Rivers 
Introduction 
The area of geography investigation is about river and happens in rivers like erosion, 
deposition, transportation E.T.C. We are investigating for answers of these questions 
 Does a steep section of river have a deeper or shallower profile that ales steep 
section? 
 Do steep sections of river have different size particles/stones than less steep 
sections? 
The rivers we studied were the Whittaker Clough and Hurst wood beck. 
Choice of location 
No the rivers we are studying are not main arterial rivers. An arterial river is pertaining to a 
main channel (resembling an artery), as a river, canal, or railroad. For example the Ob River 
in China, the River Ganges in India and the River Rhône in France. As in my investigation 
Hurst wood beck is a tributary of Hurst wood reservoir totally different from an arterial river 
because an arterial river has lot of tributaries and Hurst wood beck is a tributary itself. As for 
Whittaker Clough it is a tributary of River Calder different from an arterial river. The 
similarities between Hurst wood beck and Whittaker Clough is that they are both small 
tributaries. Hurst wood beck drains into Hurst wood reservoir. There are photographs 
included with characteristics of Hurst wood beck and Whittaker clough. There are also maps 
included. 
Suitability of location 
We are only on a location of a little river for our safety we can’t study rivers with big 
tributaries and it’s not practical to do hundreds of meters because we are on a school trip 
and where to measure the flow of river was low and safe enough to stand in. 
Bradshaw model is a theory of how erosion and deposition occurs in rivers. Bradshaw model 
relate to main long arterial rivers. Main points of the Bradshaw model is at is goes 
downstream it increases its discharge, occupied channel width channel depth ,velocity
,volume of load and decreases load particle size ,channel bed roughness and gradient. The 
aspects of Bradshaw model we are investigating in our study are width, veloci ty, depth and 
gradient. 
Data collection 
Primary data is the data we collect and secondary data is what we collect from other 
resources like internet, maps, books etc. 
Long profile 
We have long profiles for our own two rivers. Long profile gives us information to study the 
gradient. For producing the long profile we use a map to get the height from different points 
to make a graph. For long profile we use secondary data and we get this information from 
maps and internet. We can also use primary data to produce a long profile. I have got long 
profile data from Whittaker Clough and I have added it below. 
Cross Sectional Profile 
We have also measured Cross-Sectional Profile. A Cross sectional profile gives us shape of 
the river bed, channel depth and volume of load. I have got cross sectional profile data for 
Whittaker Clough and I have added it below. I measured the cross sectional profile by using 
a tape measure and a scale to measure the depth at different intervals. 
Health and Safety 
Hazard Risk How to prevent Harm 
Big Tributaries Drowning(due to velocity of 
tributaries you can slip and 
drown) 
Don’t go into it and if you go 
protect yourself. 
Cold Water Get sick by getting your feet 
wet. 
Wear rubber shoes. 
Slippery rocks Slipping, Injuries and even 
Drowning 
Wear Appropriate footwear 
Analysis 
In a river or a tributary of a river like Whittaker clough there are three section 
 Upper Section 
 Middle Section 
 Lower Section
In upper section of the river you can find Waterfalls, V-shaped valleys, Gorges and 
Interlocking Spurs. In middle section you can find Meanders, Oxbow lakes and Levees. In the 
lower section you can find Deltas and Floodplains. 
Velocity 
The velocity of a river is the speed at which water flows along it. The velocity will change 
along the course of any river, and is determined by factors such as the gradient (how steeply 
the river is losing height), the volume of water, the shape of the river channel and the 
amount of friction created by the bed, rocks and plants. Velocity can be measured using 
very simple equipment. A watch capable of timing in seconds, something to float on the 
water and a tape measure are all that is required to find the velocity of the water surface. 
The velocity of the upper course is 0.55m/s. The velocity of middle to lower course is 
0.62m/s. 
Summary 
The aim of this project was to study the processes of a river this includes its Transportation, 
Erosion, Deposition and long profile. I choose to study Whittaker Clough which is a small 
tributary of River Calder and it is situated in Foot hills of Pennines Range in Burnley, 
Lancashire. I completed the long Profile of the river by using different maps from the 
Internet as it was difficult to measure the long profile without some support. In order to find 
the depth, Deposition and erosion of the river I did the Cross sectional of the upper, middle 
and lower course of the tributary. In order to find the rate of transportation I calculated the 
velocity in the upper course, the middle to lower course I collaborated with a colleague by 
dropping a cork in the water and measuring the time over distance pf 4.4 and 7 metres. 
In conclusion I feel that I was able to achieve my aim given the fact that I had very limited 
time in which to conduct my experiment 
Observation and Evidence 
This Photo shows me collecting data 
for my Cross Sectional Profile and 
the erosion is taking place through 
hydraulic action, corrosion, attrition 
and abrasion
This picture shows me and my 
colleague measuring the depth for 
cross sectional profile it also clearly 
shows the deposition process of the 
river. 
Here we are measuring the rate of 
transportation. 
Here we can see the confluence of 
Whittaker Clough and river Calder. 
In the foreground you can see the 
deposition of the rock. 
