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The Caribbean Academy of Science
Sandwatch
About Us
Contact Us
Terms of Use
Latest News
2015 Archives
Participating Countries
Our Publications
The Sandwatcher Magazines
The Sandwatch Manual(s)
Most Significant Change Stories
Sandwatch Brochure
Sandwatch Workshops
Sandwatch Competitions
International Conferences
>
Lincoln Symposium
Rio+20 Conference
UNESCO Experts Meeting
The Bonn Conference
Paris, UNESCO HQ 2009
Beach Records
Beach Records (English)
Dossier Plage (Français)
Countries with Beach Records
Tools
Sandwatch Turtle Toolkit
Sandwatch Training Videos
CCESD Course Materials
The Caribbean Academy of Science
Beach and Group Records Forms
Form 2 Monitoring
Complete this Form after each visit to the beach. Enter only that characteristics that were monitored.
*
Indicates required field
Country:
*
Name of beach:
*
Name of Sandwatch group:
*
Date of monitoring:
Year
*
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Month
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Day
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
What were your main observations of the beach on arrival?
*
Record your general observations on arrival at the beach before starting monitoring e.g. garbage by the beach access point.
Are there any changes since your last visit?
*
Record here any visual changes since your last visit e.g. more stones on the beach since the last visit. If this is the first visit to the beach, then just enter: First visit.
Complete
the characteristics that were
measured at this visit for each observation point:
For characteristics 1-5 it is recommended to make measurements at the three points already identified in Form 1.
If the group prefers to make only one set of measurements, enter the data for Point A only.
Characteristic
Point A
Point B
Point C
1.0 Beach width (metres)
1.0 A
*
Measure the distance in metres from the measurement point for Point A (set up in Form 1) to the high water mark.
The high water mark is the highest point reached by waves that day. It is identified by a line of debris (seaweed, shells or pieces of wood), or by differences in sand colour between the part of the beach recently wetted and the part that remains dry.
If there are several lines of debris, use the line closest to the sea.
Repeat measurements should be made at the same tidal state.
1.0 B
*
Measure the distance in metres from the measurement point for Point B (set up in Form 1) to the high water mark.
The high water mark is the highest point reached by waves that day. It is identified by a line of debris (seaweed, shells or pieces of wood), or by differences in sand colour between the part of the beach recently wetted and the part that remains dry.
If there are several lines of debris, use the line closest to the sea.
Repeat measurements should be made at the same tidal state.
1.0 C
*
Measure the distance in metres from the measurement point for Point C (set up in Form 1) to the high water mark.
The high water mark is the highest point reached by waves that day. It is identified by a line of debris (seaweed, shells or pieces of wood), or by differences in sand colour between the part of the beach recently wetted and the part that remains dry.
If there are several lines of debris, use the line closest to the sea.
Repeat measurements should be made at the same tidal state.
2.0 Wave height (metres)
2.0 A
*
If sea conditions are considered safe, use a graduated pole or improvise with a long piece of wood or bamboo and walk into the sea to where the waves begin the break and measure the vertical distance in metres from the top (crest) of the wave to the lowest point of the wave (trough).
If sea conditions are unsafe, walk to the water’s edge and estimate the height of the wave from crest to trough. Make 5 independent estimates. If available, use an object such as a jetty to reference your estimate.
2.0 B
*
If sea conditions are considered safe, use a graduated pole or improvise with a long piece of wood or bamboo and walk into the sea to where the waves begin the break and measure the vertical distance in metres from the top (crest) of the wave to the lowest point of the wave (trough).
If sea conditions are unsafe, walk to the water’s edge and estimate the height of the wave from crest to trough. Make 5 independent estimates. If available, use an object such as a jetty to reference your estimate.
2.0 C
*
If sea conditions are considered safe, use a graduated pole or improvise with a long piece of wood or bamboo and walk into the sea to where the waves begin the break and measure the vertical distance in metres from the top (crest) of the wave to the lowest point of the wave (trough).
If sea conditions are unsafe, walk to the water’s edge and estimate the height of the wave from crest to trough. Make 5 independent estimates. If available, use an object such as a jetty to reference your estimate.
2.1
Wave period/interval (seconds)
2.1 A
*
Wave period is the time in seconds between two successive wave crests.
Measure the time in seconds, for eleven successive wave crests to break on the beach, use a stopwatch or phone.
Start the timing when the first wave breaks on the beach and stop it on the eleventh wave. Divide the total number of seconds by ten to get the wave period.
2.1 B
*
Wave period is the time in seconds between two successive wave crests.
Measure the time in seconds, for eleven successive wave crests to break on the beach, use a stopwatch or phone.
