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EMS GCSE Geography Unit 3 – River Landscapes Fieldwork Revision FLASH CARDS

EMS Geography GCSE Revision: Question(s) Answer(s)GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS

What is the aim of your study?To investigate why the characteristics of the river Noe [Edale] lead to the need for flood management?’


Explain why the location of your fieldwork was appropriate for the investigation

Location: River Noe, Edale, Dark Peak, DerbyshirePrecipitation: 1500mms per year = see changes in characteristics in short distanceGeology: Impermeable gritstone = increased surface run-off & potential need for flood management downstream esp. Matlock & DerbyVegetation: Heather moorland = potential to intercept precipitation and reduce surface run-off though threat due to trampling by walkersLand-use: Hill sheep farming & tourism. Importantly, designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) = natural river system = can compare to Bradshaw model due to lack of human interference.Gradient: Steep gradient [decline 200ms in 2.5kms] = increased surface run-off & reduced time for infiltrationHigh drainage density: connecting tributaries transfer water efficiently.Flood management: Assess effectiveness of ‘Moors for the Future’ scheme = assess impact of re-vegetating area with heather & blocking gullies in reducing surface run-off and discharge in river Noe.- Losehill Field Studies Centre use often = risk assessed at different times of year = ensure collect data safely & accurately = avoid need & cost of revisiting. - Easy access (within 500m) to sites via Pennine Way at Edale village = reduce risk of slips, trips, falls


Explain the geographical concept, process or theory that underpinned your fieldwork enquiry

- Test how far the river channel characteristics of river Noe and connecting tributaries matches Bradshaw’s model of an ideal stream and how this might lead to need for flood management in major settlements downstream such as Matlock and Derby.Hypothesis to be tested:- As (C)ross (S)ectional (A)rea increases, discharge will increase downstream due to river processes of hydraulic action (sheer force of water) and attrition (clasts rolling & colliding) eroding river bed & banks as the competence (energy) of the river increases. Due to a high drainage density, discharge levels may exceed bankfull and lead to flooding downstream in Matlock & Derby


EMS Geography GCSE Revision: Question(s) Answer(s)GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLSBriefly describe the main stage in drawing a sketch map

1. Draw a simple box frame (using pencil or black pen) and add grid lines to act as guidelines 2. Draw any features relevant to the question asked and which will help make more sense of the map (e.g. roads / tributaries / relief / site locations / Mt Robinson – source – 737m) 3. Add appropriate key, labels and annotations IF ASKED TO DRAW ANNOTATED SKETCH MAP TO SHOW BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDY LOCATION – DRAW MAP OPPOSITE & ANNOTATE WITH NOTES FROM ‘LOCATION’ CARD

EMS Geography GCSE Revision: Question(s) Answer(s)GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS Describe ONE method used in the collection of one item of primary data. ORDescribe a sampling technique you used to collect data

Collecting velocity (ms-1) readings using Bonio biscuits to help calculate discharge to test relationship between (C)ross (S)ectional (A)rea and discharge.Method:- Use an Ordnance Survey map to identify suitable sites and access to Stream Order 1 [Golden Clough]; Stream Order 2 [Grindsbrook]; & Stream Order 3 [river Noe]- At each site, a 10 metre line transect is established using a tape measure.- Student 1 will stand in the middle of the river at the 0 metre point, facing downstream, whilst Student 2 will stand at the 10 metre point in the middle of the river, facing upstream.- Student 3 will have a piloted data collection sheet and stopwatch; whilst Student 4 will track the course of the Bonio biscuit between the 0m to 10m point.- Student 1 shouts ‘Start’ and immediately places the Bonio biscuit in the middle of the river channel at the 0m point; whilst Student 3 starts the stopwatch.- Student 4 tracks the Bonio biscuit. If the biscuit gets stuck in turbulence or behind bed load, 5 seconds is allowed to elapse before a metre ruler is used to nudge the biscuit back in to the flow of the river channel.- Student 2 retrieves the Bonio biscuit at the 10m point and shouts ‘Stop’. Student 3 stops the stopwatch and records the time to one decimal place on the piloted data collection sheet.- This is repeated a further 4 times to calculate an average velocity for the 10m line transect.- This methodology is repeated at 2 other sites downstream.



