UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF SURVEYING AND GEOINFORMATICS

2021/2022 SESSION

1st SEMESTER

ASSIGNMENT

ON

MY OBSERVATIONS AT A

MARINE ENVIRONMENT
WRITTEN BY:
NAME: OYEWOLE AYOMIDE PAUL
MATRIC NUMBER: 180405010
COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING
COURSE CODE: SVY319
LEVEL: 300
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 21TH OF DECEMBER, 2021.

COURSE LECTURER:
SURV. PETER EVARIE
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................1

AIM........................................................................................................................................................... 2

OBJECTIVES........................................................................................................................................... 3

STUDY AREA..........................................................................................................................................4

BRIEF WRITE-UP....................................................................................................................................5

OBSERVATIONS.....................................................................................................................................6

PICTURES................................................................................................................................................7

CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................................ 8

REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................................9

NOTES....................................................................................................................................................10
 INTRODUCTION

HYDROGRAPHY is the branch of applied sciences which deals with the measurement and

description of the physical features of oceans, seas, lagoons, coastal areas, lakes and rivers, as well as

with the prediction of their change over time, for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and in

support ofall other marine activities, including economic development, security and defense, scientific

research,and environmental protection. Hydrography Is also the study of the marine environment.

The shape of the oceans and seas of the world has changed significantly throughout the past

600million years. Marine environments are habitats that support marine life. Marine life depends in

some way on the saltwater that is in the sea. The term ‘marine’ comes from the Latin mare, meaning

sea or ocean.

Marine habitats are habitats that support marine life. A habitat is an ecological or environmental area

inhabited by one or more living species. Marine habitats can be divided into Coastal and Open Ocean

habitats. Coastal habitats are found in the area that extends from as far as the tide comes in on the

shoreline out to the edge of the continental shelf. Most marine life is found in coastal habitats, even

though the shelf area occupies only seven percent of the total ocean area.

Marine coasts are dynamic environments which constantly change, like the ocean which partiallyshape

them. The main agents responsible for deposition and erosion along coastlines are waves, tides and

currents.

The oceans are so vast and bountiful that for most of human history they have been thought of as

infinitely resilient and inexhaustible. The mere idea that oceans could be over fished or disruptedwas

inconceivable.

In a very short period of time, the bounty of oceans has been depleted and ocean ecosystems have

become seriously disrupted.

In contrast to terrestrial habitats, marine habitats are shifting and ephemeral. The marineenvironment

which I picked as my study area was a beach

A Lagoon is a shallow body of water separates from a larger body of water by a narrow landform,

such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into

coastal lagoons and atoll lagoons. They have also been identified as occurring mixed-sand and gravel

coastlines. There is an overlap between bodies of water classified as coastal lagoons and bodies of

water classified as estuaries.

In contrast to terrestrial habitats, marine habitats are shifting and ephemeral. The

marine environment which I picked as my study area is the Lagos Lagoon.

AIM

The report aimed at studying a marine environment and outlining observations and perceptions

concerning the area of study.

OBJECTIVES

Visit and take a look at the marine environment.

Outline the observations found in the marine environment.

To take pictures found in the marine environment and identify them.

Report writeup.
STUDY AREA

The study area is the marine environment. The marine environment I selected is the

Lagos Lagoon (view from the University of Lagos Lagoon front).

Latitude and Longitude of

Unilag, Lagoon front
Latitude of Unilag, Lagoon 6.5188147
front
Longitude of Unilag, 3.4011979
Lagoon front

GPS-coordinates of Unilag, Lagoon front

GPS-coordinates of 6° 31' 07.7 " N
Unilag, Lagoon front 3° 24' 04.3" E
A BRIEF WRITE-UP OF THE STUDY AREA

The Lagos Lagoon is a lagoon sharing its name with the city of Lagos, Nigeria which

lieson its south-western side. It has a maximum length of 50km (80 mi) and maximum

width of 13km (8.1 mi). It has a surface area of 6354.7km2 and no surface elevation. It

is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a long sand spit 2 – 5 km wide, which has

swampy margins on the lagoon side. The lagoon also receives water from the Osun and

Ogun River. The Lagoon is fairly shallow and is not plied by ocean-going ships, but

smaller barges and boats. In the middle of the lagoon is the palaver Islands.

To its North-east, the lagoon is connected by a channel passing south of the town of

Epe to Lekki Lagoon. Narrow winding's channels connect the system through a broad

band of coastal swamps and rivers, as far as sapele, 250 km to the east.

Another branch off the main channel, narrower and longer, separates Lagos Islandfrom

Victoria Island, the broad sand spit which forms the coastline.
OBSERVATIONS
My observation at the marine environment (Lagos lagoon- University of Lagos lagoon
front) was taken on the 16th of December,2021 within the time range of 11am –
12pm.
The first thing I noticed was the weather around the lagoon. Due to the low lagoon
current and the sea breeze, the resulting temperature was cool and relaxing. As a result
of this, I saw different people who came to the lagoon front in the university ofLagos
for relaxation and fun. I also saw kids plying the lagoon with canoes and also catching
small fishes. I also saw aquatic animals such as cassava croakers, Makoko fishes,
tadpoles and crabs
Also, I noticed the soil texture around the lagoon front. An area of the soil was sandy
with little particles of stones while another was loamy which supports plant life. I
noticed different palm trees and other deciduous trees which makes the air around the
lagoon fresh in order to support terrestrial habitat life. Also, I noticed holes madeby
the crab(s) at the Lagoon which serve(s) as a dwelling place or habitats for them. The
picture(fig.3) below is used as an illustration.
Looking vast across the lagoon is the 2nd longest bridge in Africa (3rd mainland
Bridge) which connects Lagos Island to the mainland. Also, there were presence of
debris which were deposited to the lagoon front by low tides and human activities. A
fair number of damages and loss of aquatic life occurs due to the dirt around the
lagoon.
I also plighted the lagoon using a boat and I was able to notice that the lagoon was
notthat shallow and that there was no or little presence of tides due to the fact that the
lagoon is secluded from the high current of the Atlantic Ocean.
PICTURES

Fig. 1- Me at my study area

Fig. 2 – Little waves or low tides at the Lagos lagoon Fig. 3 - Waste at the Study Area
Fig. 4 – Crab holes at the Lagoon Fig. 5 kids catching small fishes

Fig. 6 - Water poles spotted at the Lagoon

Fig. 7 - Abandoned or damaged boats at the Lagoon

CONCLUSION

The marine environment is a very important nomenclature that comprises phenomena such as:

thewind, temperature, pressure, humidity, waves, tides and even marine life habitats. The importance

and preservation of the marine environment cannot be over-emphasized because it is vital in the

survival of life on the earth.

REFERENCES

 SVY319 (Introduction to Hydrographic Surveying) Lecture Note 1

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Lagos

 https://www.sunnewsonline.com/medical-doctor-jumps-to-death-in-lagos-lagoon/
NOTES