Fieldwork Opportunities:
River environments
The
channels
of
many
streams
and
small
rivers
make
suitable
fieldwork
sites.
See
the
photograph
on
the
title
and
contents
page
for
this
chapter.
The
focus
of
the
fieldwork
should
be
the
early
stages
of
the
investigation
and
enquiry
sequence:
planning,
including
objectives,
data
collection
and
recording
-
including
evaluation
of
the
methods.
In
small
groups
using
either
basic
equipment
or
sophisticated
electronic
equipment,
it
is
possible
to
measure
and
record:
Channel
width
and
river
width
Channel
depth
and
water
depth
Water
velocity
at
various
points
on
the
surface,
along
the
bed
and
within
the
water
Channel
slope
or
gradient
Bedload
size
The
equipment
needed
includes
ranging
poles,
tape
measure,
metre
ruler,
clinometer,
impellor
and
stopwatch
or
electronic
flowmeter.
Source
1
shows
some
of
this
equipment
being
used
to
measure
the
widths
and
depths
of
channel
and
water.
Cross-sectional
areas
(CSA)
and
discharge
can
be
calculated
from
these
measurements:
Cross-sectional
area
=
width
x
depth
Edexcel IGCSE Geography ActiveBook
Measuring Channel Features
Discharge
=
cross-sectional
area
x
velocity
Source 1 Method of measuring channel and water width and depth
Measurements
can
be
taken
at
various
sites
along
a
channel,
perhaps
around
a
meander
and
the
data
displayed
in
a
table
(Source
2).
The
data
can
be
presented
diagrammatically
(e.g.
plotting
the
shape
of
a
channel)
and
related
to
textbook
theories
about
how
rivers
behave
e.g.
that
they
flow
fastest
around
the
outside
of
a
meander;
that
discharge
increases
downstream;
that
velocity
increases
with
gradient;
that
bedload
size
is
greatest
upstream.
It
is
possible
to
observe
the
influence
of
processes
in
action.
1
Site
River width (metres)
1.2
1.5
2.2
2.4
3.2
3.6
3.4
3.5
River depth (metres)
0.1
0.1
0.11
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.4
Velocity (metres per
second)
0.04
0.06
0.09
0.24
0.19
0.25
0.35
0.28
Source 2 A river fieldwork results table
Measuring water quality
Again
the
fieldwork
focus
is
on
measurement
and
the
early
stages
in
the
investigation
and
enquiry
sequence.
River
water
quality
testing
fieldwork
calls
for
careful
selection
of
sites.
Safe
access
to
the
water
is
essential.
Tests
for
nitrate-nitrogen,
pH,
turbidity
(cloudiness),
total
dissolved
solids
(TDS),
odours
(smell),
colour,
taste
and
total
coliform
(bacteria
from
human
or
animal
faeces)
can
be
undertaken
with
minimal
equipment
and
cost.
Kits
containing
testing
strips
for
bacteria
and
chemical
compounds
that
change
after
dipping
in
water
can
be
used.
More
expensive
colorimeters,
multi-parameter
meters
and
turbidity
meters
might
also
be
used.
Edexcel IGCSE Geography ActiveBook
Fieldwork
around
a
single
meander
where
both
river
erosion
and
deposition
are
active
illustrates
the
effect
of
the
rivers
flow
on
the
shape
of
the
channel.
Channel
landforms
resulting,
such
as
a
slip-off
slope,
can
be
measured.
It
is
important
that
you
are
aware
of
the
difficulties
of
obtaining
accurate
data
from
river
channels.
These
range
from
health
and
safety
issues
as
measurers
need
to
stand
in
the
water,
to
problems
with
faulty
equipment,
and
those
to
do
with
human
error
like
careless
readings
and
equipment
in
the
wrong
location.
Nitrate
and
pH
readings
can
be
taken
by
dipping
a
test
strip
into
the
flowing
water,
allowing
the
colour
to
develop
and
then
comparing
it
to
a
colour
key.
Other
readings
need
water
samples
to
be
collected
in
a
clean
clear
glass
vessel.
Observations
about
turbidity
and
odour
can
be
made
at
the
field
site
and
recorded
along
with
the
nitrate
and
pH
readings.
Having
access
to
a
school
laboratory
is
a
good
idea
as
it
allows
the
TDS
of
the
water
sample
to
be
later
measured
as
well
as
bacteria
tests
to
be
performed.
These
tests
may
need
the
assistance
of
biologists.
Source 3 Water quality tests at various locations along the river
2
Water
quality
tests
should
be
done
at
various
times
and
at
various
locations
along
a
river
at
around
the
same
time
(see
Source
3
above).
Students
can
present
their
results
in
a
clear
table
format
(see
Source
4)
and
make
comparisons
between
the
sites,
drawing
conclusions
from
their
findings.
Site number
1
(Pangbourne)
2
(Reading)
3
(Shiplake)
Land Use
Farmland
Shops and car park
School playing fields
River discharge
Low
High
Low
Water quality
(mark out of 10)
Poor (1)
Very good (9)
Good (6)
Water management
None
Run off from urban area
Water taken out for public
use
Smell
Unpleasant
None
None
Colour
Brown
Light brown
Light brown
Human impact
Agricultural chemicals in
river
Some plastic bottles in
river
Water is extracted for
agriculture
Edexcel IGCSE Geography ActiveBook
Poor
quality
water
is
turbid
(cloudy);
unusual
in
colour,
taste
and/or
smell;
and
contaminated
with
chemicals
and/or
bacteria
(e.g.
high
nitrate
concentration;
pH
readings
outside
the
normal
range;
high
amount
of
TDS).
Where
this
is
the
case,
it
might
be
valuable
to
discover
the
activity
having
an
impact
on
the
rivers
water
quality.
Good
quality
river
water
is
not
necessarily
safe
to
drink
but
will
not
look
and
smell
objectionable,
be
harmful
to
life
nor
pose
human
hygiene
and
health
issues.
Source 4 Water quality along the river Thames: some fieldwork results.