Justify the method used in the collection of one item of primary data.

Collecting velocity (ms-1) readings using Bonio biscuits to help calculate discharge to test relationship between (C)ross (S)ectional (A)rea and discharge.- Accurate measurements: using simple equipment reduces human error; using a stopwatch allows precise recording of time to one decimal place. - Organisation: e.g. one person releasing Bonio biscuit & one with stopwatch = accurate recording of time on piloted data collection sheetAvoid bias: By …- Line transect sampling technique = 10 metre line transect = replicate same technique at each site = valid comparisons with other sites downstream = identify trends & anomalies..- Bonio biscuit only released when positioned on surface.- Remove external factors e.g. vegetation which might get caught / stand in channel 1 min to allow current to return to normal - More accurate than using a flow meter, especially at Site 1 [Golden Clough] which can be affected by low flow conditions and turbulence, which might mean the impellor is unable to turn.


What were the limitations in the collection of one item of primary data?

Collecting velocity (ms-1) readings using Bonio biscuits to help calculate discharge to test relationship between (C)ross (S)ectional (A)rea and discharge.Shape and width of the channel presented problems:- Bonio biscuit caught in turbulence, especially at site 1 [Golden Clough], as it experienced low flow conditions.- undercutting of the left bank during recent bankfull conditions at site 2, left a wider and very shallow section; as the river investigation took place during low flow conditions = skewed the average time taken for the Bonio biscuit to reach its finish position at the 10 metre point. Alternative sophisticated equipment - flow meter. This would mean:- instantaneous, reliable and more accurate readings = efficient to use = further readings could be made at the surface (0.2 depth) and towards the river bed (0.8 depth) at each of the 5 intervals along the width of the river.- This could then be used as an overlay on a cross-section presentation to show the variations in velocity = greater understanding of the influence of channel shape and friction upon river processes and the efficiency of the river.



What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

Qualitative data: based on opinion = subjective e.g. clast shape surveys.

Quantitative data: numerical = objective e.g. velocity readings

EMS Geography GCSE Revision: Question(s) Answer(s)GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS What is the difference between primary and secondary data?

Primary data: collected first hand. e.g. velocity readings

Secondary data: sources already collected. e.g. maps to identify stream order and accessibility / Meteorological Office historic rainfall data i.e. 1500mms per year in Edale valley.


Evaluate one of your methods of data collection (5 marks)

Collecting velocity (ms-1) readings using Bonio biscuits to help calculate discharge to test relationship between (C)ross (S)ectional (A)rea and discharge.SEE METHOD ‘JUSTIFY’ & ‘LIMITATIONS’ FOR FULL ANSWER



Using specific examples from your fieldwork, describe the risk assessment you undertook in relation to the enquiry

(Good answer MUST include identification of risk / minimising the risk / assessing on-going risks during the visit)

River Study = potentially higher risk of accident or injury (slips, trips, falls). To reduce these potential hazards before trip:- Staff assessed data collection risks & reminded us of the need for appropriate clothing and footwear; importance of team work.- Selection of stream – precipitation up to 1500mms = dangerous discharge = river Noe offers safer discharge levels that still provided the opportunity to collect a representative sample of data.

To reduce these potential hazards during trip:- Carrying equipment: 4 groups with 4 students each = equipment distributed equally and ensured no student was overburdened. A demonstration of how to carry the equipment (especially the ranging poles) was given by the lead member of staff. - Nature of terrain: to all sites included steep sections and uneven ground due to thick vegetation. To avoid undue risk of slips, trips or falls, all students followed the lead member of staff who could assess and avoid difficult terrain. - Monitor discharge levels: by lead staff to assess the risk of drowning or entrapment and to warn of deep and fast sections by assessing the variation in stream bed depth. – Movement in channel: With a warning for slippery rocks, we also took care when walking along each cross section, using the meter ruler to confirm that there were no sections that were considered dangerously deep (usually above 40 cms or the height of a wellington boot). The group leader also monitored the groups at all times and had a throw line in the eventuality of a slip, trip or fall.- Time of year: March = a potential risk of hypothermia given the changeability in climatic conditions and the temperature of the water. The group leader checked the weather forecast before the investigation took place and monitored these dynamic conditions throughout the day; ensuring that all students had suitable equipment to keep warm and dry. The group leader also had spare essentials including additional clothing, food, water and group shelter in a safety sack in case conditions deteriorated significantly and unexpectedly; or if a student encountered a slip, trip or fall.- Fungi intoxication / poisoning as the growth of mushrooms is sometimes prevalent. Also, at times when we had a break for food or water, an anti-bacterial gel was used to disinfect our hands as the water could well be contaminated with the leptospirosis bacterium that can be linked to Weil’s disease.


