Physical fieldwork - Analysis + Conclusion

What happened to the overall velocity?

It decreased

What could be reasons for the change in velocity?

Lots of rocks in the lower course were more angular which leads to more friction, slowing down the velocity

Human influence and people moving the rocks would change the flow of water

What happened to the overall bedload size?

It got bigger

What happened to the overall bedload shape?

It became more round

Why are there anomalies in the bedload shape and size data set?

Humans moving rocks around and bank repairs which means large boulders are being put in specific areas

What happened to the overall channel cross section size?

It increased

What are reasons for the change in channel cross section size?

Greater lateral and vertical erosion downstream causing the channel to become deeper and wider

How did the characteristics of the velocity change?

The average velocity decreased downstream due to increased friction which slows down the flow of water

Was the velocity change similar to your predictions?

Yes because velocity slowed down due to the gradient getting steeper which makes the river lose energy

How did the characteristics of the average bedload shape and size change?

It increased which could be due to more resistant rock downstream and the decrease in velocity, resulting in less abrasion and hydraulic action

Was the bedload change similar to your predictions?

No because bedload size increased, which could be due to high rock resistancy

How did the characteristics of the river channel width change?

The width widens overall, however, it narrows between the upper and middle course, which could be because rock types were more resistant in the middle course