Rivers Fieldwork And The UK’s evolving Human Landscape Flashcards
Explain one reason why the method you used to measure stream depth was appropriate for the task
Using a metre ruler and tape measure was appropriate because the stream we used was less that 30cm deep allowing for accurate measurement with a metre ruler.
Explain one possible source of error when you measured stream depth
We used a metre ruler. If the stream bed had been sandy, the ruler might have sunk into it and this could have introduced errors.
How do the river valley characteristics vary along the river?
Geographers would use bradshaws model. This is a theoretical model that sets out the changes we expect to see from source to river mouth for example:
- discharge increases downstream
- channel depth increases
- load particle size decreases
- slope angle decreases
suggest one reason why the students selected this river to carry out their fieldwork.
this river may have been chosen because it is by a road making it much more accessable and easier to collect data.
suggest two reasons why river flooding may not be a serious risk in this valley.
1.firstly rive flooding may not be a serious risk as the land around the river is permeable, therefore meaning that the rain will percolate into the ground.
2.secondly this river is small therefore the discharge likely to be low and therefore the overall flood risk is low.
explain one method the students might have used to measure the environmental quality in these two villages.
one way students could measure environmental quality is with an eqa this is where you rank various categories on a scale. e.g 0-5.
how did we measure the width on the tillingbourne river?
using a tape measure we measured the width from one side of the bank to the other.
how did we measure the depth of the tillingbourne river?
we streched the tape measure from one side of the bank to the other and then using systematic sampling divide the width into 5 equal intervals and measure the depth across the river at each interval.
how did we measure the velocity of the tillingbourne river?
using the tape measure, measure a straight 3m line in the middle of the river. then 50cm above the beginning of the 3m tape drop the cork assuring that it reaches its terminal velocity record how long it takes the cork to get from one end of the 3 metres to the other and repeat 3 times.
define quantative data
a critical component that involves selecting a representative subset of individuals or cases from a larger population
what is the equation for calculating river discharge?
discharge (m3/s) = CSA x velocity (m/s)
define qualitative data
an initial stage process involving the deliberate selection of individuals or cases from a broader population to participate in a study.
define random data sampling
selecting a person to interview or site to measure, at random
define systematic sampling
collecting data in an ordered or regular way, eg every 5 metres or every fifth person.
define stratified sampling
dividing sampling into groups, eg three sites from each section of coastline, or five people from each age range.
define population density
the number of people per square kilometre.
what is primary data and what is secondary data?
primary - information that is collected first-hand, eg tallies, measurements and photographs
secondary - information that someone else has previously collected and made available, eg on the internet
what is the difference between physical enquiries and human enquiries?
physical enquiries will look at natural landscapes, eg rivers or coasts
human enquiries will look at environments that are created by people, eg cities or tourist resorts
what are the sections of a fieldwork report?
Introduction - to the fieldwork and study site. Should have location maps at different
scales
and the enquiry question, written out clearly.
Methodology - describe and justify the way that the data was collected. The description should be provided in lots of detail, so that someone else could repeat the study using the instructions. Include a map of sites, approximate timings and detailed explanations of how and where each measurement was taken. Justify means explaining why the techniques you chose were suitable and how they are linked to the enquiry question. State whether each data collection technique collects
primary
or
secondary data
. Justify the sample size and the sampling technique used.
Data presentation -
raw data
tables are difficult to interpret and so data must be presented in different ways. Graphs and charts are useful as they help to see patterns within data. Choose which types of graph or chart to use. Accurate presentation of data helps to form conclusions to the enquiry - data that is badly presented is very difficult to understand.
Analysis - process the data and discuss patterns. Are there any clear trends or are there
anomalies
? Quote figures and places and use accurate geographical terminology.
Conclusion - a short section to draw together the results and answer the enquiry question.
Evaluation - this considers the strengths and weaknesses of the data collection, identifies anomalies and the limitations of the conclusions. It will identify possible improvements, extensions or new questions that have arisen. It is acceptable to talk about weaknesses, as long as improvements can be suggested.
what are field sketches?
Field sketches are a useful form of
qualitative
data. They can help us to remember the places that have been visited.
what are the steps to drawing a field sketch?
1.Identify the landscape that needs to be sketched.
2.Write a title that will help to locate the sketch, eg ‘Site One’.
3.Draw an outline of the main features of the landscape with 4.a pencil, eg hills and valleys or buildings and roads.
Add detail to the sketch to record more information, eg river features, such as meanders, river cliffs and rapids. Only 5.draw people if they are important to the enquiry question.
Annotate or label the field sketch to give more information about the landscape and conditions, eg what was the weather like?
6.Consider taking a photograph to support the field sketch
how can we process the data we collect?
Averages, or measures of central tendency, are commonly taken in three different ways:
Mean - add the total of all values that have been collected and then divide by the number of values.
Median - write out all of the numbers that have been collected in numerical order and find the middle number.
Mode - the most commonly appearing value within the data.
what forms is quantative data split into?
Nominal data - these are numbers that appear as categories, eg 1 = yes and 2 = no.
Ordinal data - these numbers have an order, eg the rank order of cities by population size. It is known that city 1 is more populated than cities 2 and 3, but it is not known how many more people there are, as the spacing between each city is not equal.
Interval data - these numbers are similar to ordinal, but the difference between each number is equal, eg temperature is measured in degrees centigrade.
Ratio data - this is when there is a relationship between two sets of numbers, eg the number of people per doctor.
what are some types of qualitative data?
Questionnaires - this is when people are asked what they think. Questionnaires are good at finding out opinions, but they may be less accurate when looking for facts.
Field sketches and photographs - this is when a snapshot of a landscape is taken, either with a camera or by drawing. Field sketches and photographs provide a good reminder of what a place is like.
