Dawlish Warren Investigation

STAGE 1 : Setting up an enquiry question

STAGE 2 : Collecting primary data

STAGE 3 : Finding good secondary sources

STAGE 4 : Using different methods to present data

STAGE 5 : Analysing data and drawing conclusions

STAGE 6 : Evaluating and reflecting on enquiry

- It is an easily accessible stretch of coastline that the public is allowed to walk around and collect data.

- It is within 40 minutes of the school so we could get there and back within a day.

- There are lots of coastal management methods in places and lots of natural processes to investigate.

The Geology of Britain Viewer allowed us to see the different rock types along the spit and the rest of Dawlish Warren. Also it is online so it's easy to use for investigations in school.

The Ordenance Survey Maps gave us an idea of the geography of the area before our visit and allowed us to see an aerial view of the spit.

1) Collect the raw data from our recordings (we put it all into a spreadsheet)

2) Collate any data (i.e. find mean average / mode)

3) Present relevent data in a suitable way

We presented our data through... line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, diagrams and sketches.

Data collected - measured the accumulation of sand on both the eastern and western side of various groynes down the length of the beach.

Presentation Method - we used a bar chart diagram to show the heights of the sand on either side

Conclusion - the data showed that the sand was always higher of the western side than on the east, showing it had been pushed this way by longshore drift.

Data collected - We measured the width of the beach at various points along the stretch, along with the angle of incline

Presentation method - We used a line graph which allowed us to see the profile of the beach at each point

Conclusion - Our data showed that the width and angle of the beach were both greater on the eastern end, showing there is more sediment on this side. This shows that Longshore Drift has managed to push the sand despite the groynes.

Data Collected - We took an annotated sketch at the Headland and identified the coastal management methods in place at the location

Presentation method - Annotated sketch

Conclusion - There are a variety of methods in place, such as a breakwater and brick wall within cracks to prevent further erosion or damage. These seem to have had a positive effect on Langstone Rock as there is little erosion still taking place.

The were some factors which could have caused unexplainable patterns in our data that we wrere unable to control. 

Beach replenishment is one of these, recent addition of sand to Dawlish Warren could have altered the natural effects of Longshore Drift. 

Tide could have also impacted our results, as it was going out during our data collection, so therefore while the beach appeared to become wider, this may have just been a result of the tides.

Our methods of data collection may have been biased which could have effected our results, as the sampling method may not have been completely random.

- Without investigating the coastal proccess at Dawlish Warren, it would be impossible to develop management methods.

- The natural processes and management techniques we looked at are also taking place at many other locations across the UK.

- It allows us to make predictions about the future of Dawlish Warren (i.e. climate change and rising sea levels will cause it to be underwater so there will be an inevitable need for further management against erosion).