Geography

Internal Assessment

Name of Candidate: Felicia Monderson

Candidate number: 0900070

Name of Center: The Bishops’ High School

Center number: 090007

Title: Sea Defenses

Year of Exam: 2019-2020

Teacher: Sir Lakeram Singh

Table of Content

Page no.
Statement of Purpose………………………………………………. 1.

Methodology……………………………………….………………... 2.

Presentation of Data and Discussion…..…………..……………… 3 – 8

Conclusion………………………………………………………..….. 9.

Recommendations……………………………………..…………….. 10.

Bibliography………………………………………………………..... 11.

Appendix…………………………………………………………...…. 12.
 Statement of purpose

The knowledge of the present condition of the sea defenses along the shoreline
between the Kingston Jetty and the Kitty Pump Station Georgetown, Guyana as it
affects their proposed functions.

1.
 Methodology

On the 31st of January 2020, a trip to the study site was carried out. The area
first observed by the students was the recreation site at the end of the Sea wall
Public Road that Battery Road turns into of which the sea walls was observed
with focus on its history and initial intended functions. The second defense
noted was the groynes from which there was a concrete groyne and a boulder
groyne. The students observed their role in recreational purposes along with the
Kingston Jetty and noted any limitations caused by the groynes and jetty along
with the their history and intended function. Before moving on the see the
tetrapods at the outer of the seawalls at this same area, an activity was done to
visually understand waves where they were timed for a minute and concluded
that the waves were constructive. The students had also measured long shore
drift with a stick by throwing it out and waiting for it to come back in nothing
the direction and its angle to the throw. After the tetrapods, the students moved
to the seawalls at the other end closer to the Kitty Pump station and the rip rap,
geotextile tubes, and mud flat in that said order was pointed out and learned
about. To properly ensure understanding the students were allowed to ask
questions and interact with the teacher concerning this site visit.
 2.

Presentation of Data and Discussion

The Collins dictionary describes sea defenses as measures to prevent coastal

erosion. From which, there are two management categories; hard engineering
and soft engineering. The sea defenses along the shoreline of the study area,
vary between the two mainly following hard engineering.

Hard engineering involves building artificial structures which try to control natural
processes. The defenses that are considered hard engineering are as follows:

Sea Walls – A wall or embankment erected to

prevent the sea encroaching on or eroding an
area of land.

PC. I. Marks. Seawalls

Concrete groynes – Groynes built of reinforced

concrete blocks belong to the most stable and long-
lasting coastal structures. Because of their considerable weight,
the elements composing such a groyne require the existence
of suitable soil conditions and appropriate foundation.

PC. I. Marks. Concrete groynes

Boulder groynes – Rock or boulder groynes are an

increasingly popular option for constructing groynes
with the purpose of maintaining beach levels within the
groyne compartment created. Due to the open block
work nature of construction, rock groynes are permeable to
water and sediment in contrast to either concrete or
wooden groynes.

PC. I. Marks. Boulder groynes

 Tetrapods – Tetrapods are a type of structure in coastal engineering used to prevent erosion
caused by weather and long-shore drift, primarily to enforce coastal structures such as
seawalls and breakwaters. PC. I. Marks. Tetrapods

Tetrapods are made of concrete, and use a tetrahedral shape to dissipate the force of incoming
waves by allowing water to flow around rather than against them, and to reduce displacement by
interlocking.

Jetty – This is a pier or structure of stones, piles, or the like,

projecting into the sea or other body of water to protect a
harbor, deflect the current, etc.

PC. I. Marks. Jetty

Rip rap – This is man-placed rock or other material

used to armor shorelines, stream beds, bridge
abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against
scour and water, wave, or ice erosion. Common rock
types used include granite and modular concrete blocks.

PC. I. Marks. Rip rap

Geotextile tubes – These are a simple, low-

cost technology which is a viable option for
controlling erosion in wetland or
shoreline areas. Geotextile are arranged to
form breakwaters and stabilize shorelines.

PC. I. Marks. Geotextile tubes

Soft engineering does not involve building artificial structures, but takes a more sustainable and
natural approach to managing the coast. It includes:
 Berms – This a mound or wall of earth or sand that acts to
ease waves.

