Investigating River Processes & Pressures (Edexcel GCSE Geography B)

Analyse Figure 9 which is the data collected by a group of students studying changes in river characteristics.

Figure 9

i)

Suggest two factors that the students may have considered when selecting their sites.

(4)

ii)

Explain one problem resulting from the lack of data from sites 2 and 4.

(2)

iii)

Describe the relationship between river gradient and velocity in Figure 9.

(4)

You have carried out your own fieldwork investigating how and why drainage basin characteristics influence flood risk for people and property. Name your river environment fieldwork location:

Using the conclusions from your geographical investigation, assess the accuracy and reliability of your results.

You have carried out your own fieldwork investigating the influence of drainage basin and channel characteristics on flood risk. Name your river fieldwork location:

Explain one method that you used to collect your primary data.

Using an annotated diagram, explain how you used a graph to present your fieldwork data.

Explain how geographical case studies and theories helped in the analysis of your data.

In 2018 a group of 20 students stayed in a hostel in Gunnerside, North Yorkshire, for two days to carry out their fieldwork into the impact of drainage basin and channel characteristics on flood risk. They decided to measure channel characteristics at two contrasting locations to investigate the impact of channel characteristics on flood risk.     They used the 1:25,000 OS map below (Figure 9) to choose the two contrasting locations for their data collection.

Figure 9

Assess the factors that the students should have considered when selecting their two contrasting locations. You must use evidence from Figure 9 to support your answer.

Study Figure 9, which are photographs of the two access points chosen by a group of students studying river channel changes on a river at two different locations.

Figure 9

i)

Suggest an enquiry question or hypothesis that the students might have proposed for their investigation.

(2)

ii)

Suggest two problems that the students’ choice of locations may have caused for data collection.

(4)

iii)

Explain how the use of Ordnance Survey (OS) maps might have helped the students choose their two river locations and the three sites on each of those rivers to carry out their channel measurements.

(4)

You have carried out your own fieldwork investigating how and why drainage basin characteristics influence flood risk for people and property. Name your river fieldwork location:

Assess the accuracy and reliability of the results of your investigation.