Field Work

Question 1

What was the fieldwork investigation hypothesis ?

Answer 1

How and why do drainage basin and channel characteristics of the River Wharfe influence the flood risk for people and property?

Question 2

Conclusion-
Name 3 factors of-
How and why does channel width and depth vary?

Answer 2

1. Channel width and depth is greater in the middle course (River Wharfe) in comparison with that in the upper course (Backstone Beck)
2. It varies as vertical erosion is more common closer to the source as a moorside stream attempts to cut down to base level. In the middle course lateral erosion becomes more dominant.
3. Discharge, hence channel depth, is also greater with increased distance from the source due to the input of water from tributaries streams along a river’s course.

Question 3

Conclusion-

How and why does channel velocity vary?

Answer 3

Channel velocity is greater in the middle course as the river is more efficient.
In the upper course a greater amount of energy is used to overcome friction with the bank and bed, thus slowing water velocity.

Question 4

Conclusion-

How and why does bedload shape vary?

Answer 4

Bedload in middle= smaller and rounder because they have been in the river longer and have been exposed to the erosive force of the water.

Question 5

Conclusion-

How and why does flood risk vary?

Answer 5

Flood risk is greater in the middle course as land at this site is flatter and the discharge of the channel is greater.
In addition, deforestation and urbanisation has also reduced lag time and created a more peaky hydrograph.

Question 6

Describe how river discharge is calculated

Answer 6

By multiplying the area of water in a channel cross section by the average velocity of the water in that cross section

Question 7

Name 3 factors effecting the reliability of your results

Answer 7

1. Time of the year
2. Number of visits
3. Number of sights

Question 8

Comment on the accuracy of you results

3points

Answer 8

1. Measuring velocity-crudely measured it, electronic flowmeter would have been better
2. Measuring width and depth- human error or bedload impact
3. Bedload, was it fully random?

Question 9

Why does the River Severn flood?

Answer 9

A range of factors including the large catchment area, influence of geology and climate, particularly in the upper course

Question 10

Explain why high levels of precipitation means the River Severn floods

Answer 10

High levels of precipitation- in the upper course of Welsh mountains the average rainfall=250mm, high runoff due to steep upland slope

Question 11

In the Lower course of the River Severn the river has major? Which increase?

WHY THE RIVER FLOODS😁

Answer 11

Tributaries which increase the risk River discharge (eg Warwickshire Avon)
At this point, the river has already widened to 70m increasing the discharge in comparison to the upper and middle course

Question 12

In the upper course of the River severn, the geology is ? =

Answer 12

Geology is hard so the run off is greater thus a shorter lag time