothermal energy is energy stored and generated from the earth (Keller, 2011). The energy originates from the heat within the earth, which is often generated from radioactive decay and constant heat loss from the earth. It is a clean form of energy, which can be used to generate electricity.

What is peak oil?

Peak oil is the point and time at which global oil production is at its maximum after which the rate of extraction of crude oil declines (Keller, 2011).

What is Liquefaction?

Liquefaction is the process by which solid, gas matter is transformed or converted into liquid, or none liquid matter whose characteristics follows those of fluid dynamics (Keller, 2011). For example, Earthquake liquefaction is defined as the process by which unconsolidated, saturated, soil or sand is converted into a fluid like suspension during an earthquake.

Explain Biochemical Oxygen Demand

BOD is the total amount of dissolved oxygen needed by a living organism to metabolize organic substances present in a given sample of water at a given temperature over a specified period (Keller, 2011). BOD value is directly proportional to the amount of organic matter available for biological organisms in the water.

What is Bauxite?

Bauxite is a type of sedimentary rock, which is considered the primary source of aluminum because it is mainly composed of alumina with small proportions of iron oxides.

Section 2

Q1. Do you think human activity has increased coastal erosion? Give examples

Yes, anthropogenic activities are the leading cause of coastal erosion. For example, 50% of the world's population has settled along with the coastal areas. Agriculture is the leading and primary source of income for most of this group of people (Cloern et al., 2016). During cultivation, the soil becomes loose making it easy to carry the soil towards the ocean when it rains.

In an attempt to settle along the shores of the oceans, human beings often cut trees to have an excellent space to build on. Deforestation of trees along the shores leaves the soil bare making it easy for rainwater to carry the soil away during a torrential downpour.

Agriculture is one of the sources of income for people settling along the ocean. Overgrazing has also contributed to erosion along the cost as such activities removes the plantation cover thus leaving the soil bare and at the mercies of strong winds and water, which carries the surface soil away (Cloern et al., 2016).

Q2. Describe the factors affecting runoff and sediment yield

Soil: the type of soil in an area affects run of and sedimentary yield, for example, areas covered by sand and loam soil experiences minimum runoff as compared with those areas covered by clay soil (Canton et al., 2011). The phenomenon happens because sand and loam soil can absorb and retain water thus maintaining soil integrity and sediment yield.

Vegetation: Bare soil surfaces increase the number of runoffs as compared to the soil covered with vegetation, this happens because the roots of trees and grass go deep in the soil holding it together (Canton et al., 2011). The vegetation also absorbs water from the soil thus reducing the number of runoffs and enhances sediment yield.

Rainfall intensity: the amount and storm direction dictate the volume of water in the runoffs in a manner that the higher the amount of rainfall the higher the rate of runoffs and vice versa. More rain creates flooding because the soil can no longer absorb the extra amount (Canton et al., 2011). The direction of the storm also plays a crucial role in increasing the amount of runoff, as the wind will force water to move to a given direction.

Q3. Difference between a confined aquifer, unconfined aquifer, and artisan well

Aquifers are underground water bodies, which can be enclosed within two, either rocks or exist freely within a layer of sand or saturated gravel. A confined aquifer is, therefore, an underground water body, which is enclosed within layers of impenetrable rock making it difficult for water to penetrate these rock and leak onto the surface. Unconfined aquifer are underground water bodies found close to the surface of the earth, the water bodies exist freely within layers of rocks or saturated gravel and can be easily accessed (Istok & Dawson, 2014). Aquifers are often formed when water moves between the earth and through the porous rocks until it reaches the layer of impermeable rocks. The surrounding cliffs and sand are then saturated with this water forming an aquifer. Artisan well on the other hand is a well, which has been drilled past the impermeable strata; this well is capable of using hydrostatic pressure to force underground water into the surface (Istok & Dawson, 2014). Artisan well is, therefore, a way in which groundwater can be naturally brought onto the surface without the need of a pump to facilitate its movement. The pressure from the aquifer is responsible for forcing the water up to the ground.

Q4. If there is a sewage spill into a river how will the dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand be affected? Explain and sketch the relationship

Increase in organic materials and nutrients from sewage discharge decreases the oxygen content in water. The decrease in dissolved oxygen is due to increased oxygen consumption by the microorganism in the sewage. As a result of the exacerbated use of dissolved oxygen, Biological oxygen demand will increase.

