Friday, October 12, 2012

Wind and Erosion

This is a sand fence on Nantucket Island Mass. What does this fence tell you about wind erosion and the dunes? Why do you think there is more sand on one side of the fence? Why do you think the fence was put there? Feel free to do some web research to answer these question. Also post any additional questions that this picture brings to you.  

79 comments:

Dawson,G said...

the fence is there to help water not flood

Zach S. said...

there's more sand on one side of the fence because the wind blew from the other side so the fence act's as a wall for the sand.I think the fence was put there so the walkway would be some what even.

Maddy C. said...

There is probably more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has pushed sand on the other side. The fence tells me which way the wind normally blows. The fence was probably put there to keep people on the side there supposed to be on.

Garrett H said...

The fence tells us that the winds are really heavy there.I think there's more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has been blowing in one direction for a long time from the ocean. I think the fence was put there to mark where the sand ends and the grass starts.

Shane.D said...

The fence tells us that the winds are really heavy there.I think there's more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has been blowing in one direction for a long time from the ocean. I think the fence was put there to mark where the sand ends and the grass starts. from Garrett H.

cameron s said...

the wind blew the fence over

Dominique G. said...

Its like your beach house and how it got ruined in the rain storm. When the supporter beam broke with the deck.

Bryn W. said...

This Picture Is Interesting. It Looks Like The Wind Blew Sand And The Sand Kept Building Up, Causing The Fence To Somehow Fall Over. There Is More Sand On One Side Of The Fence Because Wind Only Blows One Way And The Way The Wind Blows Could Be North, South, East, Or West. When The Wind Blows, So Does The Sand, And Only One Side Will Have A Lot Of Sand. The Fence Was Most Likely Put There To Keep The Sand From Blowing More Crazy-Like. To Prevent Sandstorms, Trees And Fences Are Good To Stop Sand. What Puzzles Me Is Whether It Really Is Old And Destroyed Or Not...

Timmy Light said...

the fence is a problem because the sea weed would get caught in the fence and would cause erosion and that would break and cause more erosion.

Jordan M said...

That there was a lot of wind one day.
From the wind.
For know intruders.

Anonymous said...
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James D said...
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Austin H said...

lets just say the sand is a grader and and the sand goes so fast in the wind and that it shaves the fence down to size so it builds up and that is why there is so much sand and that is why the fence is worn down

James D said...

good job james

Riley O said...
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Garrett H said...
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James D said...

sand fence, is a type of fence, similar to a snow fence used to force wind blown, drifting sand to accumulate in a desired place. Sand fences are employed to control erosion and to recruit new material in desert areas.

A typical construction is to attach a perforated plastic sheet to stakes at regular intervals, similar to construction site fencing or temporary sports field fencing. Another is a cedar or other lightweight wood strip and wire fence, also attached to metal stakes. A permanent sand fence is generally of larger wooden poles set deeply into the ground with large wooden planks running horizontally across them.

The drifting and settling of sand behind and in front of a such a fence occurs because the wind speed on both the downwind and windward sides is less than that on the far windward side, allowing light materials such as sand to settle.[1] This creates a pile both in front of and behind the sand fence causing more sand to drop out. Conveniently the sand does not drop on the barrier itself, otherwise it would soon be buried and rendered useless.[from wiki

Riley O said...

A sand fence, is a type of fence, similar to a snow fence used to force wind blown, drifting sand to accumulate in a desired place. Sand fences are employed to control erosion and to recruit new material in desert areas.

A typical construction is to attach a perforated plastic sheet to stakes at regular intervals, similar to construction site fencing or temporary sports field fencing. Another is a cedar or other lightweight wood strip and wire fence, also attached to metal stakes. A permanent sand fence is generally of larger wooden poles set deeply into the ground with large wooden planks running horizontally across them.

The drifting and settling of sand behind and in front of a such a fence occurs because the wind speed on both the downwind and windward sides is less than that on the far windward side, allowing light materials such as sand to settle.[1] This creates a pile both in front of and behind the sand fence causing more sand to drop out. Conveniently the sand does not drop on the barrier itself, otherwise it would soon be buried and rendered useless.[2]. from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_fence

JOSEPH P said...

I think this fence tells us that the winds are really heavy there.I think there is more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has been blowing in one direction for a long time from the ocean I think the fence was put there to mark where the sand ends and the grass starts :)

jesseg said...

The Wind Blew Sand And The Sand Kept Building Up, Causing The Fence To Somehow Fall Over. There Is More Sand On One Side Of The Fence Because Wind Only Blows One Way And The Way The Wind Blows Could Be North, South, East, Or West. When The Wind Blows, So Does The Sand, And Only One Side Will Have A Lot Of Sand. The Fence Was Most Likely Put There To Keep The Sand From Blowing More Crazy-Like. To Prevent Sandstorms, Trees And Fences Are Good To Stop Sand.

casey g said...

