WHAT ARE THE COASTAL FEATURES FORMED ALONG THE COAST FROM

HARMONY BEACH PARK TO MARGARITAVILLE, MONTEGO BAY, ST.JAMES?

COASTAL FEATURES

GEOGRAPHY

SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT (SBA)

Candidate Names and Numbers: Lori-Ann Brown 1000810256

Lauren Cope 1000810469

Rhea Grant 1000810949

D’Jonet Wilson 1000812240

School: Mount Alvernia High School

School Center #: 10081

Year Of Exam: 2021 - 2022

Territory: Jamaica

Teacher’s Name: Miss S. Hyde

 CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT

GEOGRAPHY FIELD STUDY STRATEGY SHEET

CANDIDATE’S NAME: Lori-Ann Brown, D’Jonet Wilson, Lauren Cope, Rhea Grant, Aveisha
Smith

REGISTRATION NUMBER: _________________

GENERAL TOPIC OF INTEREST: Coastal Features

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS TO BE INVESTIGATED: What are the coastal features formed

along the coast from Harmony Beach Park to Margaritaville located in Montego Bay, St. James,
Jamaica?

STRATEGY

(A) What is the purpose of your Study? This study aims to identify the coastal features formed
along the coast of Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica, from Harmony Beach Park to
Margaritaville.

(B) How will you obtain data?

The data will be collected through a field exercise, where the students will go to the study area
and with the help of a data collection sheet and a tape measure, acquire the measurement of the
coastal features that are to be measured, observed, and count the number of features and collect
samples where needed.
(C) How do you intend to present the data and findings in your report?
The data will be presented in the form of graphs, pictures, and written reports.

LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA: Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica, From Harmony Beach
Park to Margaritaville.

EQUIPMENT/RESOURCES REQUIRED: A data collection sheet, Tape measure, pencil, and

pens.

ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES: As the covid-19 pandemic is in effect, some of the locations in

our study will be closed along with the constant danger of contracting the virus.

NAME OF TEACHER: Miss S. Hyde

SIGNATURE OF TEACHER: _______________________________________

DATE: ______________________
Revised 2006-06-23
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE NUMBER

INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………. 1

AIM OF STUDY ……………………………………………………….. 2

LOCATION OF AREA OF STUDY …………………………………… 3 - 5

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION …………………………………. 6

PRESENTATION OF DATA …………………………………………… 7 - 15

CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………. 16

BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………… 17 - 18

APPENDIX …………………………………………………………….. 19 - 30
4
 INTRODUCTION

The coastline of Montego Bay, St . James, Jamaica is filled with various coastal features. In

this School-Based Assessment (SBA), coastal features found along the coastline of the study

area will be identified. The research will be conducted at the specific locations of Harmony

Beach Park, Water Fletcher Beach, One Man Beach, and Margaritaville. The coastline is

approximately 1 km (1000m) in length.

Furthermore, as a result of this investigation, we aim to identify the different coastal features

present along the coastline of the study area. With the identification of these features, their

formation and purposes will be highlighted.

1
 AIM OF STUDY

The study aims to identify and describe the features formed along the coast from Harmony

Beach Park to Margaritaville in Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica.

Plate 1. Showing the aerial view of the study area, located in Montego Bay, St James,

Jamaica from point A being Harmony Beach Park to point B being Margaritaville.

2
Plate 2: Diagram showing Map of Jamaica.

3
Plate 3: Diagram showing Map of St.James.

4
Plate 4: Diagram showing Site Map of the study area.

5
 METHODOLOGY

The investigation was conducted on Sunday, December 5, 2021, between the hours of

11:00 a.m to 1:30 p.m, along the coastline of Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica from Harmony

Beach Park to Margaritaville. A field exercise was conducted where the researchers made five

stops, The Harmony Beach Park, Walter Fletcher Beach, One Man Beach, Old Hospital Park,

and Margaritaville. In addition, secondary data was collected on February 15,2022.