The sewer discharge is composed of millions of microorganism due to its nutritious nature. When the sewage water finds its way into water bodies, the microorganism uses the dissolved oxygen in the water for respiration (Keller, 2011). Excessive use of dissolved oxygen by the millions of microorganism in the sewer system results in depletion of the amount of dissolved oxygen available for consumption by water organism. The reduction in the quantity of dissolved oxygen causes an increase in demand for dissolved oxygen by microorganism living in the water a term called biochemical oxygen demand.

Q5. How Earthquakes cause Tsunamis? What is a Tsunami?

A tsunami can be described as a long, high, dangerous and robust ocean waves that come about because of the severe earthquake (Bryant, 2014). Earthquakes' whose epicenters are in or near the oceans are the significant causes of the tsunami. Tsunami occurs when an underwater explosion displaces large volumes of water in oceans, lakes, and sea as in the case of testing explosive weapons of mass destruction, a volcanic eruption as well as earthquakes.

The common cause of a tsunami is a tectonic earthquake; this is because it is the most common form of an earthquake that is associated with crustal deformation. When a tectonic earthquake occurs below the sea, it deforms the earth's crust beneath the sea leading to the displacement of the water above the deformed place from its equilibrium position (Bryant, 2014). As a result, there will be an imbalance in the seawater leading to the formation of substantial destructive tides called tsunami. An earthquake can also cause tsunami by stimulating/ triggering the destruction of plate boundaries leading to water displacement so does the movement of faults beneath the sea that result in displacement in the seabed.

Section 3

Q1. Engineering structures used to limit coastal erosion

Buildings, road contractions, railway line constructions, as well as the construction of lighthouses are the major engineering activities that help prevent coastal erosion (Kamphuis, 2010). The structure protects the soil from direct exposure to wind or water, which may cause erosion thus maintaining soil integrity.

Additionally, the sea wall is yet another structure significant for soil erosion prevention. The wall being static, it substantially it prevents the dynamic nature of the coastal line and hinders the exchange of sediments between sea and land thus preventing coastal erosion. Groin and breakwater are other important coastal engineering structure used to limit coastal erosion. The two structures groin and jetty are constructed to into waters in the beaches to trap and accumulate san drifting along the beach and form artificial harbor to with a basin to hold and accumulate sand from longshore drift respectively hence prevention of soil erosion(Romero et al., 2011).

Q2. Saltwater intrusion in the UAE groundwater table is a significant problem. the problem happens; you may use sketches, measures could be taken to prevent this

Saltwater intrusion is the movement of salt water into the area that only has fresh water, therefore, contaminating the freshwater aquifers. As a result, most groundwater will become salty hence killing freshwater organisms and plants such water are not suitable for consumption especially drinking (Sherif et al., 2011). The movement of salt water to fresh water aquifers occurs due to the hydraulic connection between water in the sea and the fresh water found underground. Human activity such as excessive and irresponsible pumping of fresh water and drilling of water along coastal lines has also increased saltwater intrusion others include drainage and navigational channels which offers an excellent platform for salt water to move and contaminate fresh water.

Moreover, UAE countries receive a minimal amount of rainfall the primary supplier of groundwater in the aquifer, and since the seawater is always denser, than fresh they will percolate into the aquifers hence distorting the balance between the seawater and fresh water in the acquirers. Such can be mitigated by regulating human activities, such as bringing a comprehensive measure to control the excessive pumping of underground water, which promote saltwater intrusion. Another solution would be injecting fresh waters into the aquifers directly to push down seawater a process less optimal based on circular reference logic.

Q3. Describe the types of mining and their impacts

There are four essential types of mining namely underground mining, in-situ mining, open surface mining, and placer mining. Underground mining, Is a type of mining which involves all techniques used to excavate minerals from within the earth, it involves drilling the earth surface. Some of the minerals obtained in this type of mining include iron ores, which may contain gold, silver, zinc, and nickel among other iron substances (Romero et al., 2011). Effects of underground mining include soil degradation as well as increased erosion due to exposure of soil surfaces.

Surface mining involves the removal of surface rocks in an attempt to remove ground minerals; it is not as deep as underground mining. It also causes soil degradation and increased soil erosion making the land inhabitable. Unlike u...