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Drainage basins: hydrology and selected landforms

     

"The drainage basin operates as a system with inputs, flows, stores and outputs. Water and sediment move through the system. The characteristics of the system depend upon a range of physical and human factors." WJEC specification generalisation

The North East of England

 

  Techniques

 

Flood events

Scotland (for River Tay)

 

Water resources

The Colorado

 

Bangladesh 2004

Mississippi 1993

World rivers (eg Nile)

 

River features

   

Virtual River by Geology Labs online (US) includes interactive exercises on river processes (river discharge, river flooding, glossary). Some of the interactive animations are really very good and this is the place to go to sort out the difference between velocity and discharge! http://vcourseware3.calstatela.edu/VirtualRiver

The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body established by the Environment Act 1995 (England & Wales only). Responsible for issuing flood warnings. Took over the functions of the National Rivers Authority and pollution inspection. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

It is usually best to connect to subsections from the homepage for this site. From here you can connect to regional information. The flooding page is at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/826674/ See also: Am I at risk of flooding? What we mean by the likelihood or probability of flooding.
One of the best features of this site is the floodplain map (updated version Oct 2004). Type in the postcode of the area to get a map. You can get more information about the map here. The new version takes flood defences into account, but is still only a general guide for an area.
For other local environmental information you can still use My Backyard [last found at http://216.31.193.171/asp/introduction.asp ].  
Flood modelling - the LIDAR airborne mapping technique is used to produce maps for assessing flood risk. Light Detection and Ranging uses a laser to measure the distance between the aircraft and the ground. This results in a cost-effective terrain map suitable for assessing flood risk. An archive of LIDAR data files is available and is searchable using the downloadable database. The best way to find LIDAR is to go to the search page and put in the word "LIDAR".
For Wales, including LEAPS Local Environment Agency Plans http://www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk  
For Scotland - SEPA. Interactive flood map http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/mapping/  

DEFRA is a government department which deals with aspects of flooding and flood defence strategies. http://www.defra.gov.uk/

National River Flow Archive Essential for those choosing a river or stream study for their field project. The archive is collated by hydrologists at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the UK's centre of excellence for research in the terrestrial and freshwater environmental sciences (formerly Institute of Hydrology). The archive is likely to be restructured in 2005. http://www.ceh.ac.uk

Links to National Water Archive http://www.ceh.ac.uk/data/NWA.htm
National river flow archive http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/index.htm
UK gauging station network http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/gauging_station_network/index.htm For regional maps showing locations - includes Scotland and N Ireland http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/station_summaries/map.html
Catchment spatial information
Catchment spatial information guide http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/spatialinfo/Index/overviewCatchmentSpatialInfo.html
Index of stations http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/spatialinfo/Index/indexCatchmentSpatialInfo.html

BHS Chronology of British Hydrological Events (British Hydrochronology) web site. Ambitious project from Dundee University to create a public repository for hydrological facts of the type that come from texts rather than tables. Searchable by river basin. "Every hydrological circumstance from flood to drought, from instantaneous to prolonged, from rain reaching the ground to the return of runoff to the sea is to be covered." http://www.dundee.ac.uk/geography/cbhe

About Rivers and Dams The International Rivers Network is a group campaigning against very large dam schemes. The site provides details of dams, river planning strategies and the environmental impacts of dam schemes. http://www.irn.org/basics/ard/index.html

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River features

The River Book Support pages for a school textbook from Atlantic Europe publishing. Has a number of links to topics such as braided rivers, deltas, flood control, gorge and meander. Really a GCSE or KS 3 site, but some nice photographs of classic features. Choose UK site, then choose 'river' from the left-hand menu. http://www.curriculumvisions.com

All along a river From the Thinkquest team. Interactive diagrams, definitions and case studies (eg Rhine). http://library.thinkquest.org/28022/

Stream processes Notes with diagrams http://myweb.cwpost.liu.edu/vdivener/notes/streams_geomorph.htm

River landforms Basic notes and diagrams from Geography High, with some revision exercises. http://www.geographyhigh.connectfree.co.uk/s3riversgeoghighlandforms.html More notes on rivers at http://www.geographyhigh.connectfree.co.uk/s3riversgeoghigh.html

Fluvial landforms Lecture notes with diagrams http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/lemke/geomorphology/lecture_outlines/07_fluvial_landforms.html See also Stream Sediment Channel Patterns Stream Flow

Glossary of features produced by running water http://www.zephryus.demon.co.uk/geography/resources/revision/river.html

Animated river processes http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupRenderCustomPage.asp?GroupID=12426&ResourceId=60796

Meanders simplified. http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/landforms/meanders.asp Meander pic http://uregina.ca/~sauchyn/geog323/115.jpg

Stream morphology http://www.cayuganet.org/owla/riparian/fluvial15.html

Braided stream pic http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/permafrosttunnel/Braided_Stream.jpg

Notes on stream erosion and sediment transport http://uregina.ca/~sauchyn/geog323/fluvial.html Hjulstorm curve diagram http://uregina.ca/~sauchyn/geog323/hjulstrom.gif River terraces pic http://uregina.ca/~sauchyn/geog323/221.jpg Alluvial fan pic http://uregina.ca/~sauchyn/geog323/126.jpg

Waterfalls Basic diagram and links to major examples. (Beware of 'hard' and 'soft' rock! Better to say 'more' or 'less' resistant to erosion.) http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/subjects/geography/rivers/River%20Articles/waterfalls.htm

Deltas Basic information http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/subjects/geography/rivers/River%20Articles/delta.htm The formation - basics http://www.bookrags.com/sciences/earthscience/delta-woes-01.html University notes http://myweb.cwpost.liu.edu/vdivener/notes/deltas_fans.htm

Fluvial landforms on topographic maps. http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/slaymaker/Archives/Geol10L/landforms.htm If you have trouble finding this, go to the California State University, Sacramento, homepage and enter 'landforms' in the search box. http://www.csus.edu

For other landform sources see landforms page.

