Beach on EARTH Magazine

Oceanographers solve mysterious beach explosion

Wed, 23 Dec 2015 12:40:06 -0500

University of Rhode Island researchers collected sediment cores at the site of a mysterious explosion that injured a woman at Salty Brine State Beach in Narragansett, R.I., in July 2015. Credit: Chris Deacutis.

Late on the morning of Saturday, July 11, 2015, Kathleen Danise, a 60-year-old nurse and grandmother from Waterbury, Conn., was enjoying a sunny day at Salty Brine State Beach on the shores of Block Island Sound in Narragansett, R.I., when an explosion knocked her from her beach chair. She landed a few meters away near a rock jetty, unconscious and suffering a concussion, two fractured ribs and bruising for which she was hospitalized overnight.

Travels in Geology: Navigating the rocks, reefs and waters of Bermuda

Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:42:20 -0500

Much of Bermuda's coastline is rocky but the south shore hosts beautiful pink and white sand beaches. Credit: Kelly Speare.

The Bermuda Triangle is not an actual scientific phenomenon. But if a family were looking for a place to disappear to for a week or so, Bermuda is a great choice. Picturesque beaches, beautiful weather and a pleasant mix of Caribbean and British cultures make it a popular vacation destination. It’s also a place where geology and history are on display, making both relaxation and exploration easy.

Travels in Geology: Bali beckons

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:14:23 -0400

Bali is the top tourist destination in Indonesia — a vast archipelago of more than 18,000 islands stretching more than 5,000 kilometers between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Credit: ©Shutterstock.com/KKulikov.

In Indonesia — a vast archipelago of more than 18,000 islands stretching more than 5,000 kilometers between the Indian and Pacific oceans — Bali is the top tourist destination. The compact island boasts everything a visitor could want: copious sun, sand and surf, flavorful food and fruity libations, stunning sunsets, and verdant rice paddies tucked beneath misty mountains. It also has a number of geo-attractions, including hot springs and Indonesia’s first global geopark. But it’s the engaging, friendly and colorful Hindu culture — from the elaborate temples and dance performances to the ubiquitous religious offerings — that makes Bali such a vibrant and exotic destination. It was a requisite side trip for our family on a recent sabbatical in Australia.

Geologic Column: Combining art and geology in the sand

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:45:27 -0400

Credit: Chris Hansen.

Every summer, millions of people descend on beaches, many intent on building sand sculptures — some even with the hopes of winning fame or fortune. Once upon a time, sculptures made of sand were mostly castles, built by children and families on summer vacations to the beach. Today, sand sculpting is also a serious business, with competitions, prize money, festivals, corporate promotional campaigns, organized team-building exercises, and entries in the Guinness Book of World Records for traits including the tallest (more than 10 meters high) and longest (more than 10 kilometers long) sculptures. The subjects range far beyond castles: 3-D representations of historical artwork, and abstract designs like giant eyeballs aren’t unusual. However, castles continue to be a mainstay of the medium. There’s something about a moat that just makes sense on the beach.

D-Day's Legacy: Remnants of invasion linger in beach sands

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500

American troops in a landing craft vehicle approach a beach in northern France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. National Archives photo no. SC320901

Before dawn on June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops began storming the shores of Normandy, France, in what would be the turning point of World War II. Troops poured out of planes and off ships along an 80-kilometer stretch of coastline. More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 airplanes supported the ground troops. The battles were bloody and brutal, but by day’s end, the Allies had established a beachhead. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said the operation was a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” Less than a year later, the Germans surrendered, and the Western Front of World War II came to an end.