Applying Bradshaws Model to the Barranco Del Rio, Tenerife - Essay Example

ESSAY, GEOGRAPHY APPLYING BRADSHAW’S MODEL OF RIVER CHARACTERISTICS TO THE BARRANCO DEL RIO, TENERIFE: WITH THE FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF LANDSLIDES Name: Course: Tutor: Institution: Date: Abstract This paper delves in Applying Bradshaw’s model of river characteristics to the Barranco Del Rio, Tenerife as well as the focus on the impact of landslides. The paper has been sub divided in different sections to enhance clarity. The introduction section has given an overview of the area of study that has included background of the study, the model used and how it has been applied in the study and hypotheses. River course are the various stages that a river undergoes ranging from youth stage to the old stage of the river. These have been well envisaged in the introductory parts of the paper for the better understanding of what will be discussed and linked with the hypothesis as well as the Bradshadow model (Arthur, 2007, page 391). The methodology used in the study has included the designs, the various equipments used in testing and experimenting as well as measuring, and the instruments. This study is therefore aimed at determining the drinks’ possible effects. It is also important to highlight that this paper has specified coherently the procedures and the results of the study. The study has been summarized with a clear conclusion. It is therefore important to highlight that the report is therefore quite detailed with the facts that were collected and the truths about Tenerife (Christine, 2001, page 281). Introduction It is important to highlight that this paper delves in the discussion of the Application of Bradshaw’s model of river characteristics to the Barranko Del Rio, Tenerife. The paper as well focuses on the impact of landslides. In the paper, there will be various diagrams that illustrate the various stages at the distinctive stages of the river. This is a report of a fieldtrip undertaken to Tenerife where variables of Bradshaw’s Model of River Characteristics were tested on a Barranko (river valley), focusing on the hypotheses that are listed below (Donald, 2008, page 518). Hypothesis Pebble size decreases with gradient Null hypotheses– Pebble size does not decrease with gradient .Valley angle and river gradient decrease with gradient Null hypotheses– there is no relationship between landslides and valley angle Information about Tenerife Tenerife Island has a land of 2034.38Km2, the most densely populate is and in Spain. This as well makes it to be the largest island of the Canary Islands archipelago. It is important to highlight that it is one of the Canary Islands. It is connected using two airports that well developed for the enhancement of the accessibility of the island. These are the Tenerife north airport and the Tenerife south airport. The island was formed due to volcanic eruption and nearly visited by above 10 million tourists every year because of the scenic beauty in the island. The soils I this area are therefore the permeable volcanic type of soils that therefore do not have room for water retention during the rainy season in the island (Bharuch, 2012, page 219) The island is very much unique and conspicuous in the manner in which the flora are segmented in the island. In this context, it is important to highlight that there are six major distinctive categories that are in the island. These include: The Pine Forest, which is found at an area f height 800–2000 m above the sea level. The trees here have thin leaves and they are the canary island type of pine. The Lower xerophytic zone which lies between the altitudes of 0–700 m. Xerophytic plants are well adapted to long dry seasons, strong sunny and windy conditions that are experienced in this area (Richard, 2003, page 321). The thermopile forest segment which is at an altitude of 200–600 m. in this area, there is average temperatures and moderate rainfall, however, the area has been degraded and destroyed by various activities that man involves himself or herself in (John, 2004, page 410. The High mountain type of vegetation: this grows in high latitude and climatic conditions that fall at over 2000 m height above the sea level. It is important to highlight that dry and hot climate, intense and high solar radiation as well as extreme temperatures. The wax myrtle type of vegetation: growing at a height of 1000–1500 m above the sea level. This is a substitute of the degraded laurel vegetation (Richard, 2003, page 51). The Laurel forest: growing at a climatic conditions ranging from 500–1000 m. The area has dense and thick forest of large trees, this zone of segmentation experiences or rather receives high amount of rainfall, fogs and mists. In this zone, it is important to highlight that the trees form canopy shape with the different species of trees and undergrowth (Donald, 2008, page 51). It is noted that the climatic conditions that are experienced in the are different with the variation arising from the various forms of precipitation, sunshine and humidity, rainfall as well as difference in strength and velocity of the wind. It is important to highlight that the island is located at the latitude that is at the same height above sea level as that of Sahara desert. This is the major factor why the climate that is felt in this island is cool and warm in the sense that there are aggregate temperatures of 130C or 180C during the winter season to a temperature of either 240C or 280C during the summer seasons of the year. This is 28° and 29° N and the 16° and 17° meridian. That is north of the Tropic of Cancer (Bharuch, 2012, page 71). It can be noted that there are high levels of diversity in the island with various forms of flora and fauna that mutually benefit from each other in the