In order to collect the data, various tools were used which included a collection sheet and

various tools such as; Tape measure, Calculator, and Stopwatch. Upon arrival at the study areas,

observations were done with the help of a data collection sheet. A tape measure was instrumental

in measuring the lengths of the beaches. In order to accurately count the number of waves that

break every minute a stopwatch was used, as well as observation of the researchers. Further in

the investigation, twenty (20) samples of pebbles were collected at the three (3) beaches which

were in the areas of study. Finally, the coastal features that were observed were totaled and the

various vegetations were documented and all features were photographed.

PRESENTATION OF DATA

6
 The coastline of Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica is the tourist capital of Jamaica, known for

its many resorts and attractions, which includes the coastal features. This makes Montego Bay,

an area suitable for data collection. From Harmony Beach Park to Margaritaville was the specific

area of study, where the data concerning this School-Based Assessment was collected.

A variety of features were identified along the coastline of Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica,

including Beaches, Groynes, Cliff, Sea Caves, and a Blow Hole. Wave action is the main process

responsible for the formation of the features identified along the coastline of Montego Bay,

St.James, Jamaica from Harmony Beach Park to Margaritaville.

Figure 1. Showing the coastal features and the amount identified at the coastline of

Montego Bay, St.James from Harmony Beach Park to Margaritaville.

7
 A variety of features were identified along the coastline of Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica,

including Beaches, Groynes, Cliff, Sea Caves, and a Blow Hole. Wave action is the main process

responsible for the formation of the features identified along the coastline of Montego Bay,

St.James, Jamaica from Harmony Beach Park to Margaritaville. According to Rahil V.A (2005),

“a wave is an oscillatory ( back and forth) movement of water caused by the frictions or energy

of the wind along the surface of the water.” But, through wave action, the secondary features of

erosion and deposition are highlighted, which categorizes the features identified. Depositional

features are a result of deposition, in continuation, Rahil V.A (2005) states that, “ when eroded

material is subsequently deposited.” Additionally, erosional features are being formed through

the process of erosion, the weathering of material accumulated by destructive waves. During the

process of data collection, an observation was made identifying that there was a ratio of

depositional to erosional features, specifically 3:7, deposition being three (3) and erosional being

seven (7).

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Figure 2: A bar graph representing the erosional and depositional features of the coastline

of Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica.

Wave action plays an important role in the formation of the coastal features. Ross, Simon et

al (2017) states, “it is possible to identify two types of waves, constructive and destructive.”

Ross, Simon et al (2017) continues, “They are called constructive waves because they transport

material to the top of the beach, thereby constructing it” In addition, “Destructive waves is a little

swash but the backwash is powerful. This leads to the erosion of the lower beach, hence the term

“destructive.”

VEGETATION

GROYNE
OCEAN

BEACH

CONSTRUCTIVE
WAVES

Plate 5: Showing a labeled beach located at One Man Beach in Montego Bay.

Moreover, both waves contribute to the formation of coastal features such as beaches. Rahil.

V.A states “A beach is an accumulation of materials such as boulders, pebbles, shingles, sand,

and mud on a sloping or shelving ground” On the field exercise administered, an observation was

9
done and a total of three beaches were identified along the coastline of Montego Bay, St. James,

Jamaica. The three beaches are Harmony Beach Park, Walter Fletcher, and One Man Beach.

Beaches are formed through the process of Longshore Drift. Rahil V.A (2005) states “

Longshore Drift moves obliquely along the coast transporting materials in the direction of the

dominant wind”. The action of swash pushes the material upon the beach, while the process of

backwash carries the material seaward.

CHECK YOUR WAVE COUNT AND NOT THE FEATURE TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND

OF WAVE.

BAC
KWA SWA
SH SH

Plate 6: Showing the processes of Swash and Backwash.

The materials contributing to the formation of beaches are derived from according to NOAA

(2021), “parrotfish feed on algae and dead corals, which they then excrete as sand” is deposited

on the beach between low and high tide. Due to observation, it was concluded that the beaches

identified were all small, with white sandy beaches, with a semi-circular or crescent-like shape

and were sparsely vegetated.

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 As the process of longshore drift can make and destroy a beach, a groyne was put in place to

prevent this from happening. "A groyne is a projected framework of finger-like timber, concrete,

or iron running at an angle to the shore to trap longshore drift or littoral drift to maintain beach

materials", According to V.A Rahil. Man modifies the effects of waves by constructing where

sediments are removed by longshore drift. Along the coast of Montego Bay, St. James from

Harmony Beach Park to Margaritaville, there are six (6) groynes identified. Groynes are formed

by placing large boulders to form a line down the beach. Groynes are constructed at right angles

to the coast. They trap material transported by longshore drift.

