Venus Bay Observation Project

Alone at last!

2012-03-12T20:15:00.001-07:00

WEEDS WEEDS EVERYWHERE!

2012-02-04T04:07:00.000-08:00

There is no set definition of what a weed is, other than that they are always undesirable. In the context here I am referring to plants that are not endemic to an area, and that escape into our natural areas to become weeds.

This is undesirable for two main reasons;

It changes our natural areas from being natural, which is the reason those areas are valued in the first place.

It alters the balance in the ecosystem. The weeds out compete the native seedlings, so natural regeneration gets hampered. The native animals are all linked to the native vegetation and start to struggle, and pest animal species often displace them.

What can we all do?

Learn to recognise a few of the weeds, and which ones are particularly nasty. Below are a couple of useful links,

South Gippsland Weeds;

http://www.southgippslandweeds.com.au/

and the DPI's weed site;

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/weeds

The weeds pictured are from top to bottom; Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, Inkweed Phytolacca octandra & Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare.

Celebrating Australia Day

2012-01-25T18:10:00.001-08:00

What better place to celebrate Australia Day than on Beach One. Good job all you nippers and dedicated surf club patrols.

Death on the Beach

2012-01-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

The Life Cycles of the Natural world play out daily along the coast at Venus Bay. Sometime you are confronted by the site of dead birds, like the albatross below, penguins, seals, dolphins and even whale. Unfortunately such deaths happen, frequently related to storms at sea. If you come across such birds, particularly penguins, it is a good idea to check for leg bands, its is import to note which leg is banded and the order of colours and any letters or numbers. Also if the cause of death is clearly not natural (eg the bird, fish is tangled in a net, line) they probably should be recorded. We don't need to be forensic experts or act as" the wildlife police", but significant changes in our environment may be signaled by other species.

Even Natural deaths when in larger numbers are worth recorded, for example our site was probably the first to note the large number of mutton birds that died and washed up in beaches all along Australian beach last year.

BUT please inspect these animals and birds with respect, a very rare and endangered species may need to be the subject or further scientific study.

VBOPing on Google+

2012-01-22T17:14:00.001-08:00

VBOPing is now on Google+, not fully sure how we can us all the facilities of google+ but if you are on Google+ start following and watch for share circles and links. Also add the Hashcode #VBOP to your post so we can find it.

Coastal Walk Report

2012-01-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

The "Geology Rocks" coastal walk along Pt. Smythe yesterday was enjoyed by around 20 people who took the chance for a guided tour through the different environments and habitats of the area. We got to see much of the local plant and animal life, including bracket fungi (species unknown), the White Elderberry Sambucus gaudichaudian which are bearing their pale fruits.

We also saw a few dead birds washed up onto the beach. There was a Muttonbird Puffinus sp. ,and an Albatross (possibly a juvenile Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora). They most likely perished as a result of a storm event out at sea.

Thanks to Norm and Bruce for making the tour engaging, informative and fun!

So this is summer …

2012-01-19T16:50:00.001-08:00

What is the saying? “Beautiful one day, overcast the next” …Welcome to Venus Bay 2012

This summer so far has not been the typical hot blazing sun and deep blue cloudless skies. yet on the beach there are signs that it has been a much more typical summer than the past few years (at least for the beach profile)

The Erosion at the top of the beach seems to be very limited (last big events being in November) and the scarps are drying and collapsing leaving a steep wedge of sand rather a vertical cliff (except where marram grass clumps are hold up some areas (as shown above). The Average Height Tide Line is 10 to 20 meters seaward from these scarps, which has meant that the flatten out upper part of the beach (the summer berm) has been able to be strongly developed along the beach. This an area where dried out seaweed and other beach debris can accumulate. the sand dries out and is more susceptible to wind erosion so this part of the beach is flatter. This is an important habitat for the shore nesting birds (like the hooded plovers). Hopefully they are enjoying this summer on the beach.

BTW its the Walk out on Point Smythe TODAY!

Point Symthe – Geology walk to Inlet & Ocean Beaches

2012-01-16T21:38:00.001-08:00

You will find this years geology walk out on Point Smythe area (not to Point Smythe itself) in the Summer by the Sea program list under Geology Rocks!. Sorry no rocks to see but plenty else, including geological processes in action. Perhaps a few experiments on the beach. The route this years has been trimmed (no big dunes to walk up) and there is still plenty to see, in less than 5km.

Fri 20 January 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Bookings Essential (03) 5674 3738

Pipi Plunder continues

2012-01-09T21:28:00.001-08:00

Just in case you missed the item on Channel 7 last night. Here is a link to their story (sorry about the ad at the start but that's the way Yahoo7 have set up the embed link).. There is a lot more to the story than is covered in this news item, and I agree the majority of recreation pipi collectors probably do following the guidelines. Clearly a massive amount of the beach is being turned over all day long in January (and that is a lot of work just to get your 2 litres of fresh pipi). I for one an a bit disappointed that the fisheries department representatives are playing such a conciliatory hand. SO are they blind, or just pretending to be so, perhaps it is time the authorities got stronger feedback. SO if you witness any of the following blatant and clearly organised flouting of the recreational catch limits

1) “mule” family groups tipping their catch into larger buckets and carrying those buckets into the dunes.
2) Young male “runners” (often holding radios or mobile phones)collecting the buckets in the dunes and carrying them along tracks in the dunes.
3) People with radio or mobile phones marshalling vans in the beach car parks. (Clearly these vehicles are not full of holiday makers) The licence plates on these vans will probably give the best way to find the organizers of these rackets.
Please take photos and/or report you observations to 13 FISH (a free call number)

Adventures in Environmental Science

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

The Rounded Noon Flower Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum, sometimes called Pigface, an endemic species of our coastline are coming into flower now.

I would also like to post a link to a film I made called Adventures in Environmental Science which is about some of the activities of the Venus Bay Observation Project.

I am hoping that those who do view the film would find it to be educational and entertaining, but most of all I hope it inspires others to be brave and become involved and add their contribution to the Venus Bay Observation Project.

2012-01-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

The Summer 2012 edition of Coastline is available for down load at the DSE website.

This cover a wide range of cpastal matters and in particular a lot of local community groups concerned with there part of our beautiful Victorian coastline.

Whilst at the website check out this year Summer by the Sea program.

2011-12-17T02:24:00.000-08:00

COASTAL FLOWERS OF THE DUNES

With the great weather we've been having lately it might be time to get outdoors and enjoy the flowers.

The Daisy Bushes Olearia sp. are colouring the dunes with their white flowers.

While the Seaberry Saltbush Rhagodia candolleana red berries attract the eye as well as providing food for the native animals.

There is also an invader from southern Africa hiding in the coastal vegetation. Purple Groundsel Senecio elegans gives itself away with its purple and yellow flowers. It is drought tolerant and can often be found scattered behind the foredunes.

Summer Berm

2011-11-11T02:38:00.001-08:00

Despite the near tropical storms and downpours over the past fortnight, the summer berm is developing all along the beach at Venus Bay and only a few fresh erosion scarps can be seen. This upper beach is already flattening under mainly strong northerly winds and this brings promise of a wider summer berm this year. The full moon is tonight and it will be interesting just how high the overnight tide might reach.

Have a look at the night sky

2011-10-24T21:43:00.001-07:00

Just got an alert of extreme activity from aurora australia right now, and hopefully through tonight. So It may actually be visible from Venus Bay, low in the southern sky.
For more up to date forecast see the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute and then Select the antartic map in the "select a map" box on the left hand column.

Photo by Samuel Blanc.

Does Marram Grass Encourage Deeper Erosion?

2011-10-21T20:44:00.001-07:00

The more I look the more I see evidence that recent erosion is strongest (ie leaving the tallest erosion scarp) in areas where the dunes are heavily covered by marram grass. Compared with areas where only runners of coastal spinifex, appear to leave a partially covered and “less well protected” dune front. These two photos where taken from the same location and the difference is very clear.

