Richmond Jetty Field Trip, July 15, 2006

Richmond Jetty -- July 15, 2006

Purpose: (1) To observe if an object comparable in size to Conner could pass through the rocks under conditions that existed on the morning of April 13, 2003. (2) To observe where the object would land if it did pass through the rocks. (3) To observe the way objects are deposited by the tide under such conditions similar to those of April 13, 2003.

Water level and wind conditions on April 13, 2003

Conner was found at 4:45 p.m. on April 13, 2003. The previous high tide peaked at 10:06 a.m. The first chart shows the NOAA 9414863 Richmond station verified 6-minute water levels for that high tide (5.88 feet above MLLW), juxtaposed with the wind conditions for the UC Richmond station and the Point Isabel station, two wind sensors close to the Conner recovery site. The second chart is the water levels with the wind data for that same station. Click on charts to enlarge. The data for the 9414863 Richmond station gives the highest wind reading when the high tide peaked at 17 mph, with gusts to 21 mph. UC Richmond data gives the wind speed at 14 mph with maximum gusts up to 23 mph. For Point Isabel, the winds were 17 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. (NOTE: 1 knot = 1.15 mph)

This is the water level and wind charts for July 15, 2006. The 9414863 Richmond station did not have its meteorological sensors in operation at that time. UC Richmond data gives the wind speed at 10-12 mph, with maximum gusts up to 18 mph. Point Isabel shows stronger winds preceding the high tide, up to about 17 mph, and stronger gusts also, about 23 mph, with even stronger winds and gusts just after the tide peaked. That is verified in the video clips, that the winds were gustier after the tide peaked. NOAA predicted the water levels to reach 5.92 with this high tide, and the Preliminary data came in at 5.92. However, verified water levels shows the water level reached slightly higher, peaking at 5.94. Since the difference between 5.92 and 5.94 is less than a quarter of an inch, I will continue to use the pictures edited at the predicted water levels.

This ended up being a good day for our demonstration. The water levels were higher than on April 13, 2003, and according to the Point Isabel station, the winds were comparable.

Previous High Tides

Some point out that Conner may have washed ashore in an earlier high tide, even perhaps the one during the storm on April 12. This chart shows the water levels produced by those high tides, and the wind conditions (maximum). I do not think it is reasonable to go back any further in time than April 12, not only because of the very long time Conner would have been exposed on shore, but also because all high tides from March 24 through April 11 produced water levels lower than the 5.77 of April 12.

DATE	TIME	WATER LEVEL	NOAA Richmond	UC Richmond	Point Isabel
April 12	8:24 a.m.	5.77 feet	26 mph, G 32	20 mph, G 32	18 mph, G 27
April 12	10:42 p.m.	5.58 feet		13 mph, G 24	not available
April 13	10:06 a.m.	5.88 feet	17 mph, G 21	14 mph, G 23	17 mph, G 25
April 13	4:45 p.m.	Conner found

Objects used for the Experiment

For the experiment, I purchased 5 dolls and stuffed toys. Conner measured 19 1/2 inches. I couldn't find any dolls/toys at Goodwill exactly 19 1/2 inches, so I chose some less than that in length. These are pictures of Kermit (the largest, 17 inches) and doll (the smallest, 14 inches), showing their measurements. Doll was a cloth doll and thus had very flexible arms and legs. I also used a stuffed bear, a stuffed monkey, and a plastic doll. Click to enlarge.

Getting through the Rocks

For this part of the experiment, I simply threw the objects into the water just beyond the exposed rocks. It didn't matter which direction they came from, as the purpose of the experiment was only to determine if they would get through the rocks. On the first attempt, I tied string to them, expecting that maybe they might float away or get lodged between the rocks beyond my reach. That quickly proved unnecessary, so I removed the string.

If you do not have RealPlayer on your computer, click here for a free clone. For those with slow connections, I have divided the longer videos into parts. To download the videos, right click the link, select Save Target As, and then proceed as directed.

