Page 418 - Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology

ACTIVIT Y 15.2 Introduction to Shorelines

Name: ______________________________________ Course/Section: ______________________ Date: ___________

A. Refer to the Space Shuttle photograph of the Po Delta, Italy ( FIGURE 15.4 ). The city of Adria, on the Po River in Northern

Italy, was a thriving seaport during Etruscan times (600 B.C.). Adria had such fame as to give its name to the Adriatic Sea, the
gulf into which the Po River flows. Over the years, the Po River has deposited sediment at its mouth in the Po Delta. Because
of the Po Delta’s progradation, Adria is no longer located on the shoreline of the Adriatic Sea. The modern shoreline is far
downstream from Adria.

1. What has been the average annual rate of Po Delta progradation in centimeters per year (cm/yr) since Adria was a thriving
seaport on the coastline of the Adriatic Sea? (Show your work.)

2. Based on the average annual rate calculated above (A1), how many centimeters would the Po Delta prograde during the
lifetime of someone who lived to be 60 years old? (Show your work.)

3. REFLECT & DISCUSS Sea level is rising and submerging coastlines adjacent to the Po Delta. Why do you think the
delta prograding out into the Adriatic Sea?

B. Refer to the map and photographs of Saint Catherines Island, Georgia ( FIGURE 15.5 ). Note that on the southwestern and

east-central parts of the island there are large areas of salt marsh. Living salt marsh plants are present there, as shown on the

right (west) in FIGURES 15.5A and B . Also, note the linear sandy beach in FIGURES 15.5A and B , bounded on its seaward side

(left) by another strip of salt marsh mud. However, all of the living, surficial saltmarsh plants and animals have been stripped
from this area. This is called relict salt marsh mud (mud remaining from an ancient salt marsh).
1. What type of sediment is probably present beneath the beach sands in FIGURES 15.5A and B ?

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