GROYNE

OCEAN

Plate 7. Showing a labelled photograph of the groyne located at the One Man Beach.

According to Carpeno, Jonathan (2020), the life span of a groyne is around twenty-five (25)

years but is also a victim of destructive waves. Destructive Waves erode the groynes over time

11
thus destroying them, and eventually, the groynes will have to be reconstructed as seen in figure

8 below.

OCEAN VEGETATIO
N

GROYNE
BEING GROYNE
CONSTRUCTE
D

Plate 8. Showing a labelled photograph of the groyne being reconstructed.

Over time as a result of wave action and erosion, due to destructive waves cliffs are formed.

National Geographic Society, Caryl-Sue (2013) states, that cliffs are a mass of rock that rises

very high and is almost vertical or straight up and down. Cliffs are one of the clearest examples

of sea erosion that we can see. Steep faces of rock and soil are formed by destructive waves.

12
Waves crashing against the coastline erode until a notch is formed. The erosion of this notch

undercuts the ground above until it becomes unstable and collapses. This process repeats itself

and the sea cliff will continue to retreat. Erosion is confined between high and low tide and is

influenced by the rock strata and joint and the strength of the wave".

Along the coastline of Montego Bay, St. James one (1) cliff was identified. The cliff is small

and narrow, with pitted holes formed into it. These pitted holes are formed due to the chemical

weathering process of carbonation, where rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide to form a weak

acid known as carbonic acid. This is penetrated on limestone over a period of time forming the

holes.

CLIFF

PITTED
HOLE

Plate 9. Showing a labelled diagram of the cliff at Margaritaville.

As destructive waves continue to crash against the cliff, an extraordinary phenomenon called sea

caves is formed. Sea Caves were one of the many features identified along the coast.

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 CLIFF

SEA
CAVE

OCEAN

Plate 10: showing a labelled photograph of the sea caves located at the Old Hospital Park.

According to Thrones, Nelson (2008), “Processes of erosion are particularly active along the

lines of weakness in a headland, such as joints or faults, the energy of the waves is concentrated

on these weaker points, gouging out the rock to form a sea cave.” Through the process of

abrasion and hydraulic action, fissures and joints are gradually enlarged and these develop into

caves. Sea caves grow landwards and upwards into vertical shafts and expose themselves

towards the surface, which can result in hydraulic compression of seawater that is released

through a port from the top of the blowhole.

Water often gushes out at the top part of the landform when waves move to the sea cave with

significant force. The activities of the blowhole depend on the sea conditions as well as its

geometry and that of the sea cave. Along the coastline of Montego bay, one blowhole was

14
identified which is located at the Old Hospital Park. The Blowhole is small and narrow. It is

influenced by man because of its barrier and staircase leading upward to land. The barrier is used

for protective measures such as prevention from people falling and water washing upon the land

that can cause flooding. Blowholes are major tourist attractions due to the display of gushing

water.

BLOW HOLE
0.0035 km

CONCRETE
BARRIER

STAIRCAS
E

Plate 11: showing a labelled photograph of the blowhole located at the Old Hospital Park.

15
 CONCLUSION

In doing the research required for this School-Based Assessment, there were various coastal

features identified along the coastline of Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica. These features

include Beaches, Groynes, a cliff, a Blow Hole, and Sea Caves. Upon observation, it was

discovered that waves play an important role in the formation of the features identified. These

features are formed as a result of destructive and constructive waves, which categorize them into

two (2) groups, Depositional and Erosional Features.

Beaches are formed due to constructive waves, which deposit sand, singles, and pebbles to the

land and as result places it under the category of depositional features. The Cliff, Blow Hole and

Sea Caves identified along the coastline are a result of destructive waves, placing them under the

category of erosional Features, as materials are being eroded due to the process of corrosion and

hydraulic action to form the features.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS

Rahil. V. (2005). New Caribbean Geography. Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Educational

Publishers.