ecosystem. From these six zone of vegetation, it is important to reiterate the fact that there are over one thousand (1400) different species of plants. There are also 479 species of animals as well as over thousand species of dolphins, whale as well as turtles (Arthur, 2007, page 231). The island has a rugged terrain that was as a result of the four successive volcanic eruptions that engulfed the area. Tenerife is ranked the tenth highest island in the world and this is because of its base that is below the sea level which as well makes it to be the third largest volcano. The uneven landscape has led to the formation of the various forms of scenic geographical features like the valleys, hilly areas as well as the plains especially from the eroded lands (Donald, 2008, page 108). Background of Bradshadow model Bradshadow model is a tool that is used in the description of the various elements and features that are realized at the different stages during the profile of the river. These are the upper and lower courses of the river. The upper course of the river is the youthful stage of the river and at this point, it is important to highlight that the river flow at this stage is fast due to the steep gradient of the river while at the lower course, the river flow is slow due to the reduced gradient of the river. The model is quite detailed as it shows how the river regime or amount of water at the river channel at a particular time, the depth of the river valley, the aggregate speed at which the water flows, and the quantity of load that a river carries and deposits increases down the stream (Arthur, 2007, page 102). The model is quite clear on the elements of the river that reduces down the stream. In this context therefore, the model has given it that the amount and size of the loads that the river carries reduces due to the reduced speed or velocity of the river. This is due to the reduced gradient of the river as well that is brought about by the high river erosion at the upper course of the river and more deposition down the stream. The while explanation of the Bradshadow model is well illustrated using the chart shown below. The upward arrow shows the characteristics of the river that increases down the stream while the arrow pointing down shows how certain elements decrease down the stream (Donald, 2008, page 528). A B A (downstream) B (upstream) Load particle size Water discharge The roughness of the bed of the river channel Occupied river channel The gradient at which the river channel slopes Depth of the river Channel Friction and Turbulence Velocity at which the river water flows The quantity of the load that the river carries Hydraulic radius According to the model therefore, the following characteristics are therefore varying with distance: Velocity Velocity can be defined as the relative speed at which the water flows in the river. This is the major key factor in the load that a river transports from the upper course to the lower course. It is important to highlight that the velocity of a river is affected by the slope of the river, the how smooth the river bed is? Efficiency of the river banks as well affects the flowing speed of the water in the sense that bushy banks will lower the speed by holding some waters. Efficiency as well depends on how a river meanders and this is basically the shape of the river. And finally with high rates of river action especially erosion, there will be subsequently high rates of deposition and so the reduction in the velocity of the river waters (Arthur, 2007, page 191). River discharge This can be envisaged as the frequency of letting in and out the waters. It is important to highlight that the amount of water that is transferred increases down the stream. This is so because the main river is adjoined as the river goes down the lower course by the various tributaries that pour their water into the main river. This increase in the volume of water therefore leads to river rejuvenation and so the river velocity (Donald, 2008, page 58). Channel shape and frequency This gives the hydraulic pressure that stimulates the velocity of the water flowing in the river channel. It is important tp highlight that how a river channel looks and is developed or formed has a very big effect on the water retention. This is usually so frequent in the areas where the river energy is reduced and virtually lost. The river channel is usually at the upper course and then widens as it goes down stream. In this case, the floor of the river is rough and course thereby increase the incidence of making the floor of the river wet. With this, it can be used to explain the reason behind reduced velocity in the youthful stages of the river in as much as the gradient is steep. The lower course however experiences the reverse scenario of the situation since the floor of the river has very fine load that have been transported through attrition process. This is well illustrated as shown in the diagram below (Donald, 2008, page 118). Cross-sectional area of the river channel (CSA) = depth of the river channel x width of the river channel METHODOLOGY It is important to highlight this study will use different types of methodology to get the results. The following methodology will be used during this study. Research approach Deductive Approach In deductive approach, it is important to note that it enables the researcher to critically analyze the facts and the test hypotheses from the more general level to more the specific level. This approach is normally known as top-down approach. What top-down approach means is that the researcher start to think a topic that the researcher is interested in, the researcher then narrow the topic down into more specific hypotheses that the researcher is able to test. This research will therefore apply largely the use of