The photo on the right is looking slightly north to an area of heavy marram grass on the dune, and two recent erosion events. Further the beach infront of this is still showing its steeper curves winter shape. Compare this with the photo on the right, just taken straight-on here only a few runners of the coastal spinifex have regrown in front of previous erosion, but the slope is already flatter and the beach infront of this point has already started to develop its summer shape. This is often termed the summer berm. The beach above the high water mark has started to dry out and the curve of the upper becah is being flattened by wind erosion, leaving the characteristic wind blown ripple marks, with extra seaweed & other heavier debris to collect sand with wind gutters around the base and often a wind shadow of dry sand. It is the development of this summer berm that provides the best home for beach nesting birds, a rest place for animals and migrating bird (like penguins, terns and seals).

For a long time I have assumed that the taller erosions scarps are associated with deeper gutters out in the sand bars, and I still see that there will be a distinct gutter or channel in the vicinity of fresh erosion but the relationship with marram grass on the foredunes does seem to be becoming more compelling.

So the big question is -
Does marram grass encourage deeper erosion of the dunes?

Storms & More Erosion

2011-10-14T03:59:00.001-07:00

The past few weeks has seen more erosion along the Venus Bay beach in many locations. The profile of the upper beach is also steeper (more the classic winter berm) in front of the recent erosion. The erosion scarps are up to 3m high, probably the highest this year.

These are classic features of low pressure (storm surge) corresponding with higher tides and strong on-shore swells. You’ll see the sand is still there, as a wider beach and sand bars at low tide.

Hooded Plover Workshop

2011-09-26T17:38:00.001-07:00

You are invited to a Hooded Plover Workshop coming up on Saturday15th October at the Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club. Join us to find out more about these quirky, but vulnerable little birds that live on Venus Bay beach and other beaches in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park. The event is part of our Coastcare Victoria Community Grant project to protect Hooded Plovers within Cape Liptrap Coastal Park in partnership with Birds Australia and Parks Victoria
Saturday 15th October
Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club
Start from 9.30am with opportunity to participate in half or whole day program finishing around 3pm
Morning session presenters: Tanya Pyk from Birds Australia and Jonathon Stevenson from Parks Victoria

Morning Tea and Lunch provided but BYO special dietary requirements.
Please RSVP to Tanya Pyk t.pyk@birdsaustralia.com.au or ph:03 9347 0757

Two Generations of Erosion

2011-09-24T04:39:00.001-07:00

At many location along the Venus Bay beaches, you can see two generations of erosion on the one dune face. The upper erosion scarp (a geological term for the small vertical face, escarpment, created when waves washed away some sand) has itself been partly eroded. As the sand face dries out it becomes unstable and collapses along wind picks up other dry sand and piles it infront of the face. Re-grown of saltbush grasses help stabile the sand collecting infron of the dune. Eventually the scarp itself will dissapear and the dune just have a steep front face. The recent erosion can be seen at the base as a new vertical face, with a areas where blocks of unstable sand have already tumbled from the sand faces above.

REMEMBER: These sand faces are remain very unstable, even if they sometimes look dry and stable.Even just a single square meter of wet sand will weigh close to 2 tonnes enough to fatally bury an adult. So children (even grown up ones) must be discouraged from playing on such erosion scarps

Still Eroding

2011-09-22T17:50:00.001-07:00

Having been away for a couple of what I have come to know as the most active erosion months (August and September, presumably because of the strong swells and storms are common in these months). I was surprised that maybe there had not been as much erosion as I was expecting. Still quiet a lot of the beach shows an erosion scarp of 1 to 2m. I was also surprised to see so much seaweed on the beach (perhaps the swells have also disturbed the kelp forest off shore).

This location (just south of the beach one ramp) also shows clearly something I had noted before. The fenced “rehabilitation” area, has mainly coastal spinifex, where as the eroded area to the south is dominated by marram grass. Perhaps the flatter slope angle of the dunes with coastal spinifex lets the occasional high waves run up their surface rather than starting an erosion notch.

Bigger swells and more dune erosion

2011-07-13T05:08:00.001-07:00

I was keen to have a look at the beach and see how the big swells of last week, affected the beach. Swells bought to our coast by really big storms and heavy weather in the southern oceans. The surfers where disappointed because the winds where not off shore, to lift the waves, but the strong on-shore winds made matters worse for erosion, that push the water up against the coast even more and clearly helped the swells and waves they produced reached right up to the dunes. Even though we not quiet to the full month.

The result is a lot of new erosion, not everywhere but obvious all along the beach.

Great farm workers!

2011-06-02T04:12:00.001-07:00

Bats of Corner Inlet

Guest Speaker: Jim Reside, Wildlife Unlimited

Jim has been working with native fauna for more than 30 years and is an expert in the ecology of many native animals including bats

Bats:

eat half their body weight in insects every day
represent 45% of mammal species in the region
yet they are unknown to most of us:
they are small
they are active at night and hidden in roosts during the day
we cannot hear them

Come and learn about these great and largely unknown little farm workers!

Wednesday 8^thJune 2011
6.30pm to 9.00 pm

Alberton West Recreation Reserve Club Rooms
North end of Lanes Road, Alberton West on the west side
Lanes Rd runs between South Gippsland Highway & Tap Tap Rd. Vic Roads ref - Page 104 C3

Please register by 5^th June.
Contact to register and for more information?bronwynt@wgcma.vic.gov.au
jimr@wgcma.vic.gov.au

Small native mammals of Cape Liptrap

2011-05-30T02:45:00.001-07:00

Everyone is familiar with the larger native mammals of Cape Liptrap – koalas, wombats, echidnas, kangaroos and wallabies

However there are many more creatures that are largely unknown

Find out about some of these animals:

What they look like
Where they may live
What they eat
How you can help them survive.

Guest speaker: Jim Reside, a wildlife expert with 30 years experience of surveying & monitoring wildlife in Gippsland

7.00 pm to 9.00 pm
Thursday 9 June 2011
Tarwin Lower Community Centre

Contact to register and for more
information?bronwynt@wgcma.vic.gov.au
jimr@wgcma.vic.gov.au

Surf Diatom Blooms

2011-05-14T02:15:00.001-07:00

The cold weather often bring extensive surf diatom blooms to the waves along Venus Bay. The strong winds have been whipping up plenty of foam to help the blooms spread. The surf diatom and a very large number of small crustaceans washed up overnight are likely to make great food source for the grazing shellfish under the sand. That is if there are enough pipis left!

Foam & More Foam

2011-05-13T16:27:00.001-07:00

Today the swells as pounding in, the wind almost gale force but the waves do not appear to be eroding the dunes (they might tonight with a high tide corresponding with a low pressure and very strong onshore winds). What is most amazing is the surf foam racing across the sand and on up the dunes.

The 3rd Kingdom.

2011-04-25T03:36:00.001-07:00

Autumn rains have triggered the fruiting for many of the fungi in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park. They make great photographic subjects besides their importance in recycling nutrients back into the food chain.

Identifying them can be a challange, though. The top picture is Geastrum simulans, the genus often being know as "Earth Stars ". The others I don't know, can anyone put a name to these?

Coastal Ecology & Managemant Workshop

2011-04-25T02:45:00.000-07:00

This is a panorama looking across to Wilsons Promontory from Walkerville taking during one of the field trips on the Coastal Ecology and Management Workshop of April 9th & 10th.

The workshop was an excellent weekend and well attended. We were treated to so many great guest speakers I wont mention them all because you'd be jealous. Suffice to say that Bruce Atkins ran an informative, useful and fun event that I would highly recommend that environmental volunteers look out for next year.

Special mention to the Friends of Venus Bay Peninsula. Janet Carey gave a presentation on the Friends successes with fox control on V.B. From 2007-2011 they have trapped 189 foxes and 7 feral cats. The picture below from Pt Smythe today shows unfortunately there are still a few out there to catch.

Protect Pips, Biologist Pleas

2011-03-25T06:07:00.001-07:00

There is a great article about protecting our beach and its pipis in this weeks Leongatha Star (22/3/2011). It contains a very real warning, by visiting American marine biologist Heather Hawk, that our once large population of pipis on the beach at Venus Bay could already be facing an impending crash in population through over harvesting.

