Case study 1 A UK river basin

The river Wye- WALESCQ: How do I answer case study questions about The River Wye?

Skills for Life: You

Case study 1- A UK river basin

Exam question – Causes, effects & responses/management

Case study – The river Wye

You need to know:

• Name & Locate the river Wye

• Geomorphic processes shaping the river

• Landforms and features of The River Wye

• Human activity and management

• Geomorphic (nature) processes and management

4-12 marker + 3 SPAG

THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO KNOW FOR THE EXAM

Location • The River Wye is the 5th

longest river in the UK.

• 150 miles long.

• It runs through central Wales.

• The highest point is in Plinlymon (source).

• The river ends in the Severn Estuary (mouth).

• Flows through SSSI, SAC and AONB.

Learn off by heart “The River Wye is one of the UK’s main rivers. It is 150 miles long. It flows through central Wales.”

Geomorphic processes affecting The River Wye

➢Weathering ➢Mass movement ➢Erosion➢Transport➢Deposition

Draw a diagram for each of the geomorphic processes that affect the River Wye.Make sure these are annotated so you know what they are.

Processes: Weathering

1. Physical or freeze-thaw

Definition of weathering: The breaking down of rocks (in situ).

E.g. The material stays there.

4. Biological3. Chemical

Types of Weathering

Processes: Mass movement- River cliffs/valleys

The amount of damage depends on:•The size and power of the waves attacking the coastline•Type & structure of a rock- (weak clays will collapse quicker than more solid Granite)•Climate of the area – (warm humid climates increase chemical weathering)

Cliffs collapse for a number of reasons,•Type and speed of weathering (front/top of the cliff)•Type and speed of erosion (at the cliff bottom/base)

Cliffs can collapse in a number of different movements called MASS MOVEMENTS

Different types of mass movement

Processes: Erosion

Erosion means the wearing away of rocks and moving them.

E.g. river waves.

Processes: Transportation

Transportation is the movement of eroded material

Processes: Deposition

Deposition means the putting down of material

Landforms and features of The River Wye- Long profile

Upper course

Middle course

Lower course

V-shaped valley- thin channel

U-shaped valley-wider river channel

U-shaped valley- river channel deep & wide

The Upper Course features and landforms

The River Wye includes the following landforms:

• Waterfalls

• V Shaped Valleys

• Gorges

These are created by erosion processes

The Middle Course features and landforms

• The River Wye includes Meanders and Ox-bow lakes through the middle course of the river.

• Once again, erosion is the main process that causes these to be there!

The Lower Course features and landforms

The lower course of The River Wye flows into the Bristol Estuary.

This is a large, wide and flat landscape.

Salmon fishing is popular in the lower course.

Managing The River Wye

➢ All rivers need to be managed to mitigate (reduce) the risk of flooding.

➢ The Environment Agency looks at the whole area to identify areas at risk.

➢ From this they make a plan called a river management plan.

➢ This looks at the type of river defences (hard and soft engineering.

➢ THIS IS ABOUT RIVERS NOT COASTS!

The Wye Valley is affected by a range of processes, both human and

physical.

Land use zonation

Embankments

River management / engineering

Dams & reservoirs

Raise embankments

Straighten channels

Preparation

Warn peopleAfforestation

Soft

River managementFlood defences can be divided into two sections:

• Hard engineering• Soft engineering

Dredge river beds

Hard

• Expensive• Ugly• Artificial• Slow to build • Cheaper

• Looks natural

Human activity and management

• There are many types of human activity that have happened in the river Wye basin.

• There is a need to manage the area.

Human activity: Urbanisation

• Over 200,000 people live in The Wye and Usk Valley.

• Many large towns surround the river.

• Impermeable surfaces (tarmac) increases the flood risk → Drains quickly into the channel → so need for management.

• Hard engineering needed to protect towns

• Zoning of floodplains

• Construction not permitted in certain locations

Human activity: Agriculture (farming)

• Farms use the river as a water source

• High levels of biodiversity use the area

• Management is needed so biodiversity is protected especially from chemicals used on farms that may go into the river

Human activity: Industry

• Limestone quarrying has changed the shape and the gradient (height) of the land.

• Deforestation of local forests for shipbuilding and the coal industry in the past has changed the landscape.

• Mass tourism for festivals has an impact on the environment.

Geomorphic processes & management

• Flood zones are used to allow for natural drainage of flood water.

• Letton Lakes take in excess floodwater downstream.

• Lots of vegetation has been planted for increased infiltration to lower the risk of

flooding.

• River banks have been stabilised to mitigate the risk of erosion.

Are humans or geomorphic processes worse for the river basin?

• Explain your answer.

Human GeomorphicPlanting vegetation Hydraulic action

Raising embankments Floods easily

Building flood defences Local lakes take in flood water

Flood zoning

River cliff stablisatoin

Question 1 CASE STUDY – a UK river basin

Name your chosen river basin in the UK: ..............................................‘Human activities have a greater impact on the landscape in your chosen river basin than geomorphic processes.’ To what extent do you agree?

[12 Marks]

Spelling, punctuation and grammar and the use of specialist terminology [3 Marks] SPAG

How to answer the question…The river I have studied is The River Wye. The River Wye is one of the UK’s main rivers. It is 150 miles long. It flows through central Wales. (1- NAME AND LOCATE)

I agree that humans have a greater impact on the river basin than geomorphic processes. (2- Say “I agree” or “disagree” next- reword question)

Humans have worked to stablise the sides of the valley to mitigate the risk of erosion. This allows for the river to act as an area for tourists to enjoy whilst protecting the geology from collapse. Humans have also planted lots of vegetation surrounding the river channel. This has meant that more infiltration can take place when prolonged precipitation causes flooding. Surface water is then infiltrated by the new trees, reducing surface water.(3- Say why human impacts are greater and the types of activity in the different courses)

Geomorphic processes do shape the river, through creating waterfalls in the upper course of the river and meanders in the middle course. Erosion processes such as hydraulic action form these landforms, alongside the energy from the river. (4- What are the geomorphic processes in each course of the river?)

I believe that geomorphic processes have the biggest impact on river basins as they occur the whole length of the river whereas human activity such as flood defencesonly work on small sections of the river such as the lower course. (5-Summary is something like this- adapt to the Wye)