The characteristics affecting the flow of a river
Introduction
This investigation will be based upon what characteristics affect a river. In this piece I will investigate how the stream characteristics change as you go downstream. A specific area has been chosen to study, which is Aberarth. In this chosen site is a river, which is called the river Arth.
Aberarth is situated about 2 miles from Aberaeron on the way to Aberystwydd. Its beach is a pebble beach and id surrounded by cliff. It is a small sea side village and may have been a site for fishermen. Now Aberarth is well known for its surf and beach.
Hypothesis
My hypothesis is that as you go downstream the pebble size tend to be smaller and also more rounder in shape. Furthermore the river channel widens and also deepens; hence an increase in the cross sectional area. The further downstream you go, the less the gradient, i.e. the flatter the land. Also the further downstream you go, the more the number of meanders will be found, as the land is flatter.
A further hypothesis would be to say that the more downstream you move the more discharge (amount of water in river). Therefore increases as you go downstream.
Ideal Stream Model
Information on rivers
All rivers start at the source and end at the mouth which leads into the sea or another river. The source is usually on high land such as mountains and therefore the gradient is steeper nearer the source. The stones near the source are large and jagged. This is mainly because they may have only just been broken off and fallen into the river. This also means that they may not have time to be weathered yet so have no rounded edjes. They have had little time in the river and therefore they have had less time to be effected by traction, corrosion and erosion. The stones nearer the mouth have been in the river for a very long period of time and therefore they have been worn down a great deal due to this the stones near the mouth are small, smooth and round. The velocity of a river increases as it gets further away from the source because it has more space to flow and has less friction as the river is deeper and wider near the mouth. The water also flows faster as it has gathered speed and momentum from its earlier journey through the river. The river gets deeper and wider nearer the mouth because the water flows faster and therefore the river bed and bank has been warn away quicker. The banks are worn away by corrasion, corrosion and hydraulic action. The river bed is worn away by traction, attrition and corrosion. The river bed is deepened by rocks and boulders carried by the river. The river cuts down into the river bed. This is known as vertical erosion. One of the main processes of a river is transportation. They are constantly transporting material from small fine pieces of material to large heavy boulders. Whilst the river transports material it is constantly coroding the river bank, bed and the material itself.
Introduction
This investigation will be based upon what characteristics affect a river. In this piece I will investigate how the stream characteristics change as you go downstream. A specific area has been chosen to study, which is Aberarth. In this chosen site is a river, which is called the river Arth.
Aberarth is situated about 2 miles from Aberaeron on the way to Aberystwydd. Its beach is a pebble beach and id surrounded by cliff. It is a small sea side village and may have been a site for fishermen. Now Aberarth is well known for its surf and beach.
Hypothesis
My hypothesis is that as you go downstream the pebble size tend to be smaller and also more rounder in shape. Furthermore the river channel widens and also deepens; hence an increase in the cross sectional area. The further downstream you go, the less the gradient, i.e. the flatter the land. Also the further downstream you go, the more the number of meanders will be found, as the land is flatter.
A further hypothesis would be to say that the more downstream you move the more discharge (amount of water in river). Therefore increases as you go downstream.
Ideal Stream Model
Information on rivers
All rivers start at the source and end at the mouth which leads into the sea or another river. The source is usually on high land such as mountains and therefore the gradient is steeper nearer the source. The stones near the source are large and jagged. This is mainly because they may have only just been broken off and fallen into the river. This also means that they may not have time to be weathered yet so have no rounded edjes. They have had little time in the river and therefore they have had less time to be effected by traction, corrosion and erosion. The stones nearer the mouth have been in the river for a very long period of time and therefore they have been worn down a great deal due to this the stones near the mouth are small, smooth and round. The velocity of a river increases as it gets further away from the source because it has more space to flow and has less friction as the river is deeper and wider near the mouth. The water also flows faster as it has gathered speed and momentum from its earlier journey through the river. The river gets deeper and wider nearer the mouth because the water flows faster and therefore the river bed and bank has been warn away quicker. The banks are worn away by corrasion, corrosion and hydraulic action. The river bed is worn away by traction, attrition and corrosion. The river bed is deepened by rocks and boulders carried by the river. The river cuts down into the river bed. This is known as vertical erosion. One of the main processes of a river is transportation. They are constantly transporting material from small fine pieces of material to large heavy boulders. Whilst the river transports material it is constantly coroding the river bank, bed and the material itself.
