GEOGRAPHY (GENERAL)

 Title of Study: What are the main coastal features and landforms found at
Las Cuevas North Coast Trinidad?
 Name: Jaron Metivier, Neraj Mahadeosingh
 Registration Number: 1600140960 (Jaron Metivier) 1600140840 (Neraj
Mahadeosingh)
 Name of school: Couva East Secondary School
 Territory: Trinidad and Tobago
 Examination Year: 2023
 Teacher: Ms. C Ragobar
 School code: 160014
Contents
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................1
AIM OF FIELD STUDY...................................................................2
LOCATION OF FIELD OF STUDY.................................................3
METHODOLOGY............................................................................6
Presentation and Analysis of Data:....................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................14
BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................15
INTRODUCTION

This SBA consists of identifying and describing the main coastal features found
at Las Cuevas, North Coast, Trinidad. This study is important because it shows
how coastal landforms can help control coastal erosion, create wildlife habitats
and enhance natural beauty. The beauty attracts tourists from other countries
which also provides us with a source of foreign exchange. This topic was
chosen because these coastal processes will provide people with a clear
understanding of how our coastal environments operate.

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 AIM OF FIELD STUDY

The aim of the field study is to identify and describe the main coastal features
found at Las Cuevas, North Coast, Trinidad and account for their information

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 LOCATION OF FIELD OF STUDY

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4
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 METHODOLOGY

When- The discussion about the SBA began in September 2022. The field trip
was conducted on January the 26th ,2023. The departure of the school’s
compound was at approximately 9:01 a.m. and left the area of study at
approximately 3:50 p.m. spending approximately 4 hours conducting our
investigation
Where- The area of study was located at Las Cuevas Bay/Beach (Refer to Map
1). It is on the North Coast of Trinidad, 7km East of Maracas Bay or North of
the Northern Range. The closest settlement to the Bay/Beach is the Village of
Las Cuevas.
How- Upon arrival, the first task was to draw a sketch map of the bay (Refer to
Map 3).
Wind Direction: -
• group member raised a fabric cloth upwards which showed the wind direction.
As the wind blew, the direction in which the wind pushed against cloth would
determine the Wind Direction
Determine North: -
• A compass was used to determine North.
Longshore Drift :-
Longshore Drift was recorded at all three sites. To calculate longshore drift a
ball was used. The ball was thrown into the beach and the distance was
calculated using a measuring tape. The time was taken using a stopwatch. After
one minute the distance was recorded by using a measuring tape from its point
of origin to the point of where the ball reached after one minute.
Wave Frequency:-
There are two types of waves. Waves can either be constructive or destructive.
To measure the wave frequency the waves per minute were counted. If the wave
count was to be more than ten per minute the waves were found to be
destructive but if it was less than ten the waves were found to be constructive. A
stopwatch was used to calculate a one minute period which was used to measure
the wave frequency.

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Presentation and Analysis of Data:

Three stops were made along Las Cuevas Bay/Beach. Site 1 is near the bay's southeast
corner, site 3 is in the middle of the beach, and site 2 is located roughly between sites 1 and 3.
(See Map 3). The following are the findings from these sites:

SITE 1:

This site was situated at the side nearest to the headland Abercromby Pt. Bays and headlands
are coastal landforms formed by the erosion of alternating bands of hard and soft rock
parallel to the shoreline. The hard rock will be more resistant to erosion than the soft rock.

FEATURES FOUND INCLUDE:

Features found Definitions

Cliff A steep rock face, especially at the edge of the

sea. Cliffs are usually formed because of
processes called erosion and weathering.

Wave-cut notch A wave-cut notch is formed by erosional

processes such as abrasion and hydraulic
action. This is a dent in the cliff usually at the
level of high tide. As the notch increases in
size, the cliff becomes unstable and collapses
leading to the retreat of the cliff face.

Vegetation Vegetation may be defined as the patchwork

of plant species arrayed across the landscape.

Sea stumps A sea stump is formed when a tall sea stack is

eroded and worn down until it juts just above
the surface of the sea.

