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Ballybay River Study.

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Ballybay River Study Introduction Aims and Objectives - The Ballybay River Study has introduced six new fieldwork techniques. These tasks were to measure the width and depth, wetted perimeter, channel bed gradient, current velocity and bed load of each site. The aims of the study are to work together in a group, each introducing their own knowledge, to help understand, and how to complete each tasks and to understand fully how the river channel changes and why it changes. Our aims are to find if the discharge of the Ballybay River increases downstream, if the river's velocity decreases with distance from the source and the channel efficiency increases downstream. Plus to find out if the following hypotheses matches with the theory - * The discharge of the Ballybay River increases downstream * The river's velocity increases with distance from the source * The channel efficiency increases downstream * The size and shapes of the river's load varies downstream I also aim to test four hypotheses using the data collected from the Ballybay River. ...read more.


The first site is closest to the source which is on high land near Gosford Forest Park. The sixth site is near Portadown and leads into the River Bann. Sites 2, 3, 4, 5 are found at various places, on long straight, tight bends or near villages. The tasks require equipment which can be seen in photographs throughout the study. The width and the depth task uses a tape measure and metre ruler. The wetted perimeter uses a chain and tape measure. The channel bed gradient includes survey poles and clinometer. For current velocity, a stream flow meter is used and bed load measures thirty random pebbles on a stone board. Using these techniques, the hypothesis should be carried out correctly. On the field trip, group work was organised. There were five groups A - E. Each group has a different task at each site, which can be found on the Group Work Organisation scheme. The data captured at each site will be recorded on Fieldwork Data Sheet. ...read more.


Record reading on the count metre * Repeat 5 times across river in different parts The Gradient of the River Channel Bed - * Measure a distance of 10 metres along the river * One person holds the surveyor's pole upstream in the middle of the channel, the other holds the pole downstream similarly placed * The clinometre is held at the 1.5 metre mark and a sighting is taken to the 1.5m mark on the upstream pole * The clinometre must be held so that the pointer swings freely and a reading should be records when the pointer stops moving * Record 4 readings at each site The Load Size and Shape - * Randomly collect 30 stones from the river bed * Measure its longest length and record it * Identify its shape (rounded, sub-angular or angular) * Return samples to river The Wetted Perimeter of the River - * Stretch chain across river letting it get into all cracks * Hold chain out and measure (with a measuring tape) the length that was under water * Record result. ...read more.

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