River Pang Coursework
Fieldtrip focus 1. Introduction
Hypothesis
We know every river starts its journey from its source. In the upper course of the river, the channel is at a high above its base level i.e. its mouth. Thus the gradient is high. Due to the height, it has a lot of potential energy. So it uses this energy to reach its base level. So the process mainly at work is vertical erosion. Further it has got a lot of interlocking spurs. There is less lateral erosion taking place. So the bed load is composed of bigger rock particles with irregular size.
When it reaches the middle course, the river is quite near to its base level. So it uses its surplus energy to erode sideways. Hence the processes like abrasion, attrition, hydraulic action smoothens the rough edges making the shape circular. The lateral erosion and transportation may give rise to features like meanders and oxbow lakes.
When it reaches the lower course, it is almost near to its base level. So it doesn’t have sufficient energy to erode or transport bed load. So the main process at work is deposition leading to features like floodplain and deltas.
Expected outcomes
River pang is one of the tributaries of the River Thames. Since the river doesn’t flow into a sea it should have a confluence not a mouth. So it doesn’t have a delta in its lower course.it has a confluence at village of Pangbourne in Berkshire. Also as it’s just a tributary, the features like interlocking spurs, waterfall, meanders, oxbow lakes, deltas and floodplain is less likely to be seen. However basic features about gradient, bed load size, velocity will have changes as we move down the stream. The gradient should decrease. Also the bed load size should decrease due to continued (vertical + lateral) erosion. The velocity should increase as well.
Location
It is located in the West Berkshire. It runs for approx. 23 kms from its source at Compton to its confluence with Thames in the village of Pangbourne. The source is not stationary it
Hypothesis
We know every river starts its journey from its source. In the upper course of the river, the channel is at a high above its base level i.e. its mouth. Thus the gradient is high. Due to the height, it has a lot of potential energy. So it uses this energy to reach its base level. So the process mainly at work is vertical erosion. Further it has got a lot of interlocking spurs. There is less lateral erosion taking place. So the bed load is composed of bigger rock particles with irregular size.
When it reaches the middle course, the river is quite near to its base level. So it uses its surplus energy to erode sideways. Hence the processes like abrasion, attrition, hydraulic action smoothens the rough edges making the shape circular. The lateral erosion and transportation may give rise to features like meanders and oxbow lakes.
When it reaches the lower course, it is almost near to its base level. So it doesn’t have sufficient energy to erode or transport bed load. So the main process at work is deposition leading to features like floodplain and deltas.
Expected outcomes
River pang is one of the tributaries of the River Thames. Since the river doesn’t flow into a sea it should have a confluence not a mouth. So it doesn’t have a delta in its lower course.it has a confluence at village of Pangbourne in Berkshire. Also as it’s just a tributary, the features like interlocking spurs, waterfall, meanders, oxbow lakes, deltas and floodplain is less likely to be seen. However basic features about gradient, bed load size, velocity will have changes as we move down the stream. The gradient should decrease. Also the bed load size should decrease due to continued (vertical + lateral) erosion. The velocity should increase as well.
Location
It is located in the West Berkshire. It runs for approx. 23 kms from its source at Compton to its confluence with Thames in the village of Pangbourne. The source is not stationary it