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Our Seashores

Our Seashores. How Humans Impact Beaches. A beach is. . . . an accumulation of sand or gravel that is part of the shore . . . constantly changing as the sediments are moved by waves and currents. Seven Mile Beach in Australia.

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Our Seashores

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  1. Our Seashores How Humans Impact Beaches

  2. A beach is . . . • . . . an accumulation of sand or gravel that is part of the shore • . . . constantly changing as the sediments are moved by waves and currents 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

  3. Beaches are important because: • 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. 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

  4. Human Impact 1- Plastic Pollution • 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. 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

  5. Human Impact 2-Oil Spills 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. 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 2000 www.capetownskies.com/1606/early_jul00.htm

  6. Human Impact 3-Erosion • 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. 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/

  7. Other Human Impacts • 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. 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 Kareniabrevis.(Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Harmful Algal Bloom Page)

  8. How to Improve Beaches • Recycle plastics. • Clean up after yourself when enjoying a day at the beach. • Check your own boat if you are traveling on the water. Make sure it isn’t leaking any oil or gas. • Realize that building on or near a beach may change it. Study the local conditions before you build. • Volunteer to help clean up a beach. • Join a beach improvement group. There are a lot from which to choose. Lake Michigan beach Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. Ocean Conservancy. Visited 8 August 2008. http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_icc&JServSessionIdr011=ubq81hkp21.app46b

  9. Keep our beaches clean and healthy!

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