The fence tells us that the winds are really heavy there.I think there's more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has been blowing in one direction for a long time from the ocean. I think the fence was put there to mark where the sand ends and the grass starts.

zack c said...

i think one side is telling you that the wind is blowing hard and the other side is saying that the wind is weaker

Max H said...

I think there is more sand on one side of the fence because the side with less sand is the outside. Also the wind eroded the sand to pass through the fence

AlexisD said...

The fence is leaning because of strong wind and since there is strong wind it blows sand at the fence creating dunes and my answer is Yes there is more sand on the other side of the fence.

SMITTY (EVAN) said...

i think it's there to prevent wind eroion

KatelinK said...

The wind blows hard at the beach and the sand and wind blew the fence over. and there is more sand on one side because the wind was blowing in the direction of the fence.

Cassidy m said...

The fence is probably like that because the wind is really hard at the beach or ocean whatever it is and it blows sand which can pile up on the fence and make it tip over more!

its not nate?????????? said...

IT WAS THE WIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

ALice M. said...

Well, there is going to be more sand on the other side of the fence, because the wind blew it over there. You can also see what direction the wind blows because of the direction the fence is leaning towards. The fence was probably put there to decrease wind erosion with the sand.

Emily B. said...

There is more sand on the other side of the fence because the wind kept blowing the sand across to the other side.I think the fence was put there to keep people from going across the dunes, possibly the dunes are a tourist attraction.

catie.r. said...

the fence is like that because wind probably moved it and the sand on one side of the fence keeps on building up and it will eventually fall over the fence because maybe it was dividing land or maybe its blocking a part of the land that your not supposed to walk on or go onto .

caleb c said...

that the sand can not be eroded if the sand is there

caleb c said...
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MorganD said...

The drifting and settling of sand behind and in front of a such a fence occurs because the wind speed on both the downwind and windward sides is less than that on the far windward side, allowing light materials such as sand to settle.[1] This creates a pile both in front of and behind the sand fence causing more sand to drop out. Conveniently the sand does not drop on the barrier itself, otherwise it would soon be buried and rendered useless.[from wiki

EmilyB said...

This fence tells me that the wind blows the sand then makes dunes. I think there is more sand on one side of the fence because of the way the wind is blowing. I think the fence was put there to prevent wind erosion. Also to keep the sand from blowing in peoples faces.

Katie L. said...

I think that there is more sand on one side of the fence because the grass stops the wind from blowing all the sand from the left side of the fence to the right. On the right side of the fence there is nothing blocking the wind from blowing it to the other side. I would assume that the fence is a sand fence so it is there to control erosion and to recruit new material in desert areas.

caleb c said...

because the fence is holding it up


(lol)

Max H said...

you spelled erosion wrong

Carly M. said...

This fence tells me that there is strong wind there. I think there is more sand on one of the fence because all of the sand was blown by the wind there. I think the fence was put there because they didn't want to have sand blow in everyone's eyes.

nate.b said...
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Jada M. said...



There is more sand on the other side of the fence because the wind kept blowing the sand across to the other side.I think the fence was put there to keep people from going across the dunes, possibly the dunes are a tourist attraction.

nate.b said...

what did you post???

Aasyhia said...

It tell me that for dunes it can pile up behind the fence and for wind erosion erosion can transport the fence from one place to another.I think there is more sand on one side because of dunes when they pile up on one side.

Owen R !! said...

The reason the sand was on the other side of the fence because of the wind direction.

Cj W. said...

there is sand more sand on one side because the fence stops most of the sand gets stop by the fence

katalinaD said...

There is probably more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has pushed sand on the other side. The fence tells me which way the wind normally blows. The fence was probably put there to keep people on the side there supposed to be on.

Zachk said...

The fence can help stop wind and sand from flying everywhere so that could be why there is more sand on one side than the other.

Maddy P. said...

The fence tells me that wind erosion and the dunes can pile up behind the fence, it can transport the fence from one place to another. There is more sand on one side of the fence because of dunes when they pile up on one side. I think the fence was put there so that people from going across the dunes and so that the sand doesn't get in people's eyes.

AndrewE said...

It tells me that the wind always blows in one direction. I think it is because the wind blows the sand up to the other side of the fence. I think the fence was put there to stop that problem but the sand was blown through the fence.

Cameron T. said...

The fence tells us that the winds are really heavy there.I think there's more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has been blowing in one direction for a long time from the ocean. I think the fence was put there to mark where the sand ends and the grass starts

joe w said...

When the wind blows the sand it moves the sand and the fence is put there to keep the sand dune

Kevin S said...

theres more sannd on one side because of the direction of the wind

Roger E said...

There is more sand on the other side of the fence because the wind kept blowing the sand across to the other side.I think the fence was put there to keep people from going across the dunes, possibly the dunes are a tourist attraction.

Lauren S. said...

