1. 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

2. ,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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.