Start the timing when the first wave breaks on the beach and stop it on the eleventh wave. Divide the total number of seconds by ten to get the wave period.
2.1 C
*
Wave period is the time in seconds between two successive wave crests.
Measure the time in seconds, for eleven successive wave crests to break on the beach, use a stopwatch or phone.
Start the timing when the first wave breaks on the beach and stop it on the eleventh wave. Divide the total number of seconds by ten to get the wave period.
2.2 Wave direction
(degrees)
2.2 A
*
Wave direction is the direction from which the waves approach and is measured in degrees.
Stand high up on the beach and look across to where the waves first break.
Sight your compass directly into the breaking waves and record this compass bearing.
2.2 B
*
Wave direction is the direction from which the waves approach and is measured in degrees.
Stand high up on the beach and look across to where the waves first break.
Sight your compass directly into the breaking waves and record this compass bearing.
2.2 C
*
Wave direction is the direction from which the waves approach and is measured in degrees.
Stand high up on the beach and look across to where the waves first break.
Sight your compass directly into the breaking waves and record this compass bearing.
3.0 Direction of longshore current
(degrees)
3.0 A
*
This measurement may be done in combination with Characteristic 3.1 (speed).
Place a stick in the sand near the water’s edge. One observer walks from the stick into the water and crumbles a dye tablet or some drops of food colouring into the water, just before where the waves break.
Another observer observes the direction towards which the coloured water is going and after one minute records the direction in degrees.
Move a little further down the beach and repeat the measurement 4 times; calculate the average direction.
3.0 B
*
This measurement may be done in combination with Characteristic 3.1 (speed).
Place a stick in the sand near the water’s edge. One observer walks from the stick into the water and crumbles a dye tablet or some drops of food colouring into the water, just before where the waves break.
Another observer observes the direction towards which the coloured water is going and after one minute records the direction in degrees.
Move a little further down the beach and repeat the measurement 4 times; calculate the average direction.
3.0 C
*
This measurement may be done in combination with Characteristic 3.1 (speed).
Place a stick in the sand near the water’s edge. One observer walks from the stick into the water and crumbles a dye tablet or some drops of food colouring into the water, just before where the waves break.
Another observer observes the direction towards which the coloured water is going and after one minute records the direction in degrees.
Move a little further down the beach and repeat the measurement 4 times; calculate the average direction.
3.1 Speed of longshore current (cm/sec)
3.1 A
*
This measurement may be done in combination with 3.0 (direction).
Place a stick in the sand near the water’s edge. One observer walks from the stick into the water and crumbles a dye tablet or some drops of food colouring into the water, just before where the waves break.
Another observer measures the distance the coloured water has travelled after one minute. Record the distance in centimetres.
Move further down the beach and repeat the measurement 4 times; calculate the average distance and divide by 60 to record speed in cm/sec.
3.1 B
*
This measurement may be done in combination with 3.0 (direction).
Place a stick in the sand near the water’s edge. One observer walks from the stick into the water and crumbles a dye tablet or some drops of food colouring into the water, just before where the waves break.
Another observer measures the distance the coloured water has travelled after one minute. Record the distance in centimetres.
Move further down the beach and repeat the measurement 4 times; calculate the average distance and divide by 60 to record speed in cm/sec.
3.1 C
*
This measurement may be done in combination with 3.0 (direction).
Place a stick in the sand near the water’s edge. One observer walks from the stick into the water and crumbles a dye tablet or some drops of food colouring into the water, just before where the waves break.
Another observer measures the distance the coloured water has travelled after one minute. Record the distance in centimetres.
Move further down the beach and repeat the measurement 4 times; calculate the average distance and divide by 60 to record speed in cm/sec.
4.0
Sand size (mm)
4.0 A
*
Collect a sand sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry. Sprinkle some dry grains on a plastic sheet.
Use the sediment chart in Chapter 6 of the Sandwatch Manual available on the website www.sandwatchfoundation.org/our publications and a magnifying glass to determine the size category in mm.
If the beach is made up of stones only, these can also be measured. Collect at least 20 stones, picking them randomly, measure the length along the longest axis and then calculate the average. Record the units used.
4.0 B
*
Collect a sand sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry. Sprinkle some dry grains on a plastic sheet.
Use the sediment chart in Chapter 6 of the Sandwatch Manual available on the website www.sandwatchfoundation.org/our publications and a magnifying glass to determine the size category in mm.
If the beach is made up of stones only, these can also be measured. Collect at least 20 stones, picking them randomly, measure the length along the longest axis and then calculate the average. Record the units used.