“Little is known about the impact of harvesting in Victoria … so monitoring pipi population structure and harvests is critical for these beaches(Venus Bay), which serve as recruitment sources for all of southern Australia”

“Fisheries in Sydney and elsewhere have learned that the species is highly susceptible to local population crashes after overfishing”. …Heather Hawk

All this shouldn’t come as any surprise to Venus Bay locals and keen observers who have been making similar points for a few years now. If you haven’t already signed it,there is a petition by Venus Bay Residents to the Victorian government asking

To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria
The Petition of Residents and Visitors of Venus Bay, South Gippsland, Victoria
draws to the attention of the House
to the unsustainable harvesting of pipis and the associated excessive strain put on existing beach carparks, roadways, toilet and waste facilities during the busy summer period.
The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:
Enact laws or regulations affecting the inter-tidal zone between Arch Rock and Point Smythe to restrict the taking of pipis, with the current catch limits, to a season extending from May to September.

This is a very sound request in that it will hopefully stop the rampant harvesting of Pipis over summer, and give the Pipi stocks a better chance of developing to maturity.

If you can help out getting more signatures, download the form ( use icon above or click here) and get concerned friends, neighbors & colleagues to sign it. Please post completed petition to PO Box 234, Venus Bay, Vic 3956, by the 30th April to allow time for lodging with Parliament. Alternatively look for the petition stand at the end of the Tour de Tarwin or Lower Tarwin Market Mondays.

Coastal Ecology and Management Workshop

2011-03-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

A free weekend workshop for coastal volunteers, at the Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse at Sandy Point, April 9th. & 10th.
(Sandy Point is on Waratah Bay, approx 45 km from Inverloch & 25 km from Foster)
Feedback from previous workshops has been all positive - don't miss the opportunity to attend this year!
Includes the following topics (list not yet complete):

Southern Australia’s unique marine environment
Saltmarsh – its importance and management
Beach-nesting birds and waders
Coastal weeds - identification and control
Geology of the South Gippsland coast
Fox control to protect beach-nesting birds and small mammals
Volunteers monitoring seagrass in Corner Inlet

Registration is now invited from members of volunteer coastal community groups and others interested in coastal management. Places limited. Presenters list not yet finalised, but will include:

Assoc Professor Paul Boon, Victoria University
Prof. Neville Rosengren, LaTrobe University
Mark Rodrigue, Parks Victoria
Birds Australia
DSE staff
South Gippsland Environmental Education & Interpretation Education Officer

Presented by South Gippsland Environmental Education & Interpretation and

Enquiries: Coastcare facilitator Bruce Atkin: 51 839116; 0429 842142 or reply to this email To Register: email bruce.atkin@dse.vic.gov.au

Biggest Moon, maybe. Highest Tides not yet

2011-03-19T01:39:00.001-07:00

There has been a lot of speculation and sensationalism on the net and news about the giant moon tonight. Ok it is as close to the earth as it gets and it is a full moon. BUT it is only fractionally closer and still a long long way away. If you can see the difference you may just be dreaming!

What about the giant tides, well we do get higher tides at around the full moon, but remember it is the combined affect of the sun and the moon not just the moon alone and that will be a little stronger in a few days (see tide chart above, compliments of willy weather). so look for extra high and low tides Wednesday and Thursday.

Taking on the winter shape…already

2011-02-22T04:23:00.001-08:00

The beach is loosing the distinct flatter area of dry sand from the upper beach zone and a continuous sloping curve, typical of the winter shape (or winter berm) has quickly developed for the beach profile. The reason is clearly the strong onshore winds, strong swells and powerful waves crashing onshore. The highest tides are however not reaching the scarps from previous erosion.

In previous years these changes have more typically occur in April/May.

Tumbling Tumble Weed

2011-02-14T00:56:00.001-08:00

Australia doesn’t really have the true (by which I mean the American Western Movie Style) tumble weed but the seed of the humble Spinifex, Spinifex sericeus comes very close. This grass also known as the beach spinifex is crucial for dune stability. It usually forms tussocks and has long rhizomes that spread out through the sand and hold the dunes in place. It can easily be propogated from rhizome cuttings planted in damp sand. Interestingly this spinifex has separate male and female plants. The above photo shows the dried flower, from a female plant, now holding the fertile seed. It blows along the beach following the shifting sand and thus populating newly formed dunes. A very clever design!

The introduced marram grass, is now competing with native spinifex all along the Venus Bay beach and may eventually replace all the native spinifex. The marram grass also helps stabilize the dunes, that is why it was originally introduced, but its dense growth may contribute to steeper dunes by entrapping more sand, at the expense of the upper beach zone (ie summer berm) This may be one factor in an increased susceptibility to direct wave erosion. The dense grass mat also inhibits other dune pioneer plants and may reduce the traditional nesting and foraging habitat available for some small animals and birds. For example at Summerland Beach on Phillip Island the change in dune shape bought about by marram grass replacing spinifex has meant special temporary penguin tracks have had to be constructed up the dunes to give access to the little penguins breeding areas.

Mess Up Days

2011-02-11T20:38:00.001-08:00

You may have noticed some of the Pacific Gulls (Larus pacificus) looking a bit messy, this is just the juvenile birds moulting into their distinct black & white adult plumage. It is not due to oil or other pollutants clogging their feathers, just typical adolescent attire.

The Hooded Plovers Web of Life

2011-02-01T21:08:00.000-08:00

I found this wonderful illustration on the Culture Victoria website under stories/ Land & Ecology.

The first ring has all sorts of tiny crabs and critters that Hoodies like to eat. The second ring shows some of the birds that share the beaches with Hoodies - some that stay there all year round and others that fly long distances to spend summer on the beach in Australia. Most birds share the crabs and critters with the Hoodies, but others like to eat the Hoodies, and other birds!
These creatures are linked together because they need each other to survive. Of course, humans are part of this web of life, and we have an affect on how it works.

More details on the CV website

Recreational Pressures

2011-01-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

Whilst the rest of the nation celebrates Australian Day, maybe the beach at Venus Bay is getting just a little more stressed each year. Certainly the number of “pipi tourists” peaks on public holidays like Australia Day. There are strict guidelines for pipi collection and hopefully we can avoid the fate of Port Stephens in NSW.

This year has also seen the common sighting of jet skis on the beach. Whilst these particular craft were used sensibly and away from swimmers, others where spotted “hooning” around over summer. It is worth remembering it not just beach goers, the fish and birds will also be distributed.

Once upon a time (just a few years ago) I seldom saw any rubbish on the Venus Bay beaches. Other than typical ocean flotsam and jetsam. Now a short look at the accumulations above the summer berm will show a surprisingly lot of litter, particularly plastic bottle tops, disposable bottles and plastic bags.

All of these stresses can be easily minimized by us, the beach users, so that Venus Bay can remain the wonderful stretch of beach it is today,

High Tide, Narrow & Closed Beach

2011-01-24T04:35:00.001-08:00

2:54pm 1006hPa almost high tide, find the beach narrow and the strong swell and currents see the beach closed to swimmers.

No erosion

Low & Flat

2011-01-23T04:10:00.001-08:00

Beach One at 6:48 pm 1009 hPa. A low low tide, a wide flat beach and exposed sandbars.

Does Venus Bay get King Tides?

2011-01-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

With a lot of current focus on flooding and King Tides it is a good time to answer the question.

"Does Venus Bay get King Tides?"
It certainly does!

In fact the next ones are due now and over the weekend. We get higher tides twice each month corresponding roughly with the new moon and full moon (look outside tonight and you will see a full moon). These are also known as spring tides (despite the fact that they occut all year round) and also represent the times when the difference between high and low tides are at there maximum. So from tonight till monday will will have higher than average tides overnight and lower than average low tides in the late afternoon and evenings.

I found this graph on a great site called willy weather, which as well as putting weather details on the net for a lot of Australian locations, including focasts for Venus Bay (they are pretty much taken from the Bureau of Meterology's Pound Creek station), They also sell lots of things to do with weather and tide prediction, worth a look if you are interested in such things.

Wikipedia has a fairly comprehensive page on tides, if you are looking for more detail.

Remember atmospheric pressure helps raise and lower the sea level. So a high pressure system, as we are in right now (1012 hPa and rising) will lower the sea level and stop the higher tide reaching so high but helping the low tide go lower, compared with the predicted level in the chart above or any preprinted tide chart.

Why is the summer berm returning?

2011-01-20T03:08:00.000-08:00

Undeveloped ocean beaches like Venus Bay typically have a different shape in summer and winter. Normally in Australia these are called the Summer Berm and Winter Berm. At the moment you can see both shapes and we haven't seen a true wide summer berm develop along the beach for several years (possibly 2006/2007 was the last period).

