Mornington Peninsual wiki
Cape Schanck, Mornington Peninsula
Cape Scahnk is a tourist beach in Victoria which is famous for its ancient pebble deposits. An exceptional hydraulic action takes place on Cape Schanck as the waves power through and slowly begin to smoothen and take the pebbles. Above in figure 2.4 a scene of Cape Scahnk can be seen demonstration all its natural landforms.
Above here in figure 2.8 is a stack from Cape Scahnk. The bottom of the stack seems to have an eroded or tingy orange colour at the bottom of the stack. A volcanic incident ours have happened in Cape Scahnk millions of years ago which created that volcanic layer beneath the stack.
Cliff faces
Wave cut platform
Below in the annotated still life of Cape Schanck in figure 3.5 wave cut platforms can be seen. One of them is highlighted in red. Wave cut platforms are usually seen at the bottom of sea shore cliffs and are flat out stretches of rock. They are created by the erosion of waves. In the numerous wave cut platforms below they were probably created from the hydraulic action of the waves since Cape is millions of years old.
Management and caution
Despite Cape Schanck being a beautiful place and tourist attraction it does hold its dangers and people can be a major problem to the place. In the above photo grid there are three warning signs that help keep Cape Schanck the way it is today. Even though there are some signs that caution people about their effect to the beach there are also some signs to keep people out of trouble from the beach. Not only do signs warn people. They can also aid tourists to certain scenery or meeting points. A good example that demonstrates this is the green sign on the far left of the photo grid which shows tourists where different way points are and how far they are.
Fencing
Coastal processes within Cape Schanck
There were a whole range of coastal processes within Cape Schanck however the main ones that stood out were attrition and hydraulic action. Attrition was a main component within Cape as the pebbles became rounded and smoothened from the weathering and force of the waves. Hydraulic action was also evident as the waves would crash and smother the shoreline of rocks. Both these processes in play can be seen in the below footage.
Here in this swimming video brief views of hydraulic action and attrition can be seen.
Human impacts
Although management and caution was there around Cape Schanck human influence was still a major factor. Many visitors would've trampled over the vegetation or made random pathways by themselves at the price of the death of the vegetation. Pathways would have been made across the beach because people wouldn't have been bothered to use the normal pathways. Vegetation was tramped on in either reason or
Two ways Cape Schanck manages itself
Signs-Signs are a vital part within Cape as they emit warning and prevent visitors from making any incorrect errors. The signs can warn people not to trespass across the flora which could harm it or go near fauna inhabited areas since it could be dangerous or disturb them. These signs were seen on the pathway down the stairs.
Signs can restrict human movement by warning them of the consequences or punishment coming their way if they refused the sign. These signs were found distributed along the beach.
Regenerating the environment:Allowing the environment regenerate doesn't have to be with self conscience. Signs can help already sustain what's there. These signs were found along the primary dune where the plants grow.
Educational information:Signs are what we use to communicate wherever we go if we are absent at the event. If we are absent at the event the sign can instead resume the position.
Dune system management- having a dune system at a beach is very helpful as it prevents the waves from flooding or eroding other parts of the beach.
Headland-the headland protects the environment by taking in the waves attacks and doesn't let it effect the environment. The headlands can be found around Cap Schanck.
The headlands allow to environment to regenerate by blocking off any disasters that could effect the progress of the environment and allow it to generate.
Gunnamatta beach
Natural landforms
Three of the natrural landforms can be seen in figure 3.9 which include the dune system and the beach.
Dune system
The primary dune is partially effected as people sit upon the beach berm and this effects the vegetation. The tertiary dune has been effected by humans as a carpark has been built upon the tertiary dune.
Beach
The beach at Gunnamatta consists of many small grain particles and the hydraulic action has taken its toll on Gunnamatta. The high tide was very consistent on Gunnamatta and the beach berm and vegetation was partially effected.
Vegetation
The vegetation at Gunnamatta is very rich and green and well kept. Many patches of marram grass and spinifex were evident within the rich portion of the primary dune.
Management and caution around Gunnamatta
Although Gunamatta doesn't have fences or extremely protected paths ways it does have a lifeguard system which is very vital for a crowded beach like Gunamatta. In the below video an example of what the lifeguards do can be seen. Lifeguards usually border a beach and hoist red and yellow flags around places where it is dangerous to swim.
Processes at Gunnamatta beach
A strong sense of hydraulic action was seen around Gunnamatta as the waves would suddenly push forward and cause a high tide. Not much signs of attrition and abrasion were evident as there were not that much rocks across the shoreline.
Hydraulic action
Below in the GoPro surfing video a good view of hydraulic action can be seen taking place. As noticed the giant waves engulf and battle each other making life guards a necessary component for this beach.
Rip
Since Gunnamatta was known for its waves rips were probably an obvious component for this beach. Rips are narrow stretches of strong water that crash against the shoreline. Many surfers use them as a quick transport to return to the waves.
Human impacts
Gunnamatta is a popular beach so of course there would be some human impacts effecting it. One example that would be commonly known is that people sit on the beach berm. This is partially effecting the primary dune. Since when people sit down they could be crushing the plants without knowing. Getting rid of good plants like marram grass which would destroy the beauty of the primary dune. Another dune that is suffering the wrath of the humans is the tertiary dune. Humans have built a car park upon the dune which destroys the tertiary dune utterly.
St Andrews Beach
St Andrews is quite the paradox of Gunnamatta as it is a very isolated beach and not that packed with tourists. It is very known for its rock pools and rocks.
Beach
The beach at St Andrews was very taken care of and minimal damage was on the beach as it was not a popular place. Many rock pools had formed upon the beach surface and protruding rocks were very numerous. A diagram can be viewed below in figure 4.3.
Dune system
St Andrews' tertiary dune had suffered a severe human influence which was housing development. Houses were built upon the tertiary dune and this therefore brought along people. People soon began to make random pathways down the dunes as there was no set pathway to walk through. At this price many vegetation was demolished effecting the dunes.
Wave cut platform
The waves at St Andrews would have eroded over the beach as the waves would powerfully wash onto the beach berm and high tide. Below in figure 5.1 a wave cut platform at St Andrews can be seen.
Unsatisfactory Human Impacts
As stated before many random pathways were created and housing developments were built across the horizon of the tertiary dune. A gradual population of humans has grown ranging from 650 people to 1,234. This would have been unsatisfactory as some of the population would have littered upon Gunnamatta or ruined the beach.
Management and Caution
Not that much caution has been provided for St Andrews as there is no life guard service and the closest thing to protection is a winding fence which can be viewed below.
Processes
Hydraulic action
At St Andrews there are many signs of hydraulic action as the waves would crash and tumble violently upon the shoreline. Abrasion and attrition also came along with this process as St Andrews had many rocks and the waves would wear away or pull and push the rocks in.
Rip
Since St Andrews had many powerful waves crashing against the rocks rips would have been a factor within the beach. The rips at Andrews were very powerful and were near headlands.