4.0 C
*
Collect a sand sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry. Sprinkle some dry grains on a plastic sheet.
Use the sediment chart in Chapter 6 of the Sandwatch Manual available on the website www.sandwatchfoundation.org/our publications and a magnifying glass to determine the size category in mm.
If the beach is made up of stones only, these can also be measured. Collect at least 20 stones, picking them randomly, measure the length along the longest axis and then calculate the average. Record the units used.
4.1 Sand
shape
4.1 A
*
Not observed
very angular
sub-angular
sub-rounded
very rounded
Collect a sand sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry. Sprinkle some dry grains on a plastic sheet.
Use the sediment chart in Chapter 6 of the Sandwatch Manual available on the website www.sandwatchfoundation.org/our publications and a magnifying glass to determine the shape category.
If the beach is made up of stones only, collect at least 20 stones, picking them randomly, and use the same sediment chart to determine the shape category.
4.1 B
*
Not observed
very angular
sub-angular
sub-rounded
very rounded
Collect a sand sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry. Sprinkle some dry grains on a plastic sheet.
Use the sediment chart in Chapter 6 of the Sandwatch Manual available on the website www.sandwatchfoundation.org/our publications and a magnifying glass to determine the shape category.
If the beach is made up of stones only, collect at least 20 stones, picking them randomly, and use the same sediment chart to determine the shape category.
4.1 C
*
Not observed
very angular
sub-angular
sub-rounded
very rounded
Collect a sand sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry. Sprinkle some dry grains on a plastic sheet.
Use the sediment chart in Chapter 6 of the Sandwatch Manual available on the website www.sandwatchfoundation.org/our publications and a magnifying glass to determine the shape category.
If the beach is made up of stones only, collect at least 20 stones, picking them randomly, and use the same sediment chart to determine the shape category.
4.2 Sand
colour
4.2 A
*
Collect a sediment sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry.
Observe and record the main colour and type of the sediment. There may be more than one predominant colour, in which case record these, e.g. a mixture of white sand, coral fragments and shells.
4.2 B
*
Collect a sediment sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry.
Observe and record the main colour and type of the sediment. There may be more than one predominant colour, in which case record these, e.g. a mixture of white sand, coral fragments and shells.
4.2 C
*
Collect a sediment sample from near high water mark. Spread on a flat surface to dry.
Observe and record the main colour and type of the sediment. There may be more than one predominant colour, in which case record these, e.g. a mixture of white sand, coral fragments and shells.
5.0 Number of pieces of litter collected within 2m either side of the beach width transect line
5.0 A
*
Set up a transect line from the measurement point for Point A (set up in Form 1) to the high water mark.
Collect all the debris found 2m on each side of the transect line.
Count the number of pieces of debris.
It is important to take adequate safety precautions when conducting marine debris surveys and gloves should be used.
5.0 B
*
Set up a transect line from the measurement point for Point B (set up in Form 1) to the high water mark.
Collect all the debris found 2m on each side of the transect line.
Count the number of pieces of debris.
It is important to take adequate safety precautions when conducting marine debris surveys and gloves should be used.
5.0 C
*
Set up a transect line from the measurement point for Point C (set up in Form 1) to the high water mark.
Collect all the debris found 2m on each side of the transect line.
Count the number of pieces of debris.
It is important to take adequate safety precautions when conducting marine debris surveys and gloves should be used.
5.1 Weight of litter collected within 2m either side of the beach width transect line (kg)
5.1 A
*
Weigh the number of items collected within 2m of each side of the transect line set up in 5.0.
Alternatively count the number of bags of debris collected and record the size of a bag in cm.
Once the debris has been recorded, dispose of it in a proper garbage receptacle.
It is important to take adequate safety precautions when conducting marine debris surveys and gloves should be used.
5.1 B
*
Weigh the number of items collected within 2m of each side of the transect line set up in 5.0.
Alternatively count the number of bags of debris collected and record the size of a bag in cm.
Once the debris has been recorded, dispose of it in a proper garbage receptacle.
It is important to take adequate safety precautions when conducting marine debris surveys and gloves should be used.
5.1 C
*
Weigh the number of items collected within 2m of each side of the transect line set up in 5.0.
Alternatively count the number of bags of debris collected and record the size of a bag in cm.
Once the debris has been recorded, dispose of it in a proper garbage receptacle.
It is important to take adequate safety precautions when conducting marine debris surveys and gloves should be used.
Complete
the characteristics
measured at this visit once
for the whole beach:
For characteristics 6-12 only one set of measurements are required.
6.0 Number of people using the beach
*
Not observed
1-20
21-100
More than 100
Count or estimate the number of people using the beach.
