Wednesday, March 16, 2011

L3 MCGE

Write a geographic description about the elements that make up your chosen study area - Muriwai Coastal Geographic Environment.

Ensure you use specific examples from your chosen study area.

5 comments:

tatai said...

there are numerous elements that make up the Muriwai coastal geographic environment. these elments include; hydrology elements (which are waterways,like Okiritoto stream, the beach and drains) Vegetation elements (are man-made and natural vegetation such as; golf courses, Woodhill Forest, spinifex, Marrow Grass), Geology elements (are rock types of volcanic origion, such as; Sediment, lavaflow, Breccia, Conglomerates, Silt and sand stone beds), Sedimentary and Coast elements (Holocene sand, Mitiwai Sand, sand from Taranaki, and Ilminite), Wind Elements (are responisible for backshore and dune features, in which the prevailing wind hits the land 70% of the time at Muriwai, which lifts unconsolidated sand, thus transporting the sand to sand dunes. Wind elements are also responsible for wave actions, and Aeolian Processes), Wave elements (the waves in Muriwai are classed high energy, and swells can reach upto 3 metres on a daily basis), Beach elements (Beach elements are the surf zones, which are located on the west coast and are typically wider than the lower energy beaches. This dissipative 50km stretch of black sand, is classed as high energy), and human elements (are the man-made phenomena that have an effect on Muriwai's natural environment)

Ibanez said...

There are eight main elements that create the Muriwai Coastal Greographic Environment. These elements include the Hydrology elements, Vegetation elements, Geology elements, Sediment and Coastal Current elements, Wind elements, Wave elements, Beach elements, and lastly the Human elements.

Water in our Muriwai study area, except for the southern end of the village, mostly drains into the sands below the forest. The local drainage paths around the township direct drainage via two lakes and ponding areas to the threatened drainage pipe exiting at the southern end of the beach at the end of Motutara Road.

Apart from obviously man-made vegetation areas like the golf course, Woodhill Forest and rural areas, there are concentrations of natural vegetation. These are along the foredunes, e.g. spinifex dunes south of the Okiritoto Stream, in the lower reaches of the stream (wetland) and along the coastal fringe and the cliffs.

Otakamiro Point and Maori bay have some Waitakere group sedimentary rock types exposed. These rock types are of volcanic origin with mixtures of scoria, pumice and andesitic material in conglomerate rocks (composed on mixtures of a finer matrix and larger stones and volcanic debris).

The modern beach and fixed dunes are made up of Holocene (recent, geologically speaking) sands called Mitiwai sands. The main source of sediments for the west coast has actually been offshore, with black sand from from Mount Taranaki/Egmont having been carried north by currents. The Waikato River has also added volcanic-based sediments from the central volcanic plateau region.

Wind is one of the main elements responsible for the formation of backshore and dune features. It has a significant impact on human use of the landscape, with large drifts of sand threatening key infrastructures in the past. The winds at Muriwai are prevailing westerlies and south westerlies (blowing over 40% of the time), and they blow at about 11 knots more than half the time, which is the velocity needed to move the iron sands of the beach when it is dry.

Muriwai beach is part of what is generally classed as a high-energy coastal system. Generally speaking, high-energy beaches would have typical wave heights of over 1.5m from trough to crest and be in areas frequently affected by storm waves or west coast environments subject to strong swells. Almost New Zealand's entire west coast environment is subject to swells all year round, Muriwai included.

beach surf zones on the west coast are typically wider than the lower energy eastern beaches, and Muriwai is no exception. In fact the surf zone at Muriwai on its long sandy beach (which stretches 50km north to South Head on the Kaipara Harbour) is much wider than the east coast beaches but also much wider than the Bayhead beaches to the south at adjacent Maori Bay and further down the coast at Bethalls Beach (Te Henga) and on down to Karekare beach.

Despite the fact that we often view ourselves seperately from the environment, even seeing it is an enemy to be conquered, human beings are an integral part of most natural environments. However our technology and our perspectives on resources and their usefulness enable us to have an impact beyond our normal, natural abilities.

Unknown said...

There are approximately 8 elements that make up the Muriwai coastal geographic enviroment, which are;Hydrology,Vegetation,Geology,
Sedimentary and coastal,Wind,Wave, Beach and Human elements.

Dean said...

In MCGE there are 8 elements in that make up the beach. 1st is the hydrology element, the hydrology element, Vegetation elements, Geology elements, sediment and coastal current elements, wind elements, wave elements, beach elements and the human element.

puiipuii said...

Wind is one of the main elements responsible for the formation of backshore and une features. It has had a significant impact on human use of the landscape, with large drift of sand threatening key infrastructures in the past. The winds at Muriwai are prevailing westerlies and south westerlies (blowing over 40% of the time), and they blow at abut 11knot more than half the time, which is the velocity needed to move the iron sands of the beach when it is dry. Up to 70% of winds blow onshore, so wind is a vital factor in wave actin and type and Aeolian processes.