Rivers

Introduction

The area of geography investigation is about river and happens in rivers like erosion,

deposition, transportation E.T.C. We are investigating for answers of these questions

Does a steep section of river have a deeper or shallower profile that ales steep

section?

Do steep sections of river have different size particles/stones than less steep

sections?

The rivers we studied were the Whittaker Clough and Hurst wood beck.

Choice of location

No the rivers we are studying are not main arterial rivers. An arterial river is pertaining to a

main channel (resembling an artery), as a river, canal, or railroad. For example the Ob River

in China, the River Ganges in India and the River Rhône in France. As in my investigation

Hurst wood beck is a tributary of Hurst wood reservoir totally different from an arterial river

because an arterial river has lot of tributaries and Hurst wood beck is a tributary itself. As for

Whittaker Clough it is a tributary of River Calder different from an arterial river. The

similarities between Hurst wood beck and Whittaker Clough is that they are both small

tributaries. Hurst wood beck drains into Hurst wood reservoir. There are photographs

included with characteristics of Hurst wood beck and Whittaker clough. There are also maps

included.

Suitability of location

We are only on a location of a little river for our safety we can’t study rivers with big

tributaries and it’s not practical to do hundreds of meters because we are on a school trip

and where to measure the flow of river was low and safe enough to stand in.

Bradshaw model is a theory of how erosion and deposition occurs in rivers. Bradshaw model

relate to main long arterial rivers. Main points of the Bradshaw model is at is goes

downstream it increases its discharge, occupied channel width channel depth ,velocity

,volume of load and decreases load particle size ,channel bed roughness and gradient. The

aspects of Bradshaw model we are investigating in our study are width, velocity, depth and

gradient.

Data collection

Primary data is the data we collect and secondary data is what we collect from other

resources like internet, maps, books etc.

Long profile

We have long profiles for our own two rivers. Long profile gives us information to study the

gradient. For producing the long profile we use a map to get the height from different points

to make a graph. For long profile we use secondary data and we get this information from

maps and internet. We can also use primary data to produce a long profile. I have got long

profile data from Whittaker Clough and I have added it below.

Cross Sectional Profile

We have also measured Cross-Sectional Profile. A Cross sectional profile gives us shape of

the river bed, channel depth and volume of load. I have got cross sectional profile data for

Whittaker Clough and I have added it below. I measured the cross sectional profile by using

a tape measure and a scale to measure the depth at different intervals.

Health and Safety

Hazard Risk How to prevent Harm

Big Tributaries Drowning(due to velocity of tributaries you can slip and

drown)

Don’t go into it and if you go protect yourself.

Cold Water Get sick by getting your feet

wet.

Wear rubber shoes.

Slippery rocks Slipping, Injuries and even Drowning

Wear Appropriate footwear

Analysis

In a river or a tributary of a river like Whittaker clough there are three section

Upper Section

Middle Section

Lower Section

In upper section of the river you can find Waterfalls, V-shaped valleys, Gorges and

Interlocking Spurs. In middle section you can find Meanders, Oxbow lakes and Levees. In the

lower section you can find Deltas and Floodplains.

Velocity

The velocity of a river is the speed at which water flows along it. The velocity will change

along the course of any river, and is determined by factors such as the gradient (how steeply

the river is losing height), the volume of water, the shape of the river channel and the

amount of friction created by the bed, rocks and plants. Velocity can be measured using

very simple equipment. A watch capable of timing in seconds, something to float on the

water and a tape measure are all that is required to find the velocity of the water surface.

The velocity of the upper course is 0.55m/s. The velocity of middle to lower course is

0.62m/s.

Summary

The aim of this project was to study the processes of a river this includes its Transportation,

Erosion, Deposition and long profile. I choose to study Whittaker Clough which is a small

tributary of River Calder and it is situated in Foot hills of Pennines Range in Burnley,

Lancashire. I completed the long Profile of the river by using different maps from the

Internet as it was difficult to measure the long profile without some support. In order to find

the depth, Deposition and erosion of the river I did the Cross sectional of the upper, middle

and lower course of the tributary. In order to find the rate of transportation I calculated the

velocity in the upper course, the middle to lower course I collaborated with a colleague by

dropping a cork in the water and measuring the time over distance pf 4.4 and 7 metres.

In conclusion I feel that I was able to achieve my aim given the fact that I had very limited

time in which to conduct my experiment

Observation and Evidence

This Photo shows me collecting data

for my Cross Sectional Profile and

the erosion is taking place through

hydraulic action, corrosion, attrition

and abrasion

This picture shows me and my

colleague measuring the depth for

cross sectional profile it also clearly

shows the deposition process of the

river.

Here we are measuring the rate of

transportation.

Here we can see the confluence of

Whittaker Clough and river Calder.

In the foreground you can see the

deposition of the rock.

This picture shows Whittaker Clough

as it meanders through the valley

This picture shows the upper course

of Whittaker Clough. Notice the

huge rocks that usually can be found

on the upper course of most rivers.