Geography Controlled Assessment Introduction
Introduction
Throughout the completion of my geography controlled coursework I am going to investigate the Collin River and how its river features change as we go downstream.
Aims
Through the completion of this piece of coursework I aim to measure the cross-sectional area of the Collin River at five points along the river’s course.
I aim to measure the amount of discharge along the river’s course.
I aim to notice how the bed load changes by size and shape as we go downstream.
Theoretical Context
Rivers as a key part of the hydrological cycle
A river is the main source of energy throughout the hydrological cycle because it’s a form of surface run-off and so transports the water from where it fell as precipitation, to the sea where it is evaporated and so the process continues.
“The water on earth circulates between sea, land and air, being recycled in a natural process known as the hydrological cycle.” (Geography for CCEA GCSE, K. Clarke Pg.2)
Rivers as agents of change in the landscape (TED depending on available energy)
“Rivers change the landscape through which they flow. They alter it by erosion, transportation and depostition” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/rivers/change_river/pg_06.shtml 18.06.2013)
River erosion is the wearing away of the land as the water flows past the bed and banks. River deposition happens whenever the velocity of the river drops; meaning that there isn’t enough energy to erode or transport material. Transportation is the movement of eroded material. It includes stones which are varied in size. They can either be transported by traction, saltation, suspension or solution. Traction is the greatest form of transportation as it requires the most energy so that it can move large rocks such as boulders. Traction usually only occurs in a time a flooding. Saltation is the bouncing of medium sized rocks along the river bed. Suspension is known for transporting the smallest load which is held continuously above the river
Throughout the completion of my geography controlled coursework I am going to investigate the Collin River and how its river features change as we go downstream.
Aims
Through the completion of this piece of coursework I aim to measure the cross-sectional area of the Collin River at five points along the river’s course.
I aim to measure the amount of discharge along the river’s course.
I aim to notice how the bed load changes by size and shape as we go downstream.
Theoretical Context
Rivers as a key part of the hydrological cycle
A river is the main source of energy throughout the hydrological cycle because it’s a form of surface run-off and so transports the water from where it fell as precipitation, to the sea where it is evaporated and so the process continues.
“The water on earth circulates between sea, land and air, being recycled in a natural process known as the hydrological cycle.” (Geography for CCEA GCSE, K. Clarke Pg.2)
Rivers as agents of change in the landscape (TED depending on available energy)
“Rivers change the landscape through which they flow. They alter it by erosion, transportation and depostition” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/rivers/change_river/pg_06.shtml 18.06.2013)
River erosion is the wearing away of the land as the water flows past the bed and banks. River deposition happens whenever the velocity of the river drops; meaning that there isn’t enough energy to erode or transport material. Transportation is the movement of eroded material. It includes stones which are varied in size. They can either be transported by traction, saltation, suspension or solution. Traction is the greatest form of transportation as it requires the most energy so that it can move large rocks such as boulders. Traction usually only occurs in a time a flooding. Saltation is the bouncing of medium sized rocks along the river bed. Suspension is known for transporting the smallest load which is held continuously above the river