Geography HL's Sample Internal Assessment

What are the most significant factors affecting the Coastal landscapes on Pulau Ubin and Sentosa?

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Table of content

Introduction

Geographical Theory

Geographic Context

Hypotheses

Main hypothesis

Sub-hypothesis

Method

Beach profile

Littoral Drift

Waves

Sediment Analysis

Conclusion

Evaluation

Works Cited

Figure 1 - A Photograph Of Siloso Beach (Taken By Author)

Introduction

Fieldwork Question and links to the syllabus This investigation aims to answer the following fieldwork question - What are the most significant factors affecting the coastal landscapes on Pulau Ubin and Sentosa?

This investigation links to Option B: Oceans and Coastal Margins, specifically “Physical influences on coastal landscapes” (physical factors) and “Management strategies” and “Land-use pressures on coastlines” (human factors).

Geographical Theory

A coastal landscape is a length of coastline molded by depositional and erosional processes (Britannica). Figure 2 shows the main factors that affect coastal landscapes. These are classified into four groups: terrestrial, marine, atmospheric and human.

Figure 2 - An Annotated Diagram Showing Factors Affecting Coastlines (Diagram Waugh, 140) Annotations Added By Author

Geographic Context

The fieldwork question was investigated on two of Singapore’s 64 islands (VisitSingapore): Pulau Ubin and Sentosa (Figure 4). These islands were chosen as their coastal landscapes are similar in some ways (both offshore islands in Singapore), but they differ in terms of physical factors (e.g. fetch and lithology/geology) and human factors (e.g. land-use pressures and management strategies).

Figure 3 - A Hand - Drawn Map of Singapore Showing The Location Of Pulau Ubin And Sentosa (Google Maps)

Figure 4 - A Hand - Drawn Annotated Maps Of Pulau Ubin And Sentose Showing The Main Coastal And Arelevant Human Features Of Each Island (Google Maps)

Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were formed to help investigate and answer the fieldwork question -

Main hypothesis

Human factors are more significant than physical factors in affecting coastal landscapes on Sentosa, but physical (specifically atmospheric) factors are more significant than human factors in affecting coastal landscapes on Ubin.

Since most of Sentosa’s tourist resources are secondary, there is much more coastal management. Physical factors affecting Sentosa’s coastline are mostly redundant due to the artificial deposition of sand and the hard engineering used to protect the coastline. Whereas Pulau Ubin’s coastal landscape has less coastal protection and management and therefore is likely to be more influenced by physical factors, in particular atmospheric factors.

Two sub-hypotheses were also created to help investigate the main hypothesis.

Sub-hypothesis

There is a positive relationship between wind speed and wave height.

Higher wind speeds provide a greater force onto waves, thus causing them to have greater heights. This will help to investigate the interaction between atmospheric and marine factors.

The percentage of fine sediment will be greater in the backshore and lesser in the foreshore.

Aeolian transportation would cause a greater amount of fine sediment to be transported to the back-shore. This will help to investigate the influence of wind as a key atmospheric factor.

Method

Site selection

In order to answer the fieldwork question, two coastal landscape sites were chosen on each island: Sensory Garden Beach, and Police Post Beach (Figure 5) and Siloso Beach, and Rimau Beach (Figure 6). These sites were chosen using stratified sampling as random sampling may have resulted in inaccessible locations being selected. Furthermore, although random sampling reduces bias, it may have misrepresented coastal landscapes on the two islands as some key features could have been missed. Three transects were chosen on each beach, left, centre, and right (looking out to sea), using systematic sampling to ensure representative data was collected at each beach.

Figure 5 - An Annotated Map Of Southern Pulau Ubin Showing Sites 1 And 2 (Google Maps)

Figure 6 - An Annotated Map Of Westosa Showing Sites 3 And 4 (Google Maps)

Beach profile

Beach profiles (steepness) are influenced by marine, terrestrial, human, and atmospheric factors. The beach profile of the sites can give an indication of the most significant coastal factors acting on them. The beach profile was found using the method described in Figure 7.

Preview

Figure 7 - An Annotated Diagram Describing The Method To Find The Beach Profile (Made By Author

	Purpose	Method
Prevailing Wind Direction	Wind direction indicates the direction of littoral drift and the significance of atmospheric, particularly aeolian factors in determining the coastal landscape.	Secondary data was used to determine wind direction. The wind direction was checked before every reading of windspeed to ensure the speed was measured at its maximum.
Wind Speed	Wind speed indicates the energy of a coastline. Inland winds create friction with incoming waves causing them to have higher energies. The energy of a coastline affects its depositional and erosional qualities.	A digital anemometer was used facing in the direction determined by the direction of incoming wind.

Figure 8 - Table On

Figure 9 - An Annotated Screenshot Showing Secondary Data Collection.

Littoral Drift

Littoral drift, explained in Figure 9, is important as it determines the formation of coastal landforms like spits and tombolos and influences beach morphology (shape). Thus it may be a significant factor in affecting coastal landscapes as it is a process that involves the interaction of atmospheric (wind) and marine factors. Figure 9 describes the method used to measure littoral drift.

Waves

	Purpose	Method
Wave Height	The energy of a wave is proportional to its height squared (Manoa Hawaii). Wave energy, a key marine factor, determines the constructive or destructive nature of the coastal landscape.	A ruler was placed on the seafloor (refer to Figure 11). The difference between the maximum and minimum height of one wave was recorded.
Wave Frequency	The frequency of approach of a wave indicates the energy transfer at the coastline. Thus determining the formation of coastal landforms and the beach profile.	The number of wave crests passing a fixed point in one minute was measured. Three trials were done to ensure reliable data
Angle of Wave Approach	The angle of wave approach determines the direction of littoral drift and sediment transportation. This affects the position of coastal landforms.	The angle of wave approach was estimated by sight, its bearing was found using a digital compass.

Figure 11 - Table On

Figure 12 - An Annotated Diagram Describing How Heigh Was Measured (Made By Author)

Sediment Analysis

The sediment size at different points on the beach is important as it indicates the erosional power of marine processes. It also indicates aeolian (wind) transportation factors like saltation, a key atmospheric factor. A sample of sediment was taken from the fore-shore, mid-shore, and back-shore at each transect. The samples were later dried and weighed to determine the percentage of coarse, medium, and fine sediment.

Figure 13 - A Series Of Annotated Photographs Descrbing The Method Used To Analyse Sediment ( Photos Taken And Annotatedy By Author

Qualitative Observations

In order to assess non-quantitative factors like coastal management (and other human influences) and coastal landforms, qualitative data was collected. This included photographs and observations as written notes.