So What is a Summer Berm?

The term Berm has a few different meanings, It can be a mound of earth set up to protect low lying areas behind it (a levy bank). It the USA it often is the name given to a beach or flat river bank or even the edge of road. Any sub level surface will be called a berm but the flat/horizontal part will be called a Bench , the change of slope called the Berm Crest and the sloping front face the Berm Slope.

During summer when the waves and swells are generally calmer the top part of the beach start to dry out and wind action starts to level out the beach changing its gradient and making it flatter. A surprising lot of sand can be moved bu the wind and often extra sand is "stolen" from lower wetter parts of the beach and builts up this top part of the beach. The first sign most of us will notice is a soft sand pile built up at the bottom of the ramp or steps down to the beach.

In winter, storms and pounding winter swells bringing a lot more wave energy to lift and redistribute the sand both on the beach and below the waterline. The shape is now a single gentle curve getting steeper up the beach. Whilst the winds can be stronger in these times the sand is generally very wet so less wind erosion in involved. The winter shape has dominated changes in the Venus Bay beach over the past few years.

I am beginning to suspect the return of the sumer berm is related to the general change to a northwards longshore drift.

It will be interesting to see if the hooded plovers and other shore birds have a more succesful breeding season with a wider upper beach and less risk of nests being washed away.

Pipi shell survey

2011-01-11T04:34:00.000-08:00

The Pipis of Venus Bay are back making news in the local papers. The community has concerns regarding the impacts caused by people collecting Pipi on the surf beaches of Venus Bay. While the political debates are discussed elsewhere, the food web continues down on the beach. In our time of randomly sampling empty Pipi shells for signs of how/why they died we seldom see many examples of predation by predatory snails. The Naticidae leave a distinctive drill-hole mark on their victims, below top is a close-up of the hole a Naticid made in a Surf Clam shell. Nicely bevelled work!

In the shell survey I did on the beach Northwest of Beach Five on the 9Th Jan 2011 the chipped/non-chipped ratio was 9/10 in favour of chipped shells below bottom. The one exception was a Pipi shell with a Naticid hole.

We do this survey to gain information over time on the causal factors of Pipi mortality, but it also gives us some idea of the sizes of the Pipis present and how the Natacids (& others) are faring.

Does anyone know if Oystercatchers leave tell-tale marks on shells when they predate them?

Testing the sand drift

2011-01-11T04:15:00.000-08:00

On the summer by the sea walk we tried a simple experiment. By quickly digging a trench in front of a wave, then we watched carefully as the backwash from the wave refilled the trench.

Thanks to steve for the video
If you watch, you will see the first and main backwash is from the top right (south eastern side), but then material also washes in from the top left (north western side). So the waves are not washing back down the beach in a uniform direction and maybe even our trench is influencing the backwash a little. Still we repeated the test three times with much the same result. So we must assume an inconclusive result that the sand is mostly washing to the north west (ie coming from the south east) which is consistent with the form of the sand bars, which joins to the beach at the southern end in this location.

Geology (and MORE) walk at Pt Smythe

2011-01-11T03:40:00.001-08:00

This photo above was taken looking NW towards Pt Smythe during the Summer by the Sea geology walk at Venus Bay. The weather was kind to us as Norm Hanson led the tour through the diverse habitats introducing us to the plants, animals, geological theories and history of Point Smythe.

Warragul spinach.
The creeper scrambling here in this photo left was a food plant for the indigenous peoples of the area. The Kulin people used this and many other food sources during their seasonal passage through their traditional lands.

I was hoping to post a video of Norms longshore drift experiment on this site, but I have had trouble. Id like to blame the Sand Fly bites I got, but thats not deserved. I have managed to get some video on my Flikr, so here are a couple of links;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spaceweavel/5346036398

Where are all these crabs from?

2011-01-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you’ve notice either the large number of crab shells and carcasses on the beach this summer or more likely you've felt something nipping at your bare feet in the shallow surf. The culprit is the Sand Crab [Ovalipes australiensis]. They are common enough and a favorite food for the pacific gulls. But why so many this year?

Please leave a comment is you think you know why.

A word of warning for the keen surf fisherman from the Museum Victoria, Ovalipes are experts at removing bait from fishhooks!

A good day for a walk

2011-01-09T19:47:00.001-08:00

I hope those that braved the walk out around Point Symthe area had a great day. One of the highlights was seeing a pair of hooded plovers possibly at a new nesting site and some oyster catchers resting on the beach.

The experiments with trying to directly observe sand drift, where not totally conclusive (steve may have photos) but overall seemed to show more movement to the north west than south east. This corresponds with the direction obtained by reading the sand bars, which where attached to the beach at the south eastern end.

Photographing the sunset

2011-01-04T16:54:00.001-08:00

This time of year the sunsets at Venus Bay can be specular, plus we probably also have the time to sit and watch them. The beach at Venus Bay is actually oriented mainly north south and faces west so you can watch the sunset into the sea. You will be able to photography sunsets over the water equally as rich and warm as those from the famed cable beach in Western Australia (ok we don’t have camels)

Pointing your camera (especially automatic digital ones) straight at the sun however often leads to disappointing results. The main problem is the exposure (the light meter in cameras often get strong contrasty subjects wrong) and photos are bleached out or have a flared out overexposed fussy light burnt into a dark image). One trick is to half press the shutter button pointing while away from the sun (this will get the light meter to correctly read the average lighting) then keeping your finger on the button move back to looking directly at the sun and finally pushed you finger fully down. It may take a little practice but with a digital camera you can view what you just took. Another alternative is to use bracketting (I pretty well always do this now for sunsets). This is a feature on most digital cameras now that will take 3 or 5 pictures at once with different exposures. But there is plenty of other good advice on the net,such as digital photography school and wikiHOW. Sunsets make great personal screen savers/wallpaper on your computer

If you look at my photography blog you will see sunsets are a favourite subject. Here are a few sunsets already in the VBOP group on flickr, perhaps you would like to add more. Lets make Venus Bay as famous for sunsets as cable beach.

Alas the beach one surf life saving observation box is no longer

Surf Diatoms on Beach Four

2011-01-03T01:41:00.000-08:00

A small Diatom bloom on Beach Four today (3/1/11) .
Beach Four has signs of undercutting of the foredune. The access path is very steep due to slumping of the dune it passes.
I noted one dead Little Penguin lying on the dunes.
We surveyed the Pipi shells on the beach for a chipped ratio of 10 out of 11 shells. The smallest shell being from a sexually immature juvenile individual approximately 8-9 months old.

Reading the sandbars

2010-12-28T20:53:00.001-08:00

Most of the action on the beach at the moment is occurring down at the low tide line. If you look there is extensive development and changes in the sand bars. You can read the direction of the longshore drift of the sand by analysing the sand bars.

Look to find which end the bar is connected to the beach. If this is at the southern end of the sand bar the net longshore sand drift will be going to the north. If connected at the northern end the net longshore sand drift will the going south.

Note: Diagrammatic only & not to scale

The mechanism of longshore drift on a long sweeping beach like Venus Bay is fairly easy to explain. The wave hit the beach slightly obliquely (this depends of ocean currents and nearby coast and sea floor topography) and carry some sand particles up the beach in the same direction that the wave was travelling as it hit the shore. Then the wave receded but now the water runs down the gradient of the beach (ie at right angles to the beach) so some sand is again washed back but following this new flow direction. so the sand particles zig zag up and then down the beach moving them along the shore a little as each wave carries them up the beach.

Very much related to the development of sand bars along the Venus Bay beach are Rip currents. These are feed with water but the lagoons and depressions that form behind the sand bars water coming over the bars has to run along this hollow to get back out to sea. Sometimes it quickly erodes deep gutters (a favourite pace for surf fisherman at higher tides) or pot holes. Often the sand near the deeper pots holes is very loose and unconsolidated because it is recently transported there.

