River studyRiver study

IntroductionIntroduction

• Rivers usually follow three stages: the upper, middle and lower courses.

• Each stage has its typical features.• The upper course usually is steeper, with fast-

flowing water and features of erosion.• This assignment aims to see if the upper course of

the Boghall Burn follows this pattern.

Location Location

• The river I have The river I have chosen to study is chosen to study is the Boghall Burn.the Boghall Burn.

• It is located in the It is located in the Pentland Hills Pentland Hills between between Caerketton Hill and Caerketton Hill and Woodhouselee Hill.Woodhouselee Hill.

• The river I have The river I have chosen to study is chosen to study is the Boghall Burn.the Boghall Burn.

• It is located in the It is located in the Pentland Hills Pentland Hills between between Caerketton Hill and Caerketton Hill and Woodhouselee Hill.Woodhouselee Hill.

River studyRiver study

Does the Boghall Burn follow the typical pattern of a river in its upper course?

Point 1Point 1

Point 4Point 4

Point 3Point 3

Point 2Point 2

Sample pointsSample points• I selected four points

along the burn which were easy to get to.

• I took measurements at each of these points.

1. Measuring the river

(a) Width – used a tape measure

(b) Depth – used a metre stick

Sources of information

1. Measuring the river

(c) Speed – used a flow meter

(d) Gradient – used a clinometer

1. Measuring the river

(e) Size of stones – used a dial caliper

2. Fieldsketching and photographs

FindingsPoint 1 Point 2 Point 3 Point 4

Gradient 5° 10° 10° 15°

Width 2 m 1.1 m 2.2 m 0.5 m

Depth

LB/M/RB

6/10/12 cm 5/11/4 cm 20/25/20 cm 6/10/7 cm

Speed

LB/M/RB

0.14/0.35/

0.2 m/s

0.15/0.9/

0.4 m/s

0.08/0.2/

0.02 m/s

0.3/0.6/

0.35 m/s

Size of stones

11 × 7 cm 6 × 4 cm 15 × 10 cm 18 × 9 cm

(LB = left bank, M = middle, RB = right bank)

Point 2

Faster flow at a small rapid.

Point 3

Slower flow at a small pool.

• Most of the rocks were smooth and rounded by the water.

• Larger rocks were found further upstream.

• Most of the rocks were smooth and rounded by the water.

• Larger rocks were found further upstream.

• The gradient increased further upstream.• The middle of the river tended to be deeper and

have the faster flowing water.• The depth and speed did not follow a pattern

downstream.• Point 2 had the fastest flow of water at a small

rapid.• Point 3 was a deeper pool on a flatter ledge

where the water was much slower.• Rocks varied in size – smaller rocks were found

near the rapid.

Speed of the river

This graph shows that the middle of the river has the fastest flow but there is no link between speed and distance upstream.

Even in a small section of this river differences can be seen in the speed and width.

Point 2Point 1

Conclusion

The Boghall Burn shows many characteristics of a river in its upper course:

•narrow

•follows a fairly straight course

•no real meanders

•some rapids

•large boulders.

These characteristics do not necessarily follow a regular pattern downstream as different rock types affect the course of the river.