Investigating waves at Dawlish, Devon: a GIS activity

Introduction

At sea walls across the UK waves can overtop, sending fast jets of water and spray inland. This poses a hazard to people, transport and property. Coastal forecasts are used to predict when conditions might be hazardous to close access routes and close flood barriers.

“CreamT” was a research project that focused on gathering information about hazardous coastal conditions in the southwest to support local authorities in understanding the combinations of waves, water levels, beach levels and winds that posed the greatest wave overtopping hazard. A set of instruments were installed on the sea wall and beside the railway line to measure the overtopping at Dawlish. The data are available online for you to explore.

Using the worksheet (click the icon below to download) you will be guided through the environmental data to identify what coastal conditions pose a wave overtopping hazard to the walkway and railway line along the seafront in Dawlish. This information is a valuable resource to Network Rail, who use the understanding to improve their hazard response for train operations in this location.

The worksheet enables students to interrogate the data gathered to investigate the wave conditions associated with the overtopping hazard at Dawlish. This is genuine research data used by experts in the field and, as such, is totally authentic. It demonstrates to students the real world application of geography.

Click the icons below for the student worksheet and accompanying teacher answers.