Over the past few years the longshore drift has been dominantly to the south but this year It would appear that the general sand drift has turned to the north. It would be nice if all those interested observed the sandbars and posted their observations of sand drift as comments here or as messages on Twitter using the either hashtag #VBOP or to @VBOP

Eg for twitter

@VBOP beach one sand bars show sand drift to north

Beach One Christmas Day

2010-12-24T21:43:00.000-08:00

Beach One Venus Bay

Christmas sunrise at Beach One, Venus Bay. As imageo mentioned in his last blog, the low air pressure and Lunar influence combined might lead to further sand movements and erosion along Venus Bay's coastline. The picture left has mounds of sand running parallel to the shore, and right shows how uneven the erosion to the berm is, as it persists in these deeper troughs. The fore-dune has experienced some erosion in places too.

Behind it the primary dune is suffering blow outs, often caused by people walking up and over the dune system, then enlarged by prevailing winds. We would remind people that besides being important habitat, the dune vegetation plays a critical role in stabilising the dunes, ie the beach. Besides that have a happy and safe Christmas, enjoy the beach and drive carefully.

Lunar Eclipse @ Sunset Tuesday 21st.!

2010-12-19T22:31:00.000-08:00

For those interested, and clouds permitting, you will be able to a partial eclipse of the moon should be visible just before sunset as the "full" moon rises (approx 8:40pm) and best time to view will be as the sunsets, with the moon still low on the horizon and appearing larger than usual. The partial eclipse will reach it midpoint around 9:15PM and be complete by 10pm It should have a reddish colouration over much of the moons surface (not as complete as shown in photo from the June 2009 lunar eclipse but distinctly reddish all the same).

The best places to view the eclipse at Venus Bay will those places with a good view of the eastern horizon, such as the overflow Carpark on the way to beach one, OR on the Venus Bay/Lower Tarwin bike track at the beginning of Jupiter drive OR at the boat ramp at Estate 2.

Wikipedia has more details on this eclipse. This Blog has details of best viewing time for some Australian cities.

The 21st also marks the summer solstice (the shortest night of the years), The full moon and the tails of low air pressure and cold front (bringing the cold and cloudy weather) may bring higher than average tides and a slight possibility of more erosion and sand movement at the top of the beach. All in all a good night to get out and take a look at what is going on, albeit with a raincoast and umberella.

Beach One berm watch

2010-12-02T01:44:00.000-08:00

This is the state of the berm at Beach One on 2nd December. View is towards Southeast during the low tide, at 11 AM.

Note the lower inter-tidal zone with sandbars and sitting water.

Beach Five update

2010-11-22T04:43:00.000-08:00

Visited beach 5 today and took these photos of the fore-dune. To the West the dune looks alot more stable compared to the view East where the active undercutting is visible. The seaward half of the inter-tidal zone is fluffy with the transported sand. I also counted 6 dead Shearwaters. Also found my 1st Pipi from here with a Natacadea borehole. Usually these predatory snails are out competed by more efficient hunters.

What is a Spit?

2010-11-17T18:11:00.000-08:00

The geomorhpic definition of Spit is a sandy bar projecting from the mainland into open water. Spits are formed by deposition of sediments moved by longshore drift. (here is a wikipedia link on spits, if you want more details)

So the Big question; Is Point Symthe a Spit?

Well it is widely described as a spit in tourist literature guide books, Often as Victroia's largest spit. However there may be a few problems calling it a true spit

1) The Andersen inlet estuary is no longer "open water" and there is a very strong tidal inflow and outflow cutting across the longshore drift

2) Observations in this project suggest that the longshore drift does change directions and has been larger going southwards for the past few years

3) It doesn't have the characteristic hooked end.

Yet physically it is a very large continuous section of sand and the present situation may represent a very late stage of spit development. Where by the entrance to Andersen inlet may close over with a continous sand bar from Point Symthe to Inverloch.

However as Andersen inlet gradually fills with sediment (not sure if anyone is accurately measuring this) The effects of the tidal flows (it is the same amount of tidal change but in a progressively shallower inlet) mean that there is now considerable erosion cause along the main chanels giving outlet to the sea. These infact are behaving like a meandering streams thrashing back and forth across the inlet floor and heavily eroding the coast & beaches but just at very specific locations (where the chanels curve most).

Who will win? Longshore drift or the tidal flow from Andersen Inlet.

migration mishap

2010-10-28T20:36:00.001-07:00

Now is the time of migration for many of the birds that nest along out coast. The shearwater [Puffinus tenuirostris] (more common knownly as the mutton birds) flies in from as far north as the Siberia, the Aleutian Islands and even the Californian coast. Unfortunately this year something happened and the beaches at Venus Bay are littered by hundreds of dead bird. Stormy weather probably isn’t to blame as most bird appear to have only recently died, a period of mild weather and calm seas and light sea fog. Presumably they died of exhaustion from their trip unable to summon the strength to continue to their nesting sites.

In 1798, Mathew Flinders recorded watching an almost continuous line for several hours of shearwater leaving the waters of northern Tasmanian and heading across bass straight on the start of their migration north. He estimated that there were at least one hundred million birds within a single flock!

Beach-Nesting Birds Workshop & Beach Walk

2010-10-17T03:48:00.000-07:00

Learn about Birds Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds project and how to safely monitor nesting
birds. All welcome!

Location: Venus Bay Surf Life Saving Club (Surf Drive)

Date: Saturday 6th November
Indoor presentation: 11:00 am -12:00 pm
Break for lunch 12:00 - 1:00pm
[Bring along your lunch; tea/coffee/juice and cake will be provided]

Beach walk*: 1:00pm departing Number one beach (end of Surf Drive), heading east along the beach. We will walk at least 1km and depending on your fitness, there is the option join us on a longer walk.

* For those going on the beach walk, please be prepared for the weather and bring along wet weather gear or sun protection as required. If you have binoculars, please bring these along. You might want to bring along a bottle of water to keep hydrated.

Meet some of the locals

2010-10-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

More on Size Matters

2010-10-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

There is a large aboriginal midden south of beach one on the edge of a large sand blow out. Recently a lot of the of the midden have been eroded out and formed a long scree field mainly of pipi shells below the midden. Look over the shells it was soon evident that the average size of those shells collected and eat my the aboriginals 200+ years ago is significantly bigger that even the largest shell I could find on the beach today.

Plenty of Diatom Blooms

2010-09-02T22:36:00.001-07:00

There are a number of patches (5-15meters wide) where ever I looked along the Venus Bay beach today. Whilst the foam and waves where heavily stained, the amount of staining on the beach at low tide (early morning) is consistent with the “urban legend” that these blooms are only a day light phenomena. The characteristic circular patterns as the diatoms slide off bubbles in the surf foam are still the easiest way to identify these surf diatom blooms.

Surf Diatom Bloom at Beach 1

Seperate bloom of Surf Diatom At Beach 5

What scum is that?

2010-09-02T06:08:00.001-07:00

The recent heavy rains have all the low lying areas and drain permanently full of water, and a lot of different slimes, algaes and mosses growing rampantly (mainly in bright shades of green). Whilst most are not harmful it is important to realise that the relative shallow depth or Andersen inlet makes it a high risk for damaging algal blooms, such as the toxic blue-green algae. Some blooms such as diatoms (more likely to be a greeny brown) can be benefical. The NSW office of water, give details of how to obtain a copy of “What scum is that?” an aid to identify Algal blooms and other prolific plant growths and a simplified field guide called Keys to blooms.

Mars close encounter internet myth or ...

2010-08-24T02:09:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of stories circulating on the internet about a close encounter with mars on the 27th August. Well they are not true, the earth does come close to the orbit of mars on 30th October (if 69 million kilometers is considered close) and it will be visiable to the naked eye, but it already is. The really bright start after sunset at the moment in the western sky is venus and mars is the dimmer reddish star above it. The bright star close to the full moon is jupiter.

Find out more about this "real" photo at the NASA mars-mythbuster site

The planets Mars, Venus & Jupiter can have a slight affect on tides. However the largest effect would have been at the last new moon when all three, the sun and moon where in close alignment and the effect was apparently minimal!

Second chance for 75 Litres of Venus Bay Pipi

2010-08-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

The current edition of The South Gippsland Sentinel-Times, Tuesday August 17 2010 page15, is carring a story on Pipi poachers intercepted by Fisheries officers at Venus Bay. The five alleged poachers were apparently caught with 75 litres of Pipi. That is 60 litres over the legal catch limit.
The best news of all is most of the Pipis were returned back into the surf.
Anyone who sees or suspects illeagal fishing activity should call 13 FISH (13 3474).