Thrones. N.(2008). Geography for CESC. United Kingdom. Nelson Thornes Limited

Ross. S. et al. (2017). CXC Study Guide Geography for CSEC. United Kingdom. Nelson

Thornes Limited

WEBSITES

National Geographic. (1996). Cliffs. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/cliff/#white-cliffs-of-dover

Tikkanen, A. “n.d.” Sea Caves. Retrieved February 15, 2022, from

https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-cave

Sawe, B. (2017, April 25). Coastal Landforms: What is a Blowhole? Retrieved February 15,

2022, from

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/coastal-landforms-what-is-a-blowhole.html

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A Level Geography. (2018).Waves. Retrieved March 2, 2022, from

https://www.alevelgeography.com/waves/

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 APPENDIX

Coastal feature data collection sheet

School-Based Assessment (SBA)
Name: Rhea Grant, Lori-Ann Brown, Lauren Cope, D’jonet Wilson and Aviesha Smith
Subject: Geography
Date: December 5, 2021
Time: 11:00 am
Study area: Description of the study area
The area of study is located at the coastline of Montego Bay, St.James, from Harmony Beach
Park to Margaritaville.

Coastal features can be erosional or depositional. In your investigation of these features,

you should determine which category each feature falls under and how they were formed.

Stop 1. Harmony Beach Park

Name the feature identified
The features identified at Harmony Beach Park were: A beach and two (2) groynes.

Describe the feature ( is it big or small, narrow or wide, is it sandy or pebbly or a mixture,
what colour, presence or lack of vegetation, what kind of vegetation). What is the feature
used for?
The features located at Harmony Beach Park are a Beach and a Groyne. It is a large white sandy
beach. It has a large variety of vegetation such as small palm trees and shrubs. This feature is
used for recreational purposes. It has a semi-circle crescent-like shape.

Count the amount of the feature identified

Two features were identified at Harmony Beach Park

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Measure the width and length of the beach
Width - 0.0344 km Length - 0.1749 km
Identify the type of wave present (do this by counting the amount of waves that wash up
the beach within a minute for 5 minutes)
Time (minutes) Amount of waves
Minute 1 20
Minute 2 16
Minute 3 18
Minute 4 15
Minute 5 15
Average 16

Is it a depositional or erosional feature?

Depositional Feature

How is it formed?
Beaches are formed, through the process of Longshore Drift. Longshore Drift moves along the
coastline transporting the materials in the direction of the dominant wind. The action of
backwash deposits some of the lighter material, and the materials are laid out in graded
sequence. The heaviest materials such as pebbles are moved least down the beach, followed by
shingles, sand and silt. These materials are derived from the erosion of the land and are deposited
on the beach between low and high tide.

20
Collect 20 pebbles along the beach. State whether each pebble is rounded, angular,
subrounded, or subangular. Record data in a table. Example below.

PEBBLES DESCRIPTION

1 Angular

2 Rounded

3 Angular

4 Angular

5 Angular

6 Rounded

7 Angular

8 Angular

9 Rounded

10 Angular

11 Rounded

12 Rounded

13 Angular

14 Angular

15 Angular

16 Rounded

17 Angular

18 Angular

19 Angular

20 Rounded

21
Take photographs

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Stop 2: Walter Fletcher beach (formerly Aquasol)

Name the feature identified

The features identified were: A beach and two (2) groynes.

Describe the feature ( is it big or small, narrow or wide, is it sandy or pebbly or a mixture,
what colour, presence or lack of vegetation, what kind of vegetation) What is the feature
used for?
The Water Fletcher Beach (Formerly Aquasol) is located in Montego Bay, St, James. It is a
small, white sandy beach. It is crescent or semi-circular shaped. It is a beach used for
recreational activities and tourist attractions. It is a sparsely vegetated beach.

Count the amount of the feature identified.

There were three (3) features identified.

Measure the width and length of the beach

Width - 0.3 km
Length - 0.36 km

Identify the type of wave present (do this by counting the amount of waves that wash up
the beach within a minute for 5 minutes)
Time (minutes) Amount of waves
Minute 1 16
Minute 2 17
Minute 3 15
Minute 4 14
Minute 5 15
Average 15

Is it a depositional or erosional feature?

It is a depositional feature.

How is it formed?

