Summary Geography NEA Coursework (95% achieved) A Level
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Course
Unit 4A GEO4A - Geography Fieldwork Investigation
Institution
AQA
This coursework completed by myself took me over 2 months and is over 12000 words. This achieved 57/60 and was the highest mark at my school. My coursework was an investigation on infiltration rates and is easy top follow with although i do recommend your own coursework is your own as you risk plag...
How Is Infiltration Rate Affected by the Physical
Factors in Hampstead Heath?
An Investigation by Yuvraj Desai
1
,Yuvraj Desai
Table of Contents:
Executive Summary:................................................................................................................................ 2
List of Figures: ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Methods of Field Investigation: ............................................................................................................ 16
Data Analysis: ........................................................................................................................................ 27
Vegetation Cover: Hypothesis 1........................................................................................................ 27
Soil Compactness: Hypothesis 2 ....................................................................................................... 33
Gradient Assessment: Hypothesis 3 ................................................................................................. 37
Conclusion: ............................................................................................................................................ 41
Summative Conclusion:......................................................................................................................... 42
Evaluation: ............................................................................................................................................ 43
Hypothesis 1:..................................................................................................................................... 43
Hypothesis 2:..................................................................................................................................... 44
Hypothesis 3:..................................................................................................................................... 45
Bibliography: ......................................................................................................................................... 47
Appendix: Blank Tables Used to Collect Raw Data ............................................................................... 49
Executive Summary:
Infiltration is the process in which water moves into the ground from running along the surface
which plays a key role in the water and carbon cycle alongside the growth and development of
plants. Infiltration is being increasingly discussed and evaluated due to increased amounts of
flooding due to global warming. The process of infiltration is being increasingly evaluated and can
relate to geographic topics such as the water budget and flooding mitigation strategies. In this
investigation I hope to depict the 3 main physical factors that affect infiltration and evaluate trends
as these physical factors increase or decrease.
2
,Yuvraj Desai
List of Figures:
Figure 1: Spatial National Map Amplifying Location of Hampstead Heath
Figure 2: Satellite Map Showing Areas of Data Collection
Figure 3: Infiltration Tube (aerial)
Figure 4: Infiltration Tube (side)
Figure 5: Tape Measure 10m
Figure 6: Clinometer
Figure 7: Iron Nails (10cm)
Figure 8: Dropping Rock
Figure 9: Set of 5 Ranging Poles
Figure 10: 50cm by 50cm Quadrat (25 square)
Figure 11: BBC Weather Forecast Displaying Antecedent Conditions Prior to Data Collection and
Conditions on the 27th of October.
Figure 12: Primary Qualitative Data Taken as Photos of Infiltration Tube Set Up
Figure 13: Close Up of Hypothesis 1 Data Collection Sites
Figure 14: Close Up of Hypothesis 2 Data Collection Sites
Figure 15: Close Up of Hypothesis 3 Data Collection Sites
Figure 16: Table of Raw Data for Vegetation Cover and Infiltration Rate
Figure 17: ARC GIS Spatial Map of Vegetation Cover Percentages
Figure 18: ARC GIS Spatial Map of Infiltration Rate with Respect to Vegetation Cover
Figure 19: Excel Data Scatter Graph and Line Graph
Figure 20: Vegetation Cover Values for Spearman’s Rank
Figure 21: Critical Values for Varied Levels of Significance up to n= 30
Figure 22: Raw Data Table for Soil Compactness Hypothesis 2
Figure 23: ARC GIS Spatial Map of Penetration of Soil in cm
Figure 24: ARC GIS Spatial Map of Infiltration Rate with Respect to Soil Compactness
Figure 25: Excel Scatter Graph and Line Graph
Figure 26: Spearman’s Rank Values for Soil Compactness
Figure 27: Raw Data Table for Gradient and Infiltration Rate
Figure 28: ARC GIS Spatial Map of Angle of Slope in Degrees
Figure 29: ARC GIS Spatial Map of Infiltration Rate with Respect to Slope Angle
3
, Yuvraj Desai
Figure 30: Excel Scatter Graph and Line Graph
Figure 31: Spearman’s Rank Values for Gradient
Introduction:
Title: How Is infiltration rate affected by the physical factors in Hampstead heath?
Research Aims:
• To understand how vegetation cover influences infiltration rate
• To examine the change in infiltration rate as soil compactness increases
• To examine the effect on infiltration rate with a change in gradient
Titles link to the Specification:
My title links to the specification 3.1.1.2 Water cycle as this this the part of the AQA geography
textbook that introduces infiltration and factors that affect it. It does this by referencing inputs and
outputs within a given drainage basin such as the Amazon and describes how infiltration changes
with vegetation, soil hardness and gradient.
Hypothesis:
1: In areas with higher vegetation cover infiltration rate will be greater.
This would be due to the increased stemflow and root pathways down to the soil which aids to
waters infiltration into the soil. Furthermore, the interception of water causes less runoff as the
precipitation is given more time to infiltrate rather than run off.
2: In areas of greater soil compactness infiltration rate will be less.
Areas of greater soil compactness have less significant soil porosity which reduces air space in the
soil granules. This results in less water pathways within the soil that water can flow through which
reduces infiltration rate and causes more surface runoff.
3: On steeper gradients there will a lower infiltration rate in comparison to more flatter gradients.
Areas of increased gradient will have a large gravitational effect on precipitation as rather than
infiltrating into the soil it will runoff due to the gravitational potential of the water on a slope. This
will decrease infiltration rate and increase surface runoff.
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