PC. I. Marks. Berms

Mud flats – Mudflats provide terrestrial sediment to the coast. Hence, the maintenance of mudflats
is important in preventing coastal erosion.

Beach nourishment – This is when sand

is pumped onto an existing beach to
build it up.

PC. I. Marks. Beach nourishment

The table below shows what sea defenses were found and their functions

Sea defenses Initial functions of the Sea

Defenses
Sea walls To provide protection to any
structures and settlements close to the
coast from sea action.
 Concrete groynes Functions as a physical barrier by
intercepting sand moving along the
shore.

Boulder groynes Functions as a physical barrier by

intercepting sand moving along the
shore but less effectively than the
concrete groyne.

Tetrapods To dissipate the force of incoming

waves by making the water flow
around rather than against them.
They also reduce displacement by
allowing the random distribution of
tetrapods to mutually interlock.

Berms Helps to prevent erosion

Jetty To reduce the occurrence of

transplantation due to sediment
carried by the current up to the
coastline.

Rip rap Functions to armor shorelines

Geotextile tubes Used to stabilize coastal areas against

the waves of seas by enabling another
way of easing water.

Mud flats Functions as a barrier to waves and

protects inland from erosion.

Beach nourishment To replace material removed by long-

shore drift.

Fig 1. Table showing the sea defenses and its initial functions

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of sea defenses and prove whether
the present condition of the sea defenses along the shoreline between the Kingston
Jetty and the Kitty Pump Station Georgetown, Guyana affects their proposed
functions. To properly fulfill the aim, newspapers, websites and textbooks.
 Fig.2.Map of study site

On site, the physical condition observed were as follows:

Name of Sea Current Physical Intended to be

Defense condition

Sea walls Cracked walls that need Strong, heavy walls that
to have an additional show no sign of
length. weakness and is suitable
in height for the area.

Concrete groynes A low sturdy barrier. A low sturdy barrier.

Boulder groynes A low sturdy barrier. A low sturdy barrier.

Tetrapods Jagged odd shaped Big 4 tipped rocks

rocks placed on top made to interlock with
each other. each other for stability
into ground.

Berms Light raise mound of Light raise mound of

material deposited. material deposited.

Jetty Walkway projected into Walkway projected into

the sea. the sea.

Rip rap Boulders of rock placed Boulders of rock placed

outside the wall. outside the wall.

Geotextile tubes Burst pipes with many Strong stable sand filled
 areas of weaknesses. “pipes” that are hard to
damage.

Mud flats Land of deposited mud Land of deposited mud

Beach nourishment White sand where ever Material when needed

needs to be replaced. to be replaced should be
of the beach’s own or
related material.

Fig 4. Table showing the current physical condition of the sea defenses versus its intended condition

Conclusion

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of sea defenses and prove whether
the present condition of the sea defenses along the shoreline between the Kingston
Jetty and the Kitty Pump Station Georgetown, Guyana affects their proposed
functions. The visit to the study site was done in order to identify and observe the sea
defenses and learn about their functions. There were ten (10) noted sea defenses used
from which only five (5) have managed to be fully functional at this time. The study
has shown that many people do not know about the importance of sea defenses and
any issues concerning them. It shows what areas should be developed to share this
knowledge and highlights the people’s lack of concern towards the issue. It also
shows that the present condition is affecting how it should function. To end, the
study can be said to be successful and concludes that the aim can be proven.

9.

Recommendations

The study could have been improved by:

1. Using more questionnaires

2. Expanding the study area

3. Focusing on specific sea defenses

 4. Change in the amount of site visits

5. Making sketch maps easier to find

10.

Bibliography

Muriel Fretwell and David Kelly Complete Geography for Cambridge IGSCE (2012)

Patrick Weigand Oxford International Students’ Atlas Oxford University Press (2012)

Simon Ross Essential Map work Skills (2013)

http://archive.caribank.org/news/us30-9m-sea-river-defense-project-launched-guyana
(2016)

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?
q=cache:hYuokqpWzGQJ:https://mopi.gov.gy/posts/geotextile-tubes-have-improved-
kingstonkitty-seawall-shoreline+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=gy (2014)

11.

Appendix