How Humans Impact Beaches

Seven Mile Beach in Australia

Student Resource Center GeologyLink. Houghton Mifflin, College division. Visited 8 August 2008. http://college.cengage.com/geology/resources/geologylink/glossary/b.html

. . . an accumulation of sand or gravel that is part of the shore

. . . constantly changing as the sediments are moved by waves and currents

US Environmental Protection Agency. Beaches. Updated 1December 2006. Visited 7 August 2008. http://www.epa.gov/beaches/basicinfo.html

Salt Pond Beach Park, Hanapepe, Kauai

They provide many recreational opportunities.

They act as a buffer between people who live on the coast and high winds and waves produced by storms.

They support a variety of plants and animals.

Kamilo Beach, Hawaii 2006

Owen, James. Oceans Awash With Microscopic Plastic, Scientists Say. National Geographic News. 6 May 2004. Visited 8 August 2008. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/05/0506_040506_oceanplastic.html

All kinds of plastic can be found on beaches.

Some plastics are left by people using the beach.

Some plastics wash on shore from the ocean.

The plastics can harm animals that live on or near the beach.

Plastic garbage can also make the beach unusable by people.

What's the Story on Oil Spills? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Revised on 20 June 2007. Visited 8 August 2008. http://response.restoration.noaa.gov

Photo by Gordon Richardson , July 2000www.capetownskies.com/1606/early_jul00.htm

Spills can be caused by: people making mistakes or

being careless.

equipment breaking down.

natural disasters such as hurricanes.

deliberate acts by terrorists, countries at war, vandals, or illegal dumpers.

Heavy beach erosion threatens several condominiums on Singer Island, Florida.

Coastal Erosion and Beach Lossin Hawaii. Visited 8 August 2008. http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/SEAGRANT/CEaBLiH.html

West-Central Florida Coastal Studies Project. U.S. Geological SurveyCenter for Coastal & Regional Marine Studies. Updated March 24, 2004. Visited 8 August 2008. http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/wfla/factsheet/

Healthy beaches have plenty of sand.

When sand supply is blocked, beaches will erode.

Constructing jetties, sea walls, or even buildings may block sand movement.

Natural Resources Defense Council. Updated 24 July 2008. Visited 7 August 2008. http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/qttw.asp

Florida Red Tide Bloom of Karenia brevis.(Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Harmful Algal Bloom Page)

Sometimes the water at a beach is not safe

Too many nutrients in the water, because of inadequately treated sewage, farm waste, or fertilizer runoff can cause a red tide. This can be toxic to people and other life forms in the water.

Sometimes even if the water looks normal, it can contain toxins, and people should stay out.

Lake Michigan beachOcean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. Ocean Conservancy. Visited 8 August 2008. http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_icc&JServSessionIdr011=ubq81hkp21.app46b

1. Recycle plastics.2. Clean up after yourself when

enjoying a day at the beach.3. Check your own boat if you

are traveling on the water. Make sure it isn’t leaking any oil or gas.

4. Realize that building on or near a beach may change it. Study the local conditions before you build.

5. Volunteer to help clean up a beach.

6. Join a beach improvement group. There are a lot from which to choose.