Another light show in the sky

2010-08-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

On the morning of the 13th August there will be an aligment of Venus Saturn and Mars, and a crescent moon in the eastern sky. Unfortunately it will occur a little after sun rises and not break on the eastern horizon till almost 8am. What you might see with the naked eye is a thin cresent moon and a bright star (venus) nearby The famous Perseid meteor shower should then becoming to its maximum at roughly the same time on the northern horizon, or slightly east of north. A great place to view this is from the bike track to Lower Tarwin on the rise at the start of the track near the intersection of Jupiter boulevard and Lees Road.

View Viewing perseids meteor shower in a larger map
Look across the adjacent field at the horizon to the right of the Pine trees close to Lees road, just before dawn, for the best chance of viewing meteor trails.

The moon, sun and planetary alignment in conjunction with the current lower air pressure (stormy weather) is likely to produce a very high tide and lead to significant new erosion at the top of the ocean beach profile.

There is a great article on viewing the alignment & meteor shower by Dr Tony Philips of Nasa, but remember his times and date relate to the Northern Hemisphere.

Lightshow over (for now)

2010-08-05T22:51:00.001-07:00

"We missed the major part of the storm--wrong side of the planet--but still caught some bright Southern Lights after the sun went down," Tom Luttrell photo from Australia's Casey Station on the coast of Antarctica (source spaceweather.com)

So the current magnetc storm may be over but there may be many more opportunities to view the southernlights from Venus Bay as the 24 year sunspot cycle climbs towards its expected maximum in 2013. This VBOP site will endeavor to keep you posted when good sightings are likely.

Keep an eye on the sky at night

2010-08-04T01:46:00.001-07:00

Two large solar flares occurred on the sun on August 1st.(source spaceweather.com) The first of the resulting magnetic storm arrived at the earth yesterday and triggered spectacular north lights. It is possible that a similar light show may occur in the southern hemisphere tonight, and more storms are expected. So when the sky clear, keep an eye out for auroras in the southern sky

Did you know Australia actually has a space weather bureau? Well is it actually a geopyhsical conditions monitoring authourity, but it does offer an aurora alert on its website. Nothing is confirmed as yet. However tonight and the next few days are definitely the time to monitor the southern sky.

PS If your mobile phone is registered for the alert system, expect an SMS if & when the aurora is visiable.

Beach Five Friday 23rd June 2010

2010-07-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Diatom bloom in surf. Changes to berm on-going.

Water temp: 13.7c Air pressure: 1031 hpa.

Air temp: 12.6c Chipped Pipi shell ratio: 9/10.

Beach Five continues to move towards a flatter beach profile with erosion and transporting of sand from the upper to the lower foreshore.

Tracks used by the Pipi over-harvesters show fresh footprints. Apart from filling a few pot holes in the carpark, no other maintainance or works has been done by Parks.

Beach Report, Beach Five.

2010-07-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

Carapace of the Surf Crab ovalipes australiensis, we noted about five washed up onto the beach. Probably victims of the storm conditions over the last few days.
We also saw multitudes of cuttlefish 'bones' washed up.
No blooms were seen.
Air pressure; 1013 hpa
Air temp; 16.3c Water temp; 13c.

Two Berms

Are there two berms on Beach Five? The berm near the foredune ( & the sign) is the berm that was here on my last visit, although it has worked itself higher up the beach.
But a second mini-berm is also apparent, extending from the bottom right of photo.

DUNE REPORT, BEACH FIVE.

2010-07-11T08:03:00.001-07:00

The white varity of the Pink Wax-Flower eriostemon austrasius is begining to bloom. Is this early, the books say it is a springtime flowerer?

Other news from the dunes of Beach Five, Pipi hunters have cut part of a wire fence so they have easier access into the dunes for their clandestine enterprises.

The Wedgie

2010-07-09T06:50:00.001-07:00

A sole wedge-tailed eagle [Aquila audax] was circling high above the dunes between beach one & beach two for approximately 20 minutes. Then suddenly it was gone.

The wedge tail is darker and has a longer wedge shaped tail than the white-bellied sea-eagle [Haliaeetus leucogaster] which also can be seen occasional over Venus Bay.

Small Blooms in the Surf

2010-07-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

There were two small blooms of surf diatom between beach one and beach two today. It was definitely cold with and on-shore wind.

Those brown sludges

2010-07-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

Those brown sludges that re-occur from time to time (more often in the cooler months april to july) along the clean sand beach at Venus Bay are normally due to "blooms" of surf diatoms, and they are not due to pollution. These diatoms are not toxic, although they may cause some skin irritation. So it is advisable to avoid swimming in dense patches or at least shower after swimming or surfing.

These diatoms are small marine plants that have a silica casing (and are therefore heavier than water). The diatoms mainly live in the sand but use the foam in the surf zone as a means to stay afloat and spread. As the foam washes ashore, the diatoms slide off and/or the bubbles of foam burst leaving a characteristic ring pattern in the sand. Large accumulations of diatoms are naturally occurring and the diatom themselves are a major food source for prawns, fish and filter-feeding molluscs (such as pipis).

The EPA (see link below) suggest these "Blooms" of surf diatoms may be related to weather conditions, particularly onshore winds. Similar blooms on the pacific coast of USA are linked to upwelling in cold water currents (the suggestion is that the change of temperature precipates iron from the sea water and feeds the bloom).

So a nice side observation project for us is to record when the blooms are visible and how extensive they are, also the wind conditions and temperature (hot, warm, cool, cold, very cold is probably sufficient for now, but there is a link to the Pound Creek weather station over on the right-hand column of this blog). The most important observation is to distinguish them from other sludge/pollutants such as oil spills, untreated sewerage or other effluents.

They have a distinct golden coffee colour
They do not smell (of oil fumes or in fact any distinct smell)
No iridescent (rainbow-coloured) slick on the water surface
They are not sticky and if you collect them just on the stained surf foam it feels gritty
They do not form blobs or lumps in the sand

Much of this information comes from the EPA's Surf Diatom Page

0n the Frontline

2010-06-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

SMS 041 730 6986

Frontline.SMS is an open source award winning application by Kiwanja.net. It is a simple to use "not requiring the internet" way to interact with the others in the project, that will allow any of us to use simple SMS text messaging from a mobile phone to submit observations and recieve news and warnings. All at a minimal cost.

You can Submit an Observation to be recorded in our database and posted on the website by starting your message with the Keyword VBOP. This means you will be able to send in things as you see them on the beach or wherever you are. It will just work of text messages, not photos.

You can also join a special Warning and Alert Group. Just send JOIN to the SMS Number (041 730 6986). Those Joining up will only recieve occasional messages related to specific VBOP alerts such as expected king tides, possible flooding or important beach news (such as the toxic chemical drums being washed ashore)
You can also choose to leave the group and stop warnings by sending LEAVE to the SMS number(041 730 6986).

Finally the small print. Please note the service is not online continuously but will be cleared daily. There is no charge for these messages, other than the normal SMS charges imposed by your telephone carrier (eg Telstra or Optus)

NEW LOW IN SIZE OF HUNTED PIPI

2010-06-23T03:23:00.000-07:00

22/06/2010

The size of a Pipi hunters midden at the rear of Beach 5s carpark beggers belief. How much longer can the population survive when this is the size that they are down to taking out?

These little guys ( 5 cent peice for scale) never got a chance to breed and set the next generation.

The Pipi hunters are also wearing a track through the dunes off of the proper access track, obviously not what people who are taking a legal catch size would do. Besides the Pipi carnage, this impacts the beach in multiple ways. From the blowout of the dunes to the disposable nappies littering the sides of the tracks, if Venus Bay is your beach then this is whats happening.

Being open

2010-06-17T06:48:00.001-07:00

I'm putting a bit of work into ways that this VBOP project can use other common web social networking tools and sites to broaden itself. More particularly to make our information easy to submit and use. Well I guess it is not secret but the systems have to be OPEN not closed! Sound simple but it is hard to explain why in a short post, but that is not important.

There is already a presence in Flickr and Twitter. Expect to see some news on BUZZ, A Picassa Web Album, a wiki style Field Guide and even a neat mobile phone data collection application using Fronteline.SMS

But don't expect to see any Facebook follow me or friends requests or even Like buttons here anytime soon.