EMS Geography GCSE Revision: Question(s) Answer(s)GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLSWith the aid of a sketch diagram, describe one technique that you used to presentdata in your enquiry & explain why this was an appropriate technique. (7 marks)

SKETCH DIAGRAM MUST HAVE ACCURATE PLOTS & INCLUDE:UNDERLINED TITLES / LABELLED AXES / CORRECT SCALE

River channel cross-section linegraph - show if there was a relationship between (C)ross (S)ectional (A)rea and discharge along river Noe.

HOW?: Describe- I put my independent variable on my x axis (width) and my dependent variable on my y axis (depth, measured in centimetres). - Using a sharp pencil for accuracy, I plotted my points for every interval on my graph after choosing a suitable scale for both axes. The same scale will be used to plot cross-sections for all three sites. - I was then able to connect the points free-hand. - I labelled my axes and put a title on the top.

WHY?: Explain / Justify- Visual = establish change in shape using the same scale = allow accurate comparisons of width and depth of CSA downstream = linegraphs can present this very well.- Possible to pick individual pieces of data out for specific sites and also see anomalies that had occurred e.g. larger than expected bed load which might affect river channel capacity. - It was easy to construct and analysing it is clearer

EMS Geography GCSE Revision: Question(s) Answer(s)GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS Describe one application of ICT skills in carrying out your fieldwork and comment on its usefulness. (5 marks)

Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to collate group data efficientlyHow?: E.g.- ‘IF’ function used to conduct conditional tests for average flow; afterwhich, the cross-sectional area was calculated in metres squared using the ‘IF’ and ‘SUM’ functions. The ‘AVERAGE’ function was then used to provide the mean figures recorded for each stream order (1-3) to help analyse overall trends downstream. Usefulness?:- Create a variety of graphs efficiently and accurately using the chart wizard function to help us identify trends clearly and to allow easy interpretation of trends and anomalies.- The proportionate use of scale by the Excel program also avoided the potential for exaggerations in differences between the data, which may occur when completed manually on graph paper.- However, over-reliance on modern technology may de-skill the user.

CSA: 0.22 (m2)


EMS Geography GCSE Revision: Question(s) Answer(s)GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS Summarise the main findings of your fieldwork enquiry. (4 marks)

Or

How far did your conclusions match the geographical theory / expectations?

- Individually, the river channel characteristics conformed to Bradshaw’s model e.g. CSA increased 6-fold and Discharge increased 28-fold between sites 1 to 3. - Strength of statistical relationship – CSA v Discharge = rejection of the null hypothesis; as the Rs (Spearman’s Rank) value was 0.86, providing a 99% certainty that a strong positive correlation exists, given the critical value for 12 pairs is 0.777. - Given dramatic increase in discharge, this means that further flood management will be necessary as part of ‘Moors for the Future’ scheme in the upper course and renewal of hard strategies such as flood walls planned for the city of Derby.


Making specific reference to your results, suggest how your enquiry could be improved. (5 Marks)

[Methods of data collection & presentation]SEE: - What were the limitations in the collection of one item of primary data?

[Practical aspects]- Range of sampling techniques = efficient use of time in collecting representative samples (line transect) to aid my geographical understanding of the factors which affect discharge and other river channel characteristics and processes.- Bias: human interference; such as the inadvertent alteration particularly of clast material due to successive river studies along this stretch of river, which may affect velocity readings and create anomalies. In this regard, the use of secondary data from studies conducted at similar and different times of the year may provide a more accurate indication of the validity of the data collected.- Consolidated geographical skills & understanding = confident in replicating these techniques with a greater degree of independence. - Other interested groups: value to physical geographers, the Environment Agency and the farmers located in Edale Valley in terms of the impact of increased discharge levels, human interference and the likelihood of flooding in a riverine environment.

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