Warning: Even though these are dolls and stuffed animals, they simulate what might have happened to Conner, so the clips may be upsetting to some.

1. Bear's journey through the rocks

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Part 1 Part 2

Not an easy journey at this water level.

Time: 3:48 - 3:53 p.m.

PWL: 5.58 - 5.64 feet above MLLW

5.58 feet above MLLW is the water level produced by the April 12 10:42 p.m. high tide. It's the lowest water level of all the high tides on April 12-13.

2. All 5 make it in

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Part 1 Part 2

Only doll has landed in the grassy section where Conner was found. She was left there, to see how much further back onto the grass she would be pushed by the waves.

Time: 3:56 p.m. - 4:03 p.m.

PWL: 5.66 - 5.72 feet above MLLW

This still is taken from the video to show doll's initial location at the front edge of the grass, after being washed ashore.

3. Kermit's journey through the rocks

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Part 1 Part 2

I threw Kermit and the plastic doll back in. Kermit again washed in between the rocks, but landed east of the Conner site. Plastic doll got caught in a current and moved eastward instead of washing in between the rocks.

Time: 4:04 - 4:08 p.m.

PWL: 5.72 - 5.76 feet above MLLW

4. Monkey gets caught between two rocks

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Since monkey landed west of the Conner site, I threw him back in. This time he lodged between two rocks, where he stayed for the duration of the experiment.

Time: 4:09 - 4:11 p.m.

PWL: 5.76 - 5.77 feet above MLLW

5.77 feet is the water level produced by the high tide on the morning of April 12, during the storm.

5. 3 are in, one is stuck, and one is heading east

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Shows position of bear and Kermit, who landed east of the Conner site; monkey who is still lodged between rocks; rag doll who is in the forefront of the Conner site; and plastic doll who is heading eastward.

Time: 4:11 - 4:13 p.m.

PWL: 5.77 - 5.79 feet above MLLW

6. Kermit makes it to the right place

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I threw Kermit and bear back in. Once Kermit made it through the rocks, he did land just in front of the Conner site. Bear stayed to the east.

Time: 4:14 - 4:16 p.m.

PWL: 5.79 - 5.81 feet above MLLW

This still is from the video, and shows the position of doll and Kermit.

How Objects are deposited in a High Tide

How are objects deposited in a high tide? This is how Rick Distaso described it to the Jury in his opening statement and closing arguments to explain why Conner was beyond, or ahead of, the debris line (see People's 96E-G and Defense WW1-4):

Doctor Cheng is going to tell you the way things wash up with the tide, as the tide's receding heavy items are deposited first. They come over with the waves. As the tides recede, the heavy items settle first, and then the lighter items settle last. As the tide recedes, you can see that's what happened. Here's Conner's body. Obviously heavier than these areas of sea grass, and what not, debris, trash. And he's right ahead of it. (Opening Statement)

In fact, when you go back and look at the pictures, you can see the line of debris where the heavier objects settled first and, you know, the lesser heavy objects, as the tide was receding. (Closing Arguments)

The NOAA disagrees with Mr. Distaso. In its Glossary of Coastal Terminology, it provides these definitions:

Debris line: A line near the limit of storm wave UPRUSH marking the landward limit of debris deposits.

Limit of uprush: The landward limit of UPRUSH at any given tide stage.

Uprush: The rush of water up the FORESHORE following the breaking of a wave, also called SWASH or RUNUP.

The debris line is what is formed as the waves push the debris ahead, not what is deposited as the tide recedes. The NOAA specifically says, it is the "landward limit of debris deposits."

The video clips provide an even better understanding, as they show the wave action giving lift and buoyancy to items already washed up, moving them further back. I provide all of the clips even when no movement is produced by the waves so as to give a complete record. You can choose which ones to view by the descriptions.

7. Kermit is moved by the wave action