Postgraduate Students

Shakira Khan-Butterfield

PhD Candidate

Tel.(876) 927 2728 email shakira.khan@uwimona.edu.jm

Constituent analysis of carbonate beach sediment in Jamaica

This study examines the composition of white-sand beaches around the island of Jamaica as well as some of its offshore Cays. This includes grain size analysis, experiments to determination the resistance of individual grain types to abrasion and dissolution and identification of the different types of carbonate grains contributing to beach sediment. The identification of contributors to carbonate sediment allows us to identifying variation in predominant grain types around the island.

Future Research will include analyses of the impact environmental conditions have on carbonate production. Studies will focus on specific beaches and will investigate how environmental conditions impact sediment production. The work will include analysis of factors such as offshore environments,  current

regimes, shelf characteristics, the impact of storms and the recovery time, as well as the offshore distribution of living organisms contributing sediment to the carbonate beaches. These studies are essential in essential in understanding and maintaining carbonate beaches

Supervisor Prof. Simon Mitchell