Hydrosphere

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Hydrosphere

• Map work

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1st things 1st

• Nab on the 15th!!!

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How to answer map questions

• READ THE QUESTION
• Does it want physical/human characteristics
• Just the river or the valley as well
• What course is it in, what direction does it flow
• Remember grid references/map evidence (names)
• at intermediate 2 or 3 is enough for higher you
  need lots if in doubt more is better!!!!

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For physical features

• Does it flow fast or slow (how steep is it)
• what features can you see Meanders, ox-bow
  lakes, waterfalls etc
• Is it wide/narrow are there any parts that are
  wider/narrower than others
• Does it change direction (only mention if its
  quite a drastic difference)

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Human features

• Is there evidence of straightening/widening (look
  for lines that could be drawn with a ruler)
• Are there any weirs/canals
• Is there any sign of industry (works or large
  buildings that could be factories
• Is there any evidence of flood defence (roads
  built up for example)
• Has the valley floor been used for
  farming/settlement etc

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The valley

• Is it V shaped or U shaped/does it have a
  wide valley floor or is it fairly narrow
• What direction do the valley sides slope to
• Is the valley steep or gentle
• Higher use your scale and contours to say exactly
  how steep it climbs in a given distance
  (intermediate this isnt a bad idea for you
  either)

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Intermediate

• (ii) For full marks reference must be made to the
  river and its valley. (max one mark for grid
  reference). The river flows very slowly (1) in a
  south east to easterly direction (1). The river
  is meandering (1) and divides in several places
  (1) eg at 808892 (1). There is evidence of
  ox-bow lake formation (1) in square 8387 (1).
  The river flows in a flat flood plain (1) over
  1km wide in places (1). The valley sides are
  gentle and low (1). 4 marks

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• (a) For full marks both river features and valley
  must be mentioned. Wide river (1), flowing
  through U-shape valley (1) in a North/North
  Easterly direction (1), flat floor and steep
  sides at first (1), meanders slightly (1),
  tributary joins at 624 662 (1), river meanders
  more as it flows North (1), island in river at
  606 691 (1). Artificially straightened in 6166.
  Valley sides become lower and more gentle to the
  North (1). Or any relevant point. 4 marks

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Higher 2007 (paper1)

• Question 2 (a) Descriptions may include the
  following points meanders, ox-bow lakes,
  tributaries, cut offs, small pools broad flat
  floodplain, alluvium, gently sloping valley sides
  height of land and easterly flow of river could
  also be credited braiding islands or eyots
  (806533) river terraces. Up to 1 mark for
  specific map evidence ie grid references or
  names. (Maximum 1 mark for repeated references to
  same feature (eg Meander/ tributaries/confluences/
  direction of flow etc) 5 marks (b) For
  the selected feature the explanation should
  include 4 well developed points, all of which
  could be included in a well annotated diagram.
  For example for a meander development of pools
  and riffles (differences in speed and depth)
  erosion on the outside (concave bank) of bends
  due to faster flow helicoidal flow removes
  material deposition on the inside (convex bank)
  of bends due to slower flow and formation of
  point bars migration of meanders downstream.
  Answers without diagrams should be marked out of
  3. (max 2 for erosion processes eg
  hydraulic/abrasion etc) 4 marks

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Higher 2007 paper 2

• description should include reference to general
  patterns/numbers of rivers, and should refer to
  the directions of flow explanation should refer
  to the fact that drainage basins are determined
  by the location of the main continental
  watersheds and that major rivers rise in the main
  mountain ranges that have greater precipitation,
  eg the Rockies and Appalachians in North America.
  Patterns within North America could distinguish
  between
• west flowing rivers are fed from the western
  side of the continental divide. Rivers like the
  Columbia-Snake and the Colorado flow west in to
  the Pacific Ocean
• north-flowing rivers drain to the Arctic Ocean
  or to Hudson Bay and are fed from the Canadian
  Shield
• the St Lawrence system is fed from the Great
  Lakes areas and flows east to the Atlantic Ocean
• most of south-eastern USA is dominated by the
  Mississippi and its tributaries which are fed
  from the Rockies in the west and the Appalachians
  in the east and flow to the Gulf of Mexico.
  Assess out of 5 marks with a maximum of 3 marks
  for either description or explanation. 5 marks

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• (b) Explanation of the need for water management
  in the Narmada River Basin and in Gujarat State
  might include
• reference map Q3E indicates that the Narmada
  River has many tributaries and the river basin
  has a very high drainage density leading to
  unpredictability of river flow which is dependant
  on when and how quickly snow melts in surrounding
  mountain areas
• rapidly increasing population in India gives
  increasing demand for water for domestic, power,
  industrial needs
• increasing demands from farmers for irrigation
  water to try and feed increasing population
• rainfall graph for Ahmedabad indicates
  seasonal nature of rainfall extremely dry from
  October to May but huge monthly figures for
  July/August leading to flooding and also
  run-off of water that could be stored and used in
  dry months
• temperature graph for Ahmedabad indicates hot
  temperatures throughout the year leading to very
  high evaporation rates. Monthly maximum
  temperatures peak at over 40C.
• Assess out of 5 marks.

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• (c) Political problems might include
• river basins often cross state or international
  boundaries, causing difficulties in co-operation
  between states/countries
• sharing allocation of water rights often
  causes political strife
• water flow and water quality dependant on
  actions of upstream neighbours
• increased pollution and salinity downstream can
  lead to poor water quality and extra costs, eg
  desalination for downstream areas of river.
• Assess out of 3 marks. Answers must use
  authentic examples from a chosen project. 3 marks

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• d) Answers will depend upon the basin chosen.
  However, they might include
• Assess out of 12. Answers should be authentic
  for the chosen river basin. Candidates must
  refer to all 6 sections for full marks. Award to
  2 marks for named examples. Reduce maximum by 1
  for each part missed. 12 marks

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How to answer a map question

• 1. Read the question!!!!
• Human / physical, just river or valley as well
• Describe or explain
• Intermediate give 2 or 3 grid references in the
  course of an answer Higher candidates they should
  be prolific (lots and lots)

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Physical

• What is the rivers course
• What direction does it flow
• Are there any features meanders, waterfalls, ox
  bow lakes
• Is it tidal
• Does it change course
• Is it wider/narrower in certain areas
• Compare areas along its length if possible

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Human

• Has it been widened/straightened (look for lines
  that could have been drawn with a ruler)
• Are there any ports/weirs/canals
• Works, factories
• Are there any settlements

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Valley

• Is it V shaped or u shaped
• Does the river have a floodplain is it
  wide/narrow
• What direction does the valley sides slope in
• Are the valley sides steep or gentle
• HIGHER STUDENTS quote a figure using your key
  eg 500mrise in less than 10m