Year 10 students explore the coast in Geography.

On Monday February 13, the Year 10 students carried out coastal fieldwork. They are studying a Geography unit, as part of their study of Humanities and Social Sciences. The students looked at the impact of people and climate change on the coastal region between Mindarie Keys and Alkimos. This section of the coast is particularly interesting, because people have significantly altered it, affecting natural processes.

The students were accompanied by Mrs Billington, Mr Gotti, Mrs Davini and myself. The day was hot and humid, but the students coped well with the conditions, and entered into the spirit of the day.

The first site visited was the beach near the new suburb of Alkimos. The students collected data in order to draw a transect of the beach, they studied longshore drift and observed the sorting of different sized beach material. A ‘treasure hunt’ of the suburb was developed by Nadja Kampfhenkel from Lendlease, in order for the students to gain an understanding of the sustainable and energy efficient way in which the suburb has been built. Synergy is trialling the storage of power produced by the residents through the use of solar panels. It is thought to be the first of its kind in Australia.

After hearing a talk from Sara Orsi and Tenaha Wilson, about the Wanneroo Council’s report into the impact of global warming and rising sea levels, the students recorded the different types of facilities and services provided at the Mindarie Marina. They noted the sea wall, that has had a significant impact on the movement of sand in the region.

Further data was collected at the beach to the north of Mindarie and at Quinns Beach. The students now have information from three sites to compare. The impact of the Mindarie Marina on the beach at Quinns was very evident.

Back at school, the students are now analysing the data they have collected in order to draw conclusions about the impact of people on our coastline.

Anne Hodgson

HASS teacher