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 FIGURE 1: TABLE SHOWING FEATURES FOUND AT SITE 1.
A cliff face with other features can be observed below in Plate 1.

PLATE 1: PLATE SHOWING CLIFF FACE AT SITE 1

The wave frequency was done three times at each site which was timed for ONE minute. At
Site 1 the wave frequency was 6,6,7 waves/min. Then at Site 2 it was 8,8,6 waves/min.
Finally at Site 3 it was 5,6,7 waves/min. We then calculated the average. Information at SITE
1 was recorded and listed in FIGURE 2 below:

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 FIGURE 2 : TABLE SHOWING MEASUREMENTS AT SITE 1

Measurements Results

Wave Frequency 6.3 waves/min

Wind Direction Northwest

Waves are classified as either constructive or destructive. Constructive waves have a

frequency of 6-8 waves per minute,the swash is stronger than the backwash and they help to
build up the beach whereas destructive waves have a frequency of 10-14 waves per
minute,the backwash is stronger than the swash and they help to break down the beach. At
Las Cuevas the waves were considered constructive waves.

SITE 2:
This site was located roughly between sites 1 and 3.

FEATURES FOUND INCLUDE:

Features Found Definitions

Cave Many rocks contain joints and fissures. These

may be enlarged by hydraulic action to form a
cave.

Arch An arch is a wave-eroded passage through a

small headland. This begins as a cave formed
in the headland, which is gradually widened
and deepened until it cuts through.

Stack A stack is formed when the roof of the natural

arch eventually collapses, leaving an isolated
sea stack, which will then be removed by
erosion.

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 FIGURE 3: TABLE SHOWING FEATURES FOUND AT SITE 2.

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 PLATE 2: PLATE SHOWING AN ARCH AT SITE 2.

Information at SITE 2 was recorded and listed in FIGURE 4 below:

FIGURE 4: TABLE SHOWING MEASUREMENTS AT SITE 2

Measurements Results

Wave Frequency 7.3 waves/min

Wind Direction North-North-East

Longshore Drift 31.6m over a 5 minute period in a WSW

direction

In order for a beach to form, longshore drift is essential. Waves will crash onto the coastline
with the swash of the wind that is blowing at an angle to the shoreline. Then, perpendicular to
the beach, this will backwash into the sea and retreat. This repeatedly moves material over the
shoreline, depositing sand and other materials to create a beach.

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 PLATE 3: PLATE SHOWING THE INSTRUMENTS USED

SITE 3:

This location is about in the center of the beach and is the closest to Las Cuevas Pt.

FEATURES FOUND INCLUDE:

Features Found Definitions

Stack A stack is an isolated pillar of rock left when

the top of an arch has collapsed. Over time
further erosion reduces the stack to a smaller,
lower stump.

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 Cliff line continued The upper portion of the cliff

Wave-cut notch A wave-cut notch is formed by erosional

processes such as abrasion and hydraulic
action. This is a dent in the cliff usually at the
level of high tide. As the notch increases in
size, the cliff becomes unstable and collapses
leading to the retreat of the cliff face.

FIGURE 5: TABLE SHOWING FEATURES FOUND AT SITE 3.

Information at SITE 3 was recorded and listed in FIGURE 3 below:

FIGURE 6: TABLE SHOWING MEASUREMENTS AT SITE 3.

Measurements Results

Wave Frequency 6 waves/min

Wind Direction East-North-East

CONCLUSION

In conclusion it can clearly be identified that both erosional and depositional coastal factors
have both influenced the formation of various coastal erosional and depositional features
along Las Cuevas Bay. There was a total of three stops at three sites. Both erosional and
depositional features were displayed, for example there were caves, arches and stacks. Also,
wind direction, longshore drift, wave frequency and north were all recorded

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

WWW.Internetgeography.net

Wilson M. The Caribbean Environment for CSEC Geography, England: Oxford University

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Press, 2016

Phillip’s Certificate Atlas For The Caribbean, George Phillip and Sons Ltd, London 1993

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