There are 3 categories: 1-20, 21-100, more than 101.
6.1 Activities being carried out
*
Relaxation
Exercise
Sport
Fishing
Tourism related activities
Other
Observe the activities being carried out, select all the boxes that apply.
Activities not included in the list can be added in the "If other activity, describe" field.
If other activity, describe:
*
7.0 Presence of Sargassum seaweed or other types of seaweed
*
Not observed
No seaweed present
Covers 0-50% of beach area
Covers more than 50% of beach area
Observe whether there is any sargassum seaweed or other seaweed present on the beach.
There are three categories to record your information: No seaweed present; covers 0-50% of the beach area; covers more than 50% of the beach area.
8.0 Presence of vegetation behind the beach
*
None
Grasses and vines
Shrubs
Trees
Observe the vegetation behind the beach and select the box or boxes that apply.
Further details can be added in 12.0 Other characteristics observed.
9.0 Presence of animals on the beach and in the sea, in the air
*
Animals on the beach
Animals in the sea
Birds
Observe the animals on the beach, in the sea and in the air and select the box or boxes.
Further details can be added in 12.0 Other characteristics observed.
10 Water quality characteristics
A water quality kit is required for the measurement of water quality characteristics
,
except for Characteristic 10.0.
There are differences between the various kits, so always follow the kit’s instructions and record the units of each water quality characteristic.
10.0 Observations e.g. smell, colour of water
*
This measurement does not require a special kit.
Observe and record general characteristics such as the colour of the water, any objects floating in the water and smell of the water.
10.1 Temperature (°C)
*
Use the measurement device in the water quality kit to measure water temperature in degrees Celsius.
Alternatively use a normal thermometer.
10.2 Salinity
*
Salinity is the measure of the amount of dissolved salts in water.
Use the measurement device in the water quality kit to measure salinity and record the units.
10.3 Water clarity
*
Water clarity affects aquatic life and can be measured with a Secchi disc, a white and black metal disk, attached to a rope and lowered in the water. The depth where it is no longer visible is the Secchi disc depth.
Measure water quality beyond where the waves are breaking.
Make a simple Secchi disc or use the device provided in the water quality monitoring kit.
10.4 Fecal coliform
*
Not observed
< 20
> 20
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in water serves as a reliable indicator of sewage or fecal contamination.
Use the measurement device in the water quality kit to measure fecal coliform and record the units.
10.5 Nitrate
*
Excess nitrate will cause increased plant growth and algal blooms. Sources of nitrate in coastal waters include runoff containing animal wastes and fertilizers from agriculture.
Use the measurement device in the water quality kit to measure nitrate and record the units.
10.6 Phosphate
*
High levels of phosphate may cause overgrowth of plants and increased bacterial activity and decreased dissolved oxygen levels.
Use the measurement device in the water quality kit to measure phosphate and record the units.
11.0 Wind speed
*
Go to the back of the beach where you are exposed to the wind in any direction. Face directly into the wind and hold the wind meter to the wind.
Read the level at which the ball is suspended.
Watch the wind meter for about 1 minute and determine the sustained wind speed. The sustained wind speed does not include sudden gusts or short calm periods of wind.
Record the wind speed and the units.
11.1 Wind direction
*
Go to the back of the beach where you are exposed to the wind in any direction. Face directly into the wind and hold the wind meter to the wind.
Raise the sighting compass and determine the bearing pointing into the wind. Record this magnetic bearing.
12.0 Other characteristics observed
*
Record here any additional measurements or observations not already included in the measurements 1-11 above.
If you are adding additional information or measurements for characteristics 1-5, identify which point (A, B or C) to which the information refers.
What are the issues at the beach?
*
Based on the observations and measurements recorded at this visit, discuss with the group the issues at this beach and record them here.
What could be done to improve the beach?
*
Based on the issues identified above, list possible improvements that can be made to the beach.
Include small improvements e.g. organising a beach clean-up, and larger scale improvements e.g. discussing with local authorities how to stop the mining of sand and gravel from the beach.
Include up to 3 photos of the beach (with caption and date taken):
Photo 1:
*
JPG, PNG or GIF, 2-3 MB adequate
Caption 1:
*
Year 1
*
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Month 1
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Day 1
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Photo 2:
*
JPG, PNG or GIF, 2-3 MB adequate
Caption 2:
*
Year 2
*
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Month 2
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Day 2
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Photo 3:
*
JPG, PNG or GIF, 2-3 MB adequate
Caption 3:
*
Year 3
*
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Month 3
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Day 3
*
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Submit Form 2