River Study - Investigating A Drainage Basin - Barbon Beck, YorkshireDales.

Authors Avatar

Matthew Oates        -  -

River Study – Investigating A Drainage Basin – Barbon Beck, Yorkshire Dales

Introduction

We went to Barbon Beck in the Yorkshire Dales to investigate an upland catchment. We also went to understand what happens to a rivers discharge and water quality downstream. My skill objectives were measuring discharge and sampling water quality in doing this. I have now developed these techniques. Our hypotheses are that ‘there will be an increase in discharge downstream’ and in this happening will ‘there be a decrease in water quality.’

What is a drainage basin?

A drainage basin is the land area where precipitation runs off into streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. It contains a river and its tributaries and is an area form which the river collects its water. This is sometimes known as a catchment area. Precipitation which falls on the drainage basin will reach one of the main rivers and follow into the sea.

Diagram of a typical drainage basin

                                             

Join now!

Describe the drainage basin characteristics.

Some of the drainage basin characteristics are that the relief land was very hilly with large hills in place instead of small mountains. These large hills were elongated with large steep slopes. The southern part of the drainage basin was the largest part. The main part of the geology here is limestone. Grass is the main vegetation and we found it common that the farmers were using this land for the grazing of sheep in a lot of places. After the Second World War there was little peat on the land to retain ...

This is a preview of the whole essay