Site Visit: Galatea Point

Site Visit: Galatea Point

Objectives

Location

Hydrology

Geology

Topography & Landscape

Ecology

Vegetation

Jeanette Tagal (713492), Zilin Chen (665056), Aaron Little (630685) & Priyanka Kanagalingam (722222)

Modal Slope

• Landscape and topographic appearance
• land form patterns can be defined as clearly recurring morphological features in the landscape over a circular area of approximately 300m (Pang, 2014)

Modal Slope and Latitudinal Cut Through all Sites (Google Earth, 2014)

Topographic Map of Galatea Point with Site Locations (State Government Victoria, 2014)

• The major modal slope shaping the landform would be the slope at Site 1
• Whereas, the eastern end of the slope, at Sites 3 and 4, is quite flat.

Modal Slope and Longitudinal Cut Through Site 1 (Google Earth, 2014)

• Volcanic lava made its way into the Yarra Valley around 800 000 years ago (Parks Victoria, 2008).
• Combined with our on-site observations, this area can be classifies as a alluvial land form, specifically, a river valley.

• Observe the location, landscape, geology, topography, hydrology climate and ecology.
• Use skills learned in tutorials and lectures to accurately observe the chosen site.
• Evaluate how accurate our background research was.
• Deduce reasons for abnormal or unexpected findings.
• Assist in the completion of the Landscape Function Analysis.

Quartz

Siltstone

Modal Slope and Longitudinal Cut Through Site 3 (Google Earth, 2014)

Topographic Features of Galatea Point Based on Topographic Map (State Government Victoria, 2014)

Landform Attributes

• Light coloured, hard stone (Moh's hardness: 6.5)
• Feldspar and/or quartz
• Quartz is more likely as it is rounded not cleaved
• Extrusive rock from lava flow 800 000 years ago
• Could be due to human influences (e.g. manmade pathways)

• Silurian Sandstone, a type of siltstone was found in sites 1, 2 and 4.
• Signs of bedding in the stones showing layers of sediment built up over the years.
• Hardness of around 5.5 (Moh's Scale)
• In line with background research

Altitudinal Graphs, Shown in Blue, on Sites (Retrieved from Track Kit App, 2014)

According to our on-site records the altitude of each site is:

• Site 1: 24m
• Site 2: 16m
• Site 3: 5m
• Site 4: 14m

The relief is therefore 25m

Geological Map of Galatea Point (Department of State Development, Business and Innovation, 1981).

Stones at Site 2 (Little, 2014)

Siltstone at Site 1 (Little, 2014)

Site Differences

Site similarities

• Very brittle rock at site 3
• Appears to be slated as it breaks in smooth lines
• Most likely newly compacted sediment as it is close to the riverbank
• Surprisingly different from rocks found at other sites
• In line with background research

Brittle Rock at Site 3 (Little, 2014)

• Sites 1 and 4 had very similar siltstones
• Could be that both had the same amount of time for lithification.

Undercut of the Trees Due to Erosion

Siltstone at Site 4 (Little, 2014)

• Erosion of river, especially at Site 4, near the river bend
• Causes sediment to collect on the banks of the river making it steeper
• Erosion happens most rapidly when floods occur
• This affects vegetation surrounding water as tree roots are undercut by erosion

• Trees leaning out over the river as their roots cannot support them
• Poles used to mark flood levels.

Poles Used as Flood Level Markers (Little, 2014)

Undercut of Trees Due to Erosion (Little, 2014)

Siltstone at Site 2 (Little, 2014)

• Rainfall flows from Site 1, which is at a higher altitude, and bring sediment and rocks with it as it flows down towards the river.
• Because of the abundance of water at Sites 3 and 4, it was observed that the vegetation was more lush compared to sites 1 and 2.
• This shows that the evapotranspiration rates of the vegetation near the water is higher than that further from the water.

