To examine and explain the changes in river width from source to mouth.

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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.

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        The widening of the river channel was caused by 3 types of erosion- Hydraulic power, Corrasion and Corrosion.  Hydraulic power occurs due to the shear force and weight of the rivers load rubbing and creating friction against the rivers bed and banks.  This process gradually wears the bed and banks away and especially causes the removal of loose clay and sand.  This process is even fiercer when the river is in flood because there is more gravitational potential energy due to more mass in the water.  As there is more mass the water will travel faster, wasting more energy overcoming ...

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