Venus & the Crescent Moon

2010-06-16T00:52:00.000-07:00

Venus is visible as a very bright start at and just after sunset in the west and yesterday it was very close to the crescent moon.

A great photo opputunity!

By the way Venus Bay is not named after the planet Venus. It was changed to Venus Bay by Francis Peron on one of Baudain's Charts, and is thought to have been named after George Bass's ship the copper sheathed brig Venus. In appreciations of Bass's kindness in providing the distressed French expedition with fresh food.

Why are Moon Phases Important?

2010-06-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

I've included a phases in the moon applet over on the right because the position of the moon, more particularly the alignment of the sun, moon &earth, has a big influence of the magnitude of our tides. We see these tides as a roughly twice daily rise & fall of the sea level. The so called spring tides, are not just limited to spring (or autumn), they occur roughly twice a month (as the graphic above shows) at either the new moon or the full moon. Other times of the month see lesser tidal range because the gravitational pulls are not aligned. You can get the predicted tide times from the Bureau of Meterology Website (Venus Bay tides are roughly the same time as for the Port Phillip Heads)

Venus Bay does get higher tides in spring and autumn that have a significant extra height due to strong ocean swells and waves. Sometimes these highs can be forced higher by a storm surge or strong on-shore winds.

So the new moon this weekend make it a candidate to see more erosion, possibly higher than last month.

Please Be Patient

2010-06-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

I have begun transferring post from the old free NING site (which will be closed done at the end of the month, Not Happy NING!) to here. Where possible I want to have the same information and photos available here. However getting the photos across is very manual at the moment so I will be doing a few posts at a time.

Unless someone knows a magic way to automate this transfer?

What is the Creative Common Licence About?

2010-06-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Australia License.

You may be puzzled, why I have put a Creative Common Licence on this blog? This is a public viewable blog, so it is necessary to make it clear that the information and photos we are sharing here do still belong to the person sharing them and that they may be used and reproduced elsewhere only under a set of specific condition. If your works are used then the must include an attribution to yourself, and please note anyone reproducing things from here it is common courtesy to notify the person who posted or submitted a photo. They can not be used for commercial purposes and they must be shared in the same form (ie under the same CC licence). In other words if someone wants to use or copy your work claim "Fair Use" because it is published under in the "Public Domain" (ie on the internet) then that fair use does have specific limits! This is to protect those wanting to share their observation and work.

Even if you share a post or link to a photo from here, you are entitled to have a more limited CC licence for your work. For example Flickr supports CC licences and encourage their members to set them by default for your photostream but also lets you individual set licence and access to photos individually. Posting or linking from here does not override that licence.

Welcome

2010-06-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

This is a new home for The VBOP project. It was formerly set up as a free NING group but unfortunately that will be closed down at the end of this month. So all the connect from there will be moved over to here (well most of it, everything t6hat is possible).

Also this site will be set up a little more opening than before, you don't have to join anything, you can post your observations elsewhere in the many Social Networks that make up WEB 2.0. This [place should be a convenient place for you to link to those places, post & photos.

This will also be a great place to find out what needs to be observed and how to record it

Drifting North Again

2010-03-17T03:24:00.000-07:00

This panorama was taken at the beach 5 car park and shows how the sandbars are attached to the beach at the southern end (see this photo full size). You can also see the ruts developing into rip channels also point to a return to genrally northerly longshore drify

Does Size Matter

2010-02-10T02:25:00.000-08:00

Pipi Shell from Venus Bay (note the chipped edge again)

Compared with Pipi shells in New Zealand.
My hand is the same one in both photos, by the way. I suspect the shells are the same species. The difference is there is a "cultural" size limit as well as a 150 bag limit when collecting Pipis, and most shellfish, in New Zealand.
Do we need a size limit as well as an enforce limit to be imposed? Before all the pipis are gone from our beach.

2010-01-12T02:38:00.000-08:00

I undertook an improptu survey of pipi shells as I walk from beach 1 to beach 2. I picked up the larger shells thinking i would check their size. then I noticed their edges. Of the eleven shells I had picked up, ten had chipped edges. Further none had the tell tale little hole near the crown indicating they had been killed by another hungry mollusc. These shells where probably all forcefully open with a knife! To say the least I was shocked that they vast majority of shells showed sign of being open and discarded on the beach.

Maxium Tidal Range for 19 years, over next three days

2009-09-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Over the next three days as we approach the full moon the tides at Venus bay are predicted to be at the highest and lowest with a 18.6 year cycle. Coresponding when the moon and sun being in direct mutual alignment and at there closest points to earth. This can occur on either a new moon or a full moon. (there is a reply in this forum that explains this in more detail)

Probably the most interesting place to make observations will be at low tide. When the recents movement of sand should form interesting ruts and pools.

Wind Erosion

2009-06-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

There are two types of wind erosion
1)By Deflation, the wind picks up oarticles of fine grained sand and/or dust, moves and then deposites them elsewhere.
2)By Abrasion, the sandblasting like effect of windblown sand.

Onshore winds can lift sand from the beach and replenish the dunes behind the beach, but not today. Yet more sand is moving southwards along the beach.

Toxic Chemical Drums

2009-05-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

Several drums of a toxic chemical, possibly a concentrated industrial cleaner. have washed ashore at beaches to the west of Venus Bay. The EPA warn that the drums should be left alone (and presumably reported), eleven people have already reported to hospitals after coming in contact with the drums.

The new beach profile

2009-01-11T19:57:00.000-08:00

Taken at 4:25pm (approx 2 hours before "official" low tide) on 11/1/2009 atmospheric pressure was 1012 hPa

The low tides at the moment seem exceptionally low for three reasons

1. The 18.6 year maximum tide cycle (its related to the full moon)

2. High atmospheric pressure ( lowers the sea level)

3. the beach profile has change. (little of no summer berm developed and lowering of the beach generally)

The above photo shows how different the beach profile is this year. The erosion scars at the back of the beach are "healing", the front faces have mainly collapsing and are forming a more even rill, The dry sand is being carried by the wind, eroding a smooth slope in some places and depositing and riling down in others. In front of this in only a few places a narrow summer berm is developing. This is the area mainly above high tide where the beach can dry out and wind erosion take over as the main erosion agent. The wind flattens out this zone to almost horizontal (which is why it is called a berm) When it develops a distinct bump can be seen, where the gradient of the beach changes. In previous years this summer berm may have reach 10-30m wide by mid January. Now it is only present in a few places and seldom wider than 3m. The beach in front of that still have the steep gradient more characteristic of winter and the old beach profile has been clearly lowered (much sand eroded away). In front of that there are extensive flatter areas of sandbank being developed. This sand is frequently soft (unconsolidated) because it is being moved back and forth a lot with each tide). Extensive rutting, guttering and ripple pools are being developed and then wash away in the next tide or their position and form changing daily. The beach is reaching width of 100m to 150m from dune to water edge at low tide.

Understanding Longshore Drift

2008-12-28T03:54:00.000-08:00

When Waves arrive at the beach at an angle to the shore line, sand will be pushed up the beach in that direction however in the backwash the sand will usually moved directly down the beach, perpendicular to the shore line. So the sand follows a zigzag pattern. The result is a net movement of sand along the beach. An enormous amount of sand can moved in this manner.

By looking at new sand bars you can determine the longshore drift. If the sand bar is attached to the beach at its northern end the longshore drift is to the south. Conversely if the sandbar is attached to the beach at its southern end the longshore drift is to the north.

Longshore drift can fluctuate from day to day, and may vary locally as the beach tries to readjust its shape to be in better equilibrium with the waves and currents.

The popular theory!

2008-12-15T04:33:00.000-08:00

What is supposed to happen (in theory)

The most commonly applied explanation for erosion of sandy shores due to sea level rise is know as the Bruun Rule. It is a mathematical formula that relates the likely erosion to the amount of sea level rise, the width of the beach and the freeboard relative to still water level. The beach profile is supposed to be translated up and landward, with the eroded sediments deposited on the lower part of the profile. Putting this in the simplest terms the beach profile is predicted to move landwards and upwards with the rise in mean sea level.

