Fieldwork

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To find out how closely the river Cuckmere correlates with the Bradshaw model.

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

Sediment size decreases along the long-profile of the river

Question 3

Name the theory which underpins your aim

Answer 3

The size of sediment decreases as you travel downstream due to processes such as abrasion which decreases the size of the sediment by rubbing it along the riverbed and attrition which is the process of sediment colliding with each other and breaking down

Question 4

What’s good about the Bradshaw model?

Answer 4

Allows for comparison to a known consistent trend, therefore it was a suitable investigation for varying levels of understanding

Didn’t require expensive material to test the theory - ease of access

Question 5

How many metres long?

Answer 5

35km

Question 6

Upper stage?

Answer 6

Moites Farm

Question 7

Middle stage?

Answer 7

Hellingly

Question 8

Lower stage?

Answer 8

Cuckmere Haven

Question 9

Describe the lower stage

Answer 9

Lots of meanders and floodplain (typical lower stage) = not populated

Question 10

Describe the upper stage

Answer 10

Populated area, urbanised car parks with impermeable
surfaces could cause decreased lag time

Descends over 100 m (328 ft) in its initial four miles

Question 11

Why did we repeat our sets of data 3 times?

Answer 11

To get averages and eliminate possibility of anomalous results

Question 12

Why did we chose the location?

Answer 12

Accessibility - within 2 hrs of school, easy road access + footpath

Safety - Shallow upper course = prevent drowning + disease

Typical lower stage - undeveloped, natural landforms such as meanders = easy to compare to Bradshaw

Safe terrain - Public land, not too step + no permission needed = national trust

Question 13

Primary data collection

Answer 13

Velocity

Question 14

Positives of data collection

Answer 14

Easy to carry out

Easy to repeat for accuracy

Produces data which can easily placed on graph

Gave accurate results, so can be compared with Bradshaw

Question 15

Negatives of data collection

Answer 15

Subject to human error = faulty stop watch

Subject to natural influences = wind pressure

Only measures surface velocity

Could have used more accurate equipment (Hydroprop) for more reliable data

Question 16

Equation for discharge

Answer 16

D = Velocity x CSA

Question 17

How did we eliminate bias?

Answer 17

Repeated the collection method at each 500m interval in order to gain an average at each site

Use hydroprop in future

Same points of river measured at each site

Consistent roles throughout

Question 18

Example of Quantitative data?

Answer 18

Sediment size + velocity data

Question 19

Example of Qualitative data?

Answer 19

Asking local people about the land use of delta to try and find human influences that could effect the discharge level of the river

Question 20

Data Presentation

Answer 20

Scatter Graph = Sediment size

Question 21

Positives of Scatter Graph

Answer 21

Clear visual relationship between 2 variables (sediment size + site along river)

Best method for continuous data = allows line of best fit which enables prediction of variable on other sites

Easily identify anomalies

Easy to extract data

Easy to plot + interpret

Can be examined in greater depth with Spearman’s rank

Able to compare individual plots

Question 22

Negatives of Scatter Graph

Answer 22

Not statistically verified on its own - need test

No cause + effect

Anomalies can skew results

Could not plot discontinuous variables such as bed load roundness = couldn’t analyze all the variables against the Bradshaw model

Question 23

Spearman’s Rank

Answer 23

Used to examine strength of relationship between 2 variables e.g. distance downstream + discharge

Question 24

Appropriateness of Spearman’s Rank

Answer 24

Uses continuous data with relationship

Was suitable for the number of values I had collected for each variable whereas Chi squared where you need 20 sets of data

Could examine strength of relationship between 2 variables

Allowed significance test

Question 25

Conclusion

Answer 25

In line with the Bradshaw model, the discharge increased downstream at the River Cuckmere

Rejected null hypothesis

Backed up results on graph

Possible that discharge in the upper stage of the river could have been affected by the urbanization of the floodplain area and steep valley sides which increases run-off

Question 26

Cause of anomalous result?

Answer 26

Anomalous results in sediment size could have been caused at the lower stage of the Cuckmere by the longshore drift = because it was at the mouth of the river at the coast

Question 27

Geographical understanding

Answer 27

Concordant with Bradshaw model = increase discharge

Helped me to understand that rivers don’t always conform to the ‘textbook’ model as they can be influenced by urbanization + valley gradient

Able to understand how downstream changes were made

Improved my understanding of fluvial changes of a river esp affecting discharge

Question 28

Improvements

Answer 28

Data collection methods could have been collected with more advanced technology e.g. hydro-prop to test speed

Didn’t repeat the entire investigation at different weather conditions and seasons to test the reliability of data

Stratified sampling could have meant we missed key sites along the profile

Could have used GIS (geographical information system)

Question 29

What would GIS have done?

Answer 29

Would have allowed us to have picked the best sites for our investigation in the upper, lower and
middle courses

Question 30

Advantages of using ICT in collection of data

Answer 30

Can access data that may not otherwise have been available (Internet)

Can ensure greater accuracy in readings and automatic collection to enable studies of change over time

Can collect qualitative data using digital cameras which can be used to help explain findings / anomalies

Question 31

Disadvantages of using ICT in collection of data

Answer 31

Expensive equipment

Data from internet may have bias

Question 32

Advantages of using ICT in presentation +

analysis of data

Answer 32

Wide variety of graphs can be produced quickly

Can save time = some graphical techniques and statistical tests are time consuming by hand

Provides the ability to process, search and query data using GIS

Question 33

Disadvantages of using ICT in presentation + analysis of data

Answer 33

May require particular computer programmes = expensive

Accuracy of graphs produced will only be as accurate as the raw data

Need to ensure type of graph chosen is appropriate for data being presented

Question 34

Advantages of GIS

Answer 34

Provides ability to show lots of information on one map

Info can be linked together to help identify spatial patterns / support analysis of data

More people have access to GIS e.g. phones

GIS used by many public services to improve services offered

GPS combined with GIS has made travelling between places easier

Question 35

Disadvantages of GIS

Answer 35

May require expensive software and a computer which needs keeping updated

Software complicated to use = may require training

If too many layers or data are added to a map = difficult to interpret

GIS produces maps,but skills is still required to interpret the maps in a geographical context.