As a group we have decided to look at the changes in a river in the Gortin Glens. Our study took place on the 23rd of May 2007. We decided to study the changes in a river as it travels downstream
Introduction
I am currently a year 11 pupil at the CBS Grammar in Omagh. As part of my GCSE course I must undertake a field study. As a group we have decided to look at the changes in a river in the Gortin Glens.
Our study took place on the 23rd of May 2007. We decided to study the changes in a river as it travels downstream because we have studied the theory of rivers in physical geography and because we have easy access to a river. (See planning section)
Aims
* Use an ordinance survey map to locate a river which we could study
* Observe how the river changes
* Use equipment to measure how the river changes
* Record your findings
* Present your findings in a clear and precise manner
* Analyse and interpret our results
* Make conclusion about our findings and evaluate the study
Hypotheses
. The width of the river increases downstream
2. The depth of the river increases downstream
3. The velocity of the river decreases downstream
4. The gradient of the river decreases downstream
5. The pebble size decreases downstream
Spatial Context
Map 1
Below is a map of Northern Ireland which shows the location of the Foyle River Basin. This Basin covers parts of County Derry, Tyrone and Donegal. The Pollen Burn is a tributary of the Strule River which is a tributary of the Foyle River
Map 2
On the following page I have included an Ordinance Survey extract of the part of the Pollen Burn we studied. From the map you can see that the source of the river begins at approximately 490m. There are several smaller tributaries that make their way into the channel of the Pollen Burn and they have been shown on the map.
Thematic Context
Drainage Basin
A drainage basin on river basin is an area of land drained by a main river channel and its tributaries. Boundaries between drainage basins are called a watershed, which is a ridge of higher land separating two or more river basins. Some drainage basins can be very large like the Mississippi which drains one third of the USA and others are small like the Strule. However the size of is less important than the drainage density. The drainage density is the total length of all the streams in the drainage basin divided by the area of the drainage basin.
Below is a diagram of a drainage basin.
Key terms of the Drainage Basin
* Drainage basin - An area of land drained by a main river channel and its tributaries.
* Source - The source is the start, or beginning, of a river. The source of a river is usually found in the hills or mountains. A river can have more than one source. The source is where a river begins its journey.
* Tributary - A tributary is a stream or river flowing into a larger river. The water being drained from two areas now flows in one main channel. A river grows as more tributaries flow into it.
I am currently a year 11 pupil at the CBS Grammar in Omagh. As part of my GCSE course I must undertake a field study. As a group we have decided to look at the changes in a river in the Gortin Glens.
Our study took place on the 23rd of May 2007. We decided to study the changes in a river as it travels downstream because we have studied the theory of rivers in physical geography and because we have easy access to a river. (See planning section)
Aims
* Use an ordinance survey map to locate a river which we could study
* Observe how the river changes
* Use equipment to measure how the river changes
* Record your findings
* Present your findings in a clear and precise manner
* Analyse and interpret our results
* Make conclusion about our findings and evaluate the study
Hypotheses
. The width of the river increases downstream
2. The depth of the river increases downstream
3. The velocity of the river decreases downstream
4. The gradient of the river decreases downstream
5. The pebble size decreases downstream
Spatial Context
Map 1
Below is a map of Northern Ireland which shows the location of the Foyle River Basin. This Basin covers parts of County Derry, Tyrone and Donegal. The Pollen Burn is a tributary of the Strule River which is a tributary of the Foyle River
Map 2
On the following page I have included an Ordinance Survey extract of the part of the Pollen Burn we studied. From the map you can see that the source of the river begins at approximately 490m. There are several smaller tributaries that make their way into the channel of the Pollen Burn and they have been shown on the map.
Thematic Context
Drainage Basin
A drainage basin on river basin is an area of land drained by a main river channel and its tributaries. Boundaries between drainage basins are called a watershed, which is a ridge of higher land separating two or more river basins. Some drainage basins can be very large like the Mississippi which drains one third of the USA and others are small like the Strule. However the size of is less important than the drainage density. The drainage density is the total length of all the streams in the drainage basin divided by the area of the drainage basin.
Below is a diagram of a drainage basin.
Key terms of the Drainage Basin
* Drainage basin - An area of land drained by a main river channel and its tributaries.
* Source - The source is the start, or beginning, of a river. The source of a river is usually found in the hills or mountains. A river can have more than one source. The source is where a river begins its journey.
* Tributary - A tributary is a stream or river flowing into a larger river. The water being drained from two areas now flows in one main channel. A river grows as more tributaries flow into it.