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Beaches are formed, through the process of Longshore Drift. Longshore Drift moves along the
coastline transporting the materials in the direction of the dominant wind. The action of
backwash deposits some of the lighter material, and the materials are laid out in graded
sequence. The heaviest materials such as pebbles are moved least down the beach, followed by
shingles, sand, and silt. These materials are derived from the erosion of the land and are
deposited on the beach between low and high tide.
Collect 20 pebbles along the beach. State whether each pebble is rounded, angular,
subrounded, or subangular. Record data in a table. Example below.

PEBBLES DESCRIPTION

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

24
 19

20

Take photographs

Stop 3: One man beach

Name the feature identified
The features identified at the One Man Beach are a beach and two (2) groynes.

Describe the feature ( is it big or small, narrow or wide, is it sandy or pebbly or a mixture,
what colour, presence or lack of vegetation, what kind of vegetation) What is the feature
used for?
The One Man Beach is a small, narrow, white sandy beach. It is crescent/semi-circular shaped
and is sparsely vegetated. It is a beach used for recreation and tourism.

Count the amount of features identified

Three (3) features were identified at the One Man Beach.

Measure the width and length of the beach

Width - 0.00762 km
Length - 485.056 km
Identify the type of wave present (do this by counting the amount of waves that wash up
the beach within a minute for 5 minutes)
Time (minutes) Amount of waves
Minute 1 12
Minute 2 18
Minute 3 14
Minute 4 17
Minute 5 17
Average 15

25
Is it a depositional or erosional feature?
It is a depositional feature.

How is it formed?
Beaches are formed, through the process of Longshore Drift. Longshore Drift moves along the
coastline transporting the materials in the direction of the dominant wind. The action of
backwash deposits some of the lighter material, and the materials are laid out in graded
sequence. The heaviest materials such as pebbles are moved least down the beach, followed by
shingles, sand, and silt. These materials are derived from the erosion of the land and are
deposited on the beach between low and high tide.
Collect 20 pebbles along the beach. State whether each pebble is rounded, angular,
subrounded, or subangular. Record data in a table. Example below.

PEBBLES DESCRIPTION

1 Angular

2 Angular

3 Angular

4 Angular

5 Rounded

6 Angular

7 Angular

8 Rounded

9 Rounded

10 Angular

11 Angular

12 Angular

13 Rounded

14 Angular

15 Rounded

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16 Rounded

17 Rounded

18 Rounded

19 Angular

20 Angular

27
Stop 4: On the groyne beside One Man beach
Go up on the groynes. Walk out on the groynes, then turn and look at the cliff in front. You
should be able to identify the feature at the base of the cliff.

Identify the feature

The features identified beside One Man Beach were sea caves.

Count the feature

There were five (6) sea caves identified.

Describe the feature ( is it big or small, narrow or wide, is water washing into it)
The caves were small and wide. As the waves were coming in, the water was washing into it.

Explain how the feature was formed (if it is an erosional feature make sure to include
which erosional process was involved in the formation)
Sea caves are formed in a cliff by the wave action of an ocean or lake. Sea caves happen on
nearly every cliffed headland or coast where waves break straightforwardly in a rock cliff and
are shaped by the mechanical erosional process of hydraulic action, instead of chemical erosion
which is accountable for the majority of inland caves.

28
Stop 5. Old hospital park
Identify the feature
The feature identified at the Old Hospital Park was a Blow Hole.
Describe the feature ( is it big or small, narrow or wide, is it influenced by man, and if so
how?)
The blowhole was small and narrow. It was influenced by man as inside the blowhole was a
staircase going down and there was a concrete barrier built around it.
How many are present
There was one (1) Blow Hole identified.
Measure the width of the opening
0.0035 km

29
Stop 6: Beside Margaritaville
Identify the feature
The feature identified beside Margaritaville was a cliff.
Describe the feature ( is it big or small, narrow or wide, is it influenced by man, if so how?)
The cliff in mention is small and narrow, with joints formed due to carbonic acid formed from
carbon dioxide being mixed with rainwater, being penetrated on the limestone over a period of
time this process is called carbonation. This feature is not influenced by man.
How many are present
There is one (1) cliff identified.
Measure the length of the cliff
0.0689 km

30