Tree Overhanging the River (Little, 2014)

Pollution of River

• There is some evidence of human impacts: pollution, stairs leading into the water and concrete areas for park visitors
• A sample of river water was surprisingly clear

Stream Channel Occurrence

Soils

• Yarra River takes a "U" turn at Galatea Point.
• In terms of landform elements, which can be narrowed down to a circular area of around 20 to 30m, the landform is much flatter in the Western bank than the Eastern.
• One reason could be that as the river flows from North to South, it flushes more intensively against the Western bank around the "U" turn, causing more erosion on the Western bank.

Flood warnings (Little, 2014)

Collection of sediment on the riverbank due to erosion (Little, 2014)

Yarra River Water (Little, 2014)

River Pollution (Little, 2014)

Comparison Between Eastern and Western Bank (Little, 2014)

Geomorphology

Site 1

Site 2

Mode of geomorphological activity:

• Gradational: eroded, and can be some aggradation due to river carrying sediment

Soil Site 4 (Little, 2014)

Soil Site 1 (Little, 2014)

Coordinates: 37º47.85'S 145º0.46'E

• Lower altitude than Site at 16m
• Has a closer proximity to water

Coordinates: 37º47.95'S 145º0.33'E

• Has the highest altitude compared to the other 3 sites at 24 m
• Is in the center of Galatea Point

Steep Slope on Eastern Bank (Little, 2014)

• Different soils at each site
• Dryness of the soil was affected by how close it was to the river.
• Sites closer to the river had damper soils than ones that were further away.
• Range of brown soils

Site 2 Coordinates (Retrieved from Track Kit App, 2014)

Site 1 Coordinates (Retrieved from Track Kit App, 2014)

Geomorphological Agent:

• Streamflow

Status of Geomorphological Activity:

• Continuous

Soil Site 2 (Little, 2014)

Sketch of Alluvial Impact Shaping the Landscape (Chen, 2014)

Site 3

Site 4

Soil Site 3 (Little, 2014)

Coordinates: 37º47.79'S 145º0.54'E

• Has the lowest altitude compared to the other 3 sites at only 5m
• Located on the riverbank

Coordinates: 37º47.80'S 145º0.59'E

• 14m
• Across the river
• Picked a location specifically at the bend of the river to observe erosion etc.

Site 3 Coordinates (Retrieved from Track Kit App, 2014)

Conclusion

Climate

• Temperature
• Wind (erosion)
• Solar exposure
• Rainfall

Trees Overhanging the River (Little, 2014)

Galatea Point Water Colour (Chen, 2014)

Team Photo (Little, 2014)

Citations

Common Types and Variation

Human Impacts

Adaptation of Vegetation to the

Unique Environment

• Built infrastructure
• Impact of visitors
• Impact of the surrounding region
• Positives and Negatives

Stairwell Into Yarra River (Little, 2014)

Vegetation Adaptation (Little, 2014)

Vegetation Types (Little, 2014)

Variation in Density

Pollution of River (Little, 2014)

Human Impacts at Galatea Point (Little, 2014)

A. Pang (2014) Natural Environments Subject Guide Semester 2 The University of Melbourne.

Darebin Creek Catchment Committee 2012, Darebin Parklands - Geology, Victoria, viewed 21 August 2014 <http://www.dcmc.org.au/parklands/geology.php>.

Department of State Development, Business and Innovation. 1981. Geological Map of Galatea Point, 1: 63360. Earth Resources Online Store http://dpistore.efirst.com.au [Viewed 25 August, 2014].

Parks Victoria, Yarra Bend Park Environmental Action Plan, 2000, Viewed 19 August 2014, <http://parkweb.vic.gov.au>

State Government Victoria, 2014. Topographic Map of Galatea Point in Relation to Yarra Bend Park, 1:1371. Land Interactive Maps, Viewed 4 October 2014 <http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/interactive.jsp>

Vegitation Density (Little, 2014)

Fauna

Impact of Aspect

Ducks in the Yarra River (Little, 2014)

North and South Aspects (Little, 2014)

Evidence of Fauna (Little, 2014)

Lizard (Little, 2014)