Objective Analysis
This is now the most important part of the investigation. I shall now take all my results and graphs and sum everything up, relating to class work, textbook theories and other pieces of information. I will analyse and interpret the results that I collected, as it shall give me a better understanding of rivers and my overall results!
I will now take each objective and explain it to the optimum of my ability.
Objective 1
To examine and explain the changes in river width from source to mouth.
From examining my compilation of results, graphs and cross sections, I get the distinct impression that as we moved from the source to mouth, the rivers width increased. By looking at the graph showing width against distance from source, I can see more precisely, where the steepest rises were. Between sites 1 and 2, the width increased nearly 1 meter. Between sites 2 and 3, there was not as quite a dramatic change. Between sites 3 and 4 was a gradual yet steep rise in width. In the vicinity of sites, 2,3 and 4 there were man made bridges. The bridge at site 2 was used for crossing the road over the river. The bridge at site 3 was used for tractors and other machinery to enter a nearby field. At site 4 there was an arched bridge, once again for tractor and farm machinery. As there were bridges involved, I can say that the velocity of the river was definitely affected but what about the width? Well if there is, a slow velocity there would not be as much energy to make the width wider but instead to overcome friction from the bed load and banks.