Beach Profiling - Samir B,

Materials

Emery Rods
Line
Sight Marker

Procdure

1. Set a control point.

2. Begin Notes.

3. Record Stake Height

4. Set Rod 1. Stand the end of one profile rod (Rod 1) on the ground
next to the control point with the numbers (scale) up. The person
holding this rod should stand off the profile line for the next step.

5. Set Rod 2. The second person takes Rod 2 toward the ocean.
Looking back toward land and Rod 1, this lead person places Rod 2
(with scale up) on the profile line using the control points as a
guide. Pick a horizontal distance of a meter (or other suitable
distance if obstacles are in the way) as a spacing between the two
poles. Use a graduated chain or pole to do this and be careful to
hold both poles straight up and down while setting Rod 2 in place.

6. Measure and Record. From the landward pole, the first person
sights the horizon and the top of the lower of the two rods. This
line-of-sight will intersect part way up the other rod. Read the
elevation number marked on the other rod that is in line with the pole
top and the horizon. Keep both poles vertical when reading!

7. Move Ahead. After the notes are taken, move Rod 1 to the same
“footprint” occupied by Rod 2. The person at Rod 2 should wait for
Rod 1 to come up alongside Rode 2 in order to be certain of getting
the position correct. After Rod 1 is in the place of Rod 2, the
forward rod can be moved ahead another meter or two and place o n the
ground in line with Rod 1 and the original control point(s). The job
of the lead person is to be sure each forward move stays on the line.
Rod 2 must be set down on the ground keeping the chain (or other tape
measure ) level.



8. Repeat Steps 6 and 7. Measure, Record, & Move. Continue to move
ahead, repeat these steps all the way to the water. As you go,
everyone on the team should look ahead for features to stop on and
measure. If some feature, perhaps the edge of the dune, does not
occur at a horizontal interval of one meter, then make the horizontal
distance smaller. For example, if the dune edge is only 0.6m from the
least measurement, move the forward pole ahead only that far. ON the
next measurement move ahead only 0.4 (or 1.4) m in order to get back
on a spacing of 1 m intervals. Keeping a set interval in whole meters
will help with data analysis later.



9. Stop at the Water.

10. Photograph the Beach. Take three photographs of the beach. It
helps to place the profile rods down on the profile line part way up
the beach, near the high-tide line. Stepping back from the rods, take
a picture looking up to the dune )or seawall) from a spot near the
water line. Move up about halfway on the profile and take two more
pictures: one looking each way along the beach (parallel to the water
line). For these shots try and include the profile rods in the
foreground. Frame the picture to include the beach from dune
(seawall) to the water.