Lesson 5 - River Mole Local Case Study:

Question 1

Where is the River Mole Located?

Answer 1

The river Mole is located in the South East of England, flowing from Crawley to Southern London.

Question 2

What is the River Mole’s Catchment Area?

Answer 2

The Southern section is circular, and becomes elongated towards the North.

Question 3

How is the River Mole’s Catchment Area Segregated?

Answer 3

Urbanisation: 23%,
Agriculture: 51%,
Woodlands: 26%.

Question 4

How long is the River Mole’s Drainage Basin?

Answer 4

The drainage basin is small, just 80km long.

Question 5

What is the River Mole’s Drainage Basin Area?

Answer 5

The drainage basin is 512 metres squared.

Question 6

What are the River Mole’s Human Factors?

Answer 6

1) Increasing use of groundwater abstractions,
2) Urban areas expanding,
3) Decreasing woodland area,
4) Climate change,
5) Hard engineering schemes.

Question 7

What are the River Mole’s Physical Factors?

Answer 7

1) Relief rainfall over the chalk downs,
2) Impermeable geology from Wealden Clay,
3) Permeable geology from Chalk Downs,
4) Circular shape of river basin at the source,
5) Precipitation changes in the summer,
6) Small river basin, just 80km long.
7) Drainage basin is 512 metres squared.

Question 8

What is the River Mole’s Hydrograph?

Answer 8

The river Mole responds rapidly to rainfall events, resulting in a flashy hydrograph.