Note: This diagram is not to scale and vertically exaggerated

The rule can be expressed mathematically as -
R= SL (hd+f)
where S is the amount of sea level rise
L is the active length of the beach profile
hd is the closure depth
f is the freeboard

This formula commonly predicts erosion encroachment of the coast R to be 50-100 times the magnitude of S the sea level rise. Many climate change evangelist have extrapolated these figures to predict extensive inundation around the world. At Venus Bay we may have the opportunity to put this rule to a test.

Whilst this Bruun Rule is widely discussed in relation to climate change, global warming, sea level rise and coastal erosion, but it is not without controversy, there are a couple of limitations. Firstly, the rule does not account for longshore interactions (sand drift and currents), and secondly, the rule assumes the wave regime is steady and hence the equilibrium profile remains the same.

The CSIRO's Sea Level Rise page gives a good overview of key issues here.

What is actually happening at the moment

The back of the beach is being eroded at several locations, as per the theory above but at the same time the lower sections of the beach are also being lowered (for example in this photo of beach one you can see exposed shell beds in front of an erosion scarp) this is producing a narrower beach at high tide but much wider at the lowest tides.

Perhaps longshore currents are drawing the sand down and along the coast?
Perhaps the swells pattern and currents have changed?
Perhaps there is a different explaination?

Extreme Tides

2008-12-14T04:24:00.000-08:00

Tides have a big influence on beach erosion, by lifting the water level and the waves against a new surface that is not in equilibrium with the wave action. Understanding the tides, is not as simple as looking at a tide chart.

Tides are primarily controled by the gravitation pull of the water in the oceans by the moon and sun (the gravitation gravitational from other planets does have a tiny little influence). This gravitational influence changes at any location because the earth rotates. There are two tides each day, Two high and two low tides. The moon rotation about the earth produces an additional monthly cycle and the earth rotates around the sun producing a yearly cycle, but there are many cycles influencing tide. The largest tides are often called "spring" tides, they occur twice each month with the new and full moon (when the moon and sun are aligned). Spring tides heave nothing to do with the season spring. These astronomical influences are largely predictable and can be used to produce tidal charts.

There are also some unpredictable causes of higher sea levels. When the air pressure is low the sea level will rise, around 1cm per hPa (hectoPascal). In addition this low probably also generates winds and a large low pressure can exert additional upward "suction" of the ocean surface. The wind blowing across the sea may also whip up swells (large ocean waves that can travel vast distance without loosing much energy). When these swells and the waves the create on the coast are larger than normal and extend over a longer period they can force water to bank up close to shore, this is known as wave setup. Strong winds can also lift waves further, this is know as wind setup. All or any of these phenomena are usually explained as a storm surge because they also produce nearby storms, but a storm is not necessary to the development of a "storm surge". When a spring tide corresponds with the conditions such as low atmospheric pressure, large swells and winds, tides can be extremely high compared with average.

The geometry of the sea floor close to the coast (bathometry) also has a large effect on how tides and these additional surge might be amplified (or cancelled).

But how high is extreme for Venus Bay?

And How often might that occur?

What are the consequences of the extra erosion?

2008-12-06T04:18:00.000-08:00

The simple answer is I'm not sure, that’s why this project was set up. Maybe with more observation the causes and consequences can be better understood. Here are a few likely short term issues

1) Because the lower part of the beach profile is flatter and lower -

1.1 Shell beds are exposed and partly eroded in many areas, so it is likely that the shell population will be reduced this season (eg the gatherers of pippis might find they are scarcer)

1.2 There may be more sandbar development early in the season (rather than mainly in late summer autumn). This could lead to significant changes and shifting of gutters and rips

1.3 Near shore current may be variable, even on a daily basis, as the sand shifts. The gutters may be deeper or even dissapera or rips suddenly become stronger (as more water empties from a broader beach) and potentially more dangerous.

2) Because the summer berm is limited or not developed at all -

2.1 Shore bird nesting habit could be significantly reduced (eg hooded plovers)

2.2 Less dry sand will be available to repair erosion and/or build new dunes

This pair of hooded plovers are attempting to nest south of beach one. One set of scratching (nest preparation) has already been washed away in early November. They now have now approximately 100m of sumer berm developing in their prefered nesting site, which is encouraging. It is roped with a sign at the northern end to try to discourage humans (and more particulalry their dogs) blundering across their nest. The Easters Hooded Plover are considered vunerable, because of low breeding success.

Help Save our hooded plovers

A steeper beach profile

2008-11-30T07:13:00.000-08:00

If you look at the beach profile at the moment it shows both erosion at top of the beach (backshore) and also in the areas exposed at low tide (foreshore)

This is not quite what the theory suggests might happen with erosion due to rising sea level. When the top of the beach erodes the lower section should be filled with the sand eroded, in other worlds the whole beach profile should lift. This is described in what is know as the brunn rule. However the beach at venus bay often has this form in winter

This photo was taken at beach one on 2/11/2008 at 11:17 am

If you notice new erosion scarps at the top of the beach (or at the base of the dunes). Take a photo, note the location and time and uploaded it. Just into the photos on Flickr (with the tag VBOP) and/or make a blog post here about it.

At low tide take photos of what is exposed.

So here is a summary list of what you may be able to include include

1) Take a photo, if you can. of the erosion
2) Record the place, data and time you took it

Any of the following information is likely to be helpful, so record that as well if you can

3) Look up a tide table and record the last high tide
4) Note the air pressure, and also if it is rising or falling
5) Describe the weather, and wind
6) Describe the waves (and swell)

Undertanding some names for parts of the beach

2008-11-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

Before getting too involved with recording changes in the beach it is a good idea to become familiar with a few of the technical terms used to describe parts of the beach (or maybe more technically the coastal zones)

Note: this diagram is not to scale and is also vertically exagerated

There are two commonly refered to lines along the beach. The first is the coast line and it is the line that appears on maps. It marks the foot of cliffs or dunes, and it is usually marked by a distinct change of slope. This is the most important area to measure and observe coastal erosion (often called coastal retreat). The second is the shore line, which is very hard to see and define. It is conventionally described as the conceptual intersection between the high watermark and the shore (beach) and is usually only loosely indicated on navigation charts or nautical maps. This line is really difficult to define in practice beacuse the high water line (MHWL, mean high waterline) is a fleeting event and as we will see changes over time.

The Beach (you may see it called shore in american texts) actually extends past the shoreline out to the low tide point (MLWL, Mean Low waterline). After that the sandy slope and water above it is know at the Littoral Zone. This extends out to the closure depth, the conceptual depth beyond which there is no longshore or cross shore transportation of sand. Usually the breaker zone extends out towards to this depth.

What is happening to the beach?

2008-11-23T04:12:00.000-08:00

The beach along Venus Bay has been eroding significantly this year, with many high scarps left around beaches 1, 2 & 3, So what is going on? Superficially it looks like it might be evidence of sea level rise, perhaps strong evidence of global warning. However if that were the case the beach should be higher and narrower, whereas the beach is wider than normal for this time of year and lower.

The erosion has been occurring at specific location associated with specific high tide events. The king tides (higher spring tides) and some storm tides (mainly due to strong onshore winds & swells rather than storms) have been responsible for specific stretches of erosion rather that a continuous event along the beach. At the same time the beach profile has deepened exposing shell beds in many locations and is clearly lower at most locations,

I suspect that many of these changes started last spring with the king tides, when a few erosion scarps occurred in only a couple of places along the beach, At the same time the normal change of the profile from its winter shape to summer shape did not occur along much of the beach at all last summer. The winter berm, (the beach’s winter shape) has a distinct parabolic shape with a steeper gradient at the back of the beach. The same winter profile appears to be continuing this year. The summer berm, (the beach’s summer shape) has a flat upper dry section at the back of the beach and long flat foreshore with extensive development of sandbars. This flatter profile in the tidal zone now seems to be occurring at many places but under an obvious winter berm at the top of the beach.

I have been trying to work out the source of all the sand that builds the venus bay spit and direction of sand drift for a few years now. I have also noticed that last year the dominant sand drift direction has been fluctuating locally from a general northern drift over previous years. My current thoughts are that the beach is not washing away, the sand is just being moved up and down the coast but that the beach profile has been rotated down a little, I suspect that the shape of the coast is trying to adjust to a subtle change in the equilibrium of the forces that shape it, currents, swells, tides, storms and climate generally.

This blog is a place for everyone to recorded their observations.