I think that the wind shifted and it made a new dune. I think that the fence was always there but there to block the wind from moving the sand over the fence and making the Dune bigger and bigger that is why I think that they put up the fence.

Shane k said...

Its their to prevent wind erosion.

Journey B. said...

The fence shows us that the sand has been built up on one side because the fence is blocking it from getting to the other side. The wind probably came from the side with more sand, because the sand is built up on that side. The fence was probably put there to keep people off of the land behind the beach. Or, it was put there to keep the sand on one side, separated. This is like the sand dunes because of the way the sand is on the fence. The dunes are formed by the wind swirling and pushing the sand, like the sand on the fence.

Alissa H said...

The fence is there to prevent the sand from all piling up on the other side.

ConnorB said...

There is more sand on one side than the other because the wind blue it and it's become a dune. The fence it there to keep little children off the dunes because they are unstable. Why is that fence so badly made?

Gia L said...

I think all the sand is on one side of the fence because the wind has been blowing in that one direction for a long time. The fence might have been put there to create a pathway for people to walk in.

chanced said...

there's more sand on one side of the fence because the wind blew from the other side so the fence act's as a wall for the sand.I think the fence was put there so the walkway would be some what even.

Hayley G said...

The other sand was blown around so its lower.

adamp said...

I think that the wind shifted and it made a new dune. I think that the fence was always there but there to block the wind from moving the sand over the fence and making the Dune bigger and bigger that is why I think that they put up the fence.

morgan s said...

the fence shows that the wind is strong.

Aidan R said...

This fence tells me that there is strong wind there. I think there is more sand on one of the fence because all of the sand was blown by the wind there. I think the fence was put there to block some of the wind and to show people where the path is.

DARREN P. said...

all the sand was blown around the fence.

BruceB said...

lets just say the sand is a grader and and the sand goes so fast in the wind and that it shaves the fence down to size so it builds up and that is why there is so much sand and that is why the fence is worn down

Sheila A said...

I think that the sand has only been on one side of the fence and the wind has been blowing the sand in one direction for a long period of time. I think the fence was put there because they wanted to keep people safe and not let them go out to far, or because there is a lot of sand dunes and they wanted to keep children away from the dunes because sand is not stable. My questions are, why were the fences so poorly built? and why was the fence never fixed?

jenn w said...

there is more sand on the right then the left so the fence acts like a wall so it even.

Zoe D said...

There could be more sand on the side with grass because the wind blew it there and when grass is around it keeps the sand from moving back. The fence shows where it usually blows. The fence could have been put there to keep people off someonelses property or they could have put it up to mark the property of the beach.

Emily H said...

The fence shows us that the sand has been built up on one side because the fence is blocking it from getting to the other side. The wind probably came from the side with more sand, because the sand is built up on that side. The fence was probably put there to keep people off of the land behind the beach. Or, it was put there to keep the sand on one side, separated. This is like the sand dunes because of the way the sand is on the fence. The dunes are formed by the wind swirling and pushing the sand, like the sand on the fence.

Kelsey S. :P said...

Its strong, wind, to keep people from going to certain places.

david vincent said...

it tells me that the wind makes the fence fall and moves the sand into a dune.

there is more sand on the side of the fence b/c of the wind blowing.

the fence was put there to make sure the grass doesn't spread in the sand.

Colby W said...

The fence tells us that the winds are really heavy there.I think there's more sand on one side of the fence because the wind has been blowing in one direction for a long time from the ocean. I think the fence was put there to mark where the sand ends and the grass starts.

Jacob G said...

The fence is showing that wind can blow the fence down.

jenny c said...

I think that the sand was blown by the wind onto the fence.

Mara C. said...

I think that the sand has been there because of ambrasion.

Whitney R said...

This fence tells us that there was a wind erosion because the fence is at a tilt and there is more sand on one side.

I think this because the wind from the wind erosion blew the sand on to that side.

I think the fence was put there because it blocks the grass from staying on the side of the beach.

Arlo P said...

The fence shows us that the sand has been built up on one side because the fence is blocking it from getting to the other side. The wind probably came from the side with more sand, because the sand is built up on that side. The fence was probably put there to keep people off of the land behind the beach. Or, it was put there to keep the sand on one side, separated. This is like the sand dunes because of the way the sand is on the fence. The dunes are formed by the wind swirling and pushing the sand, like the sand on the fence.

Mia W said...

A sand fence, witch is a fence in the sand, is blocking the sand from getting to the other side of the fence. The sand has probably built up on one side of the fence and so most of the wind probably blew up the sand onto one side and made it build up. The fence is probably there so people don't go onto that land because it might be someones property and they don't want anyone else on their property. It could also be there to block off the sand from blowing on the other side. Another thing it could be used for is to keep some animals from getting on the land on the other side of the fence.This is pretty much like the sand dunes because of the way the sand is on the fence. The dunes are formed by the wind swirling and pushing the sand, just like the sand on the fence.