This picture shows Whittaker Clough 
as it meanders through the valley
This picture shows the upper course 
of Whittaker Clough. Notice the 
huge rocks that usually can be found 
on the upper course of most rivers.

Rivers

  • 1.
    Rivers Introduction Thearea of geography investigation is about river and happens in rivers like erosion, deposition, transportation E.T.C. We are investigating for answers of these questions  Does a steep section of river have a deeper or shallower profile that ales steep section?  Do steep sections of river have different size particles/stones than less steep sections? The rivers we studied were the Whittaker Clough and Hurst wood beck. Choice of location No the rivers we are studying are not main arterial rivers. An arterial river is pertaining to a main channel (resembling an artery), as a river, canal, or railroad. For example the Ob River in China, the River Ganges in India and the River Rhône in France. As in my investigation Hurst wood beck is a tributary of Hurst wood reservoir totally different from an arterial river because an arterial river has lot of tributaries and Hurst wood beck is a tributary itself. As for Whittaker Clough it is a tributary of River Calder different from an arterial river. The similarities between Hurst wood beck and Whittaker Clough is that they are both small tributaries. Hurst wood beck drains into Hurst wood reservoir. There are photographs included with characteristics of Hurst wood beck and Whittaker clough. There are also maps included. Suitability of location We are only on a location of a little river for our safety we can’t study rivers with big tributaries and it’s not practical to do hundreds of meters because we are on a school trip and where to measure the flow of river was low and safe enough to stand in. Bradshaw model is a theory of how erosion and deposition occurs in rivers. Bradshaw model relate to main long arterial rivers. Main points of the Bradshaw model is at is goes downstream it increases its discharge, occupied channel width channel depth ,velocity
  • 2.
    ,volume of loadand decreases load particle size ,channel bed roughness and gradient. The aspects of Bradshaw model we are investigating in our study are width, veloci ty, depth and gradient. Data collection Primary data is the data we collect and secondary data is what we collect from other resources like internet, maps, books etc. Long profile We have long profiles for our own two rivers. Long profile gives us information to study the gradient. For producing the long profile we use a map to get the height from different points to make a graph. For long profile we use secondary data and we get this information from maps and internet. We can also use primary data to produce a long profile. I have got long profile data from Whittaker Clough and I have added it below. Cross Sectional Profile We have also measured Cross-Sectional Profile. A Cross sectional profile gives us shape of the river bed, channel depth and volume of load. I have got cross sectional profile data for Whittaker Clough and I have added it below. I measured the cross sectional profile by using a tape measure and a scale to measure the depth at different intervals. Health and Safety Hazard Risk How to prevent Harm Big Tributaries Drowning(due to velocity of tributaries you can slip and drown) Don’t go into it and if you go protect yourself. Cold Water Get sick by getting your feet wet. Wear rubber shoes. Slippery rocks Slipping, Injuries and even Drowning Wear Appropriate footwear Analysis In a river or a tributary of a river like Whittaker clough there are three section  Upper Section  Middle Section  Lower Section
  • 3.
    In upper sectionof the river you can find Waterfalls, V-shaped valleys, Gorges and Interlocking Spurs. In middle section you can find Meanders, Oxbow lakes and Levees. In the lower section you can find Deltas and Floodplains. Velocity The velocity of a river is the speed at which water flows along it. The velocity will change along the course of any river, and is determined by factors such as the gradient (how steeply the river is losing height), the volume of water, the shape of the river channel and the amount of friction created by the bed, rocks and plants. Velocity can be measured using very simple equipment. A watch capable of timing in seconds, something to float on the water and a tape measure are all that is required to find the velocity of the water surface. The velocity of the upper course is 0.55m/s. The velocity of middle to lower course is 0.62m/s. Summary The aim of this project was to study the processes of a river this includes its Transportation, Erosion, Deposition and long profile. I choose to study Whittaker Clough which is a small tributary of River Calder and it is situated in Foot hills of Pennines Range in Burnley, Lancashire. I completed the long Profile of the river by using different maps from the Internet as it was difficult to measure the long profile without some support. In order to find the depth, Deposition and erosion of the river I did the Cross sectional of the upper, middle and lower course of the tributary. In order to find the rate of transportation I calculated the velocity in the upper course, the middle to lower course I collaborated with a colleague by dropping a cork in the water and measuring the time over distance pf 4.4 and 7 metres. In conclusion I feel that I was able to achieve my aim given the fact that I had very limited time in which to conduct my experiment Observation and Evidence This Photo shows me collecting data for my Cross Sectional Profile and the erosion is taking place through hydraulic action, corrosion, attrition and abrasion
  • 4.
    This picture showsme and my colleague measuring the depth for cross sectional profile it also clearly shows the deposition process of the river. Here we are measuring the rate of transportation. Here we can see the confluence of Whittaker Clough and river Calder. In the foreground you can see the deposition of the rock. This picture shows Whittaker Clough as it meanders through the valley
  • 5.
    This picture showsthe upper course of Whittaker Clough. Notice the huge rocks that usually can be found on the upper course of most rivers.