deductive approach in carrying out research (Arthur, 2007, page 311). Inductive Approach Inductive approach to reasoning enables the researcher to analyses from the specific observation to wider theories and generalizations. This approach is known as bottom-up approach. This means that inductive approach majorly uses evidences that have arisen during the research to explain the results and the hypotheses (Richard, 2003, page 201). Research design It is important to highlight this research design is sorted into four sections and segments for the effective presentation. These sections are exploratory research, explanatory research, experimental research and finally descriptive research. These research designs are described below (Richard, 2003, page 281). Exploratory Research Exploratory research enables the researcher to determine the best research design, selection of subjects and data collection method for a problem that has defined clearly. Furthermore, exploratory research is based on secondary resources such as looking at available literature and data and such as qualitative research interviews with customers, companies, individuals, competitors, focus groups, case studies and so on so forth. Exploratory research aims at gaining an insight for new phenomenon or obtains a familiarity to be able to formulate hypotheses (Paddy, D. (2012). Descriptive Research Many researchers strive to identify and to figure out the terms of these kinds of researches. Descriptive research is also known as statistical research and describes characteristics and data in regards to phenomenon or population that the researcher has studied. In this regard, even though the description of data is accurate, real and systematic, it is almost impossible that the researcher is able to find out what has caused the situation. Hence, it is not proper to use descriptive research in creating causal relationship, where one variable influence another (John, 2004, page 619). Experimental research Owing to the nature of the exercise, it is very much important to highlight that there were various tools that were carried by the researchers. This enabled them to carry out various experiments such as the determination of the depth of the river channel, measuring the width of the river valley as well measuring the sizes of the various soil particles in the area (Bharuch, 2012, page 719) Results and findings Effects of landslides Landslides affect the gradient of the river valley. Landslides lead to death and destruction of property. Leads to the interruption of the various transport routes. Biodiversity are affected in terms of their habitat. Hyrdaulic radius Cross-sectional area of the river channel (CSA) = depth of the river channel x width of the river channel Hydraulic radius = cross sectional area ÷ wetted perimeter Site Hydraulic radius of the river Site 1 8.2122m Site 2 12.9292m Site 3 11.1917m Site 4- Special site 1 21.2155m Site 5 28.8873m Site 6- special site 2 16.6467m Site 7- special site 3 17.1094m Site 8 8.4787m Site 9- special site 4 14.4413m Site 10 18.6215m Discussion/analysis Landslides affect the gradient of the river valley. In the event that there is a landslide, what is so obvious is that the land will tilt either upwards and the other will tilt downwards. It is important to highlight that the slope of the river will become gentle at some point and steep. This is due to the breakdown of the river valley and floor of the river bed. This will consequently lead to the increase in the velocity of the speed at which the water flows (Adrian, 2004, page 418). Leads to the interruption of the various transport routes. Landslides are very much adverse especially to the transport networks that are connected via rivers. In this context, the navigable rivers that are used for the transportation reasons therefore are affected and the transport no longer occurs. This is fo example rthe case of avalanche and the rock debris (Habersack, Piegay, and Rinaldi, 2011, page 391). Biodiversity are affected in terms of their habitat that is various flora and fauna are disturbed and displaced at the various places where they live (John, 2009, page 710). Landslides lead to death and destruction of property-it is important to highlight that in case of occurrence, there would be mass loss of lives including those who have gone for the various research studies (Klement T., and Christopher T., (2009, page). Conclusion In conclusion, it can be noted that there are high amount of deposition at the lower course of the river than the upper course of the river. References Adrian, M. (2004), Stories from the landscape: archaeologies of inhabation, Volume 1238 of BAR international series, Volume 1238 of British Archaeological Reports British Series Bar S Series Volume 1238 of BAR / International series, Archaeopres, page 234. Arthur, N. (2007), Cave Geology, Cave Books, page 43. Bharuch, E. (2012) Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses, Universities Press, pp. 78 Christian, W. (2001). Tenerifa and la Gomera, Rough Guides. Donald, V., (2008)., Tourism, Globalisation and Cultural Change, Channel View Publications. Habersack, H., Piegay, H. and Rinaldi M. (2011)., Gravel Bed Rivers 6: From Process Understanding to River Restoration Volume 11 of Developments in Earth Surface Processes, Elsevier publishers, United Kingdom. John, G. (2004), Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science, UK, Taylor & Francis. John, S., (2009),. Rivers and Floodplains: Forms, Processes, and Sedimentary Record, John Wiley & Sons. Klement T., and Christopher T., (2009)., Rivers of Europe, Academic Press, Boston. Paddy, D. (2012). Walking on Tenerife, Cicerone Press Limited, London. Richard, J. (2003), Fundamentals of Geomorphology, Routledge fundamentals of physical geography series Psychology Press. Read More