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Case studies (including floods)

Three rivers case study River Severn, Rea Brook and the River Tay http://users.aber.ac.uk/mjt01/introd.htm

Flood disasters 1995 paper looking at how different sectors of society are affected by flood emergencies, including 1993 Tay event (Muirton estate, Perth), 1994 Strathclyde (Paisley) and 1990 N Wales (Towyn). http://web.apu.ac.uk/geography/dsp/dividing-the-community.doc

The River Medway featured in news bulletins during the autumn 2000 floods. Some background information can be found at this site. http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~srmulti/medway/index.html Leigh Barrier Eight page pdf document from the Environment Agency on Medway flood defence scheme. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/105385/126554

Flood risk The Environment Agency, responsible for flood warnings, believes planners are ignoring flood risks. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2207924.stm Global warming floods threaten 4m in UK http://society.guardian.co.uk/environment/story/0,14124,1200312,00.html Could new homes be unsaleable? http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1272039,00.html

Flash flooding A page explaining the nature of a flash flood with links for the Boscastle event (August 2004). Good diagram. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3572360.stm

Managing land and water http://www.headwaterstreams.com/ River basin management (R Colne) http://www.headwaterstreams.com/river%20restoration.html Effects of deforestation http://www.headwaterstreams.com/hydrology.html

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The North East

Keilder Water, Northumberland, is Europe's largest artificial lake. It is set within Keilder Forest in the Border country on the River North Tyne. http://www.kielder.org

Dundee's British Hydrochronology web site has descriptions of historic floods on the Tyne. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/geography/cbhe

Catchments index eg South Tyne, Featherstone (upland, forested, natural): rainfall summary landuse

The River Tees Featured in Channel 4 Landforms series. http://www.channel4.com/learning
Programme notes. http://web.channel4.com/learning/main/netnotes//seriesid17.htm

Photos of River Tees and others (Aire, Derwent, Wharfe). Free photo library. http://www.eriding.net/media/Rivers.shtml

The River Tees From Source To Sea Geotagged photos from photo sharing site flickr. http://www.flickr.com/groups/thetees/pool/map

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Scotland (for River Tay)

Flooding issues in Scotland Who does what http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/planning/pan69-15.asp

Climate change research summary by Dundee University researchers http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/planning/pan69-15.asp#b

For river flow data for Scottish rivers, the procedure is the same as for England and Wales. For regional maps showing guaging station locations http://www.nwl.ac.uk/ih/nrfa/station_summaries/map.html Catchments index for Tay stations, eg Ballathie rainfall summary landuse. See also archived data and river flow indicators.

SEPA, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, answers to the Scottish Executive. It was established under the Environment Act 1995 and became fully operational from April 1996. SEPA regulates potential pollution of natural waters and the air and the storage, transportation and disposal of controlled waste and the keeping of radioactive materials. Flood warnings for Scottish rivers. http://www.sepa.org.uk/

SEPA flood map http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/mapping/ Type in Perth, Aberfeldy or Coupar Angus to explore the potential flood impact on these towns in the Tay catchment. http://www.multimap.com/clients/places.cgi?client=sepa

Dundee's British Hydrochronology web site has good information about historic floods on the Tay. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/geography/cbhe

Brief description of the Tay http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/R/Ri/River_Tay.htm or try Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Tay

Three rivers case study River Severn, Rea Brook and the River Tay http://users.aber.ac.uk/mjt01/introd.htm

Flood disasters 1995 paper looking at how different sectors of society are affected by flood emergencies, including 1993 Tay event (Muirton estate, Perth), 1994 Strathclyde (Paisley) and 1990 N Wales (Towyn). http://web.apu.ac.uk/geography/dsp/dividing-the-community.doc

My mum wasn't pleased A personal account of the 1993 flood event. http://www.lawrieweb.com/mum/mum12.html

Flood prevention in an historic environment Planning advice case study of the Tay at Perth for the Scottish Executive with photos. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/planning/pan69-11.asp

Jan 2005 Tay/Earn basin flooding Unlike Carlisle, Perth avoided major flooding. However, a repeat of 1993 came close. Flood warnings http://www.sepa.org.uk/news/releases/view.asp?id=162&y=2005 BBC News story with climate change comment - we can expect more of this. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4160489.stm Courier news stories (local regional daily paper). Flood prevention scheme in action, 11th Jan. http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/ 2005/01/11/newsstory6705841t0.asp 10th Jan 05 http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2005/01/10/newsstory6702402t0.asp 9th Jan 05 http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2005/01/09/newsstory6698440t0.asp Perth District Council flood leaflet (slow download) http://www.pkc.gov.uk/aboutpk/floodleaflet.pdf

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World rivers

 

Colorado river A case study selection on the Water Resources page.

Water resources of the US A USGS site - links to streamflow data. http://water.usgs.gov

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Techniques: All from the Geography Site by David Robinson
Measuring River Cross-sections
How to produce a cross-section of a river channel.
Measuring River Velocity
How to measure river velocity.
Measuring River Discharge
How to calculate river discharge.

River fieldwork Detailed page from Bridgewater High http://www.bridgewaterhigh.com/Geography/Yr11/River_coursework/River_coursework.html

Living storm hydrograph http://www.geographyalltheway.com/dept/quizzes/livinggraphs/storm_hydrograph.html

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