PAPER 3 Geographical Applications SECTION B Fieldwork Suitable

PAPER 3: Geographical Applications SECTION B: Fieldwork

Suitable Questions for Geographical Enquiry 2: What is our hypothesis? Project title: Have flood defences been successful at alleviating the pressure of flooding in Shrewsbury? Hypothesis 1. What are physical and human factors effecting flooding in Shrewsbury? 2. How sustainable are the flood defences in Shrewsbury?

Suitable Questions for Geographical Enquiry 2: Geographical Theory Human Causes of flooding: Urbanisation/ Impermeable ground (concrete/ tarmac)/ Drains/ deforestation Physical Causes of flooding: snowmelt/ storms/ saturated ground Soft Engineering: (natural/nothing built) Plant more trees/ sand bags/ text message warnings/ flood plain zoning Hard engineering: (built up defence) Flood embankments/ diversion channels/ flood relief channels/ drains/ flood gates

Identifying and reducing risks associated with fieldwork Enquiry 2: Risk Assessment Project title: Have flood defences been successful at alleviating the pressure of flooding in Shrewsbury? Hazard Risk Control Abduction Groups of 3 Traffic Crossings Weather Clothing

Locations of Fieldwork Enquiry 2 - Study Area- Local Scale Shrewsbury Shropshire West England (Border of Wales)

Description and justification of data collection methods Sampling Strategy Random So not biased

Description and justification of data collection methods Methods/ Limitations Storm Simulation Flood Risk Land Use Survey Poured 2 litres Used map of town centre 3 plots (vegetation/ concrete/ soil) Noted shop type and whether would be at risk See how flood risk changed depending on ground type Limitation: timing wrong/ some water fell off before could catch/ frozen soil plot Limitation: not know area/ got lost Interviews and Questionnaires: Locals and shop keepers about flood risk opinion Limitation: not all locals/ shop owners would answer/ some not local so didn’t know/ not ask enough people Flood Defence Walk: Looked and mapped out different defences used to stop flooding Limitation: didn’t know cost/ couldn’t see in action/ some not yet tested as new

Selecting appropriate ways to present fieldwork data Flood Risk Land Use Survey (GIS Choropleth Map) Results Areas with more vegetation have a lower flood vulnerability (e. g. Dingle Gardens Quarry Park): permeable ground/ vegetation taking up water/ interception increasing lag time. Value of land = lower and so flood damage will be less. Areas that are more built up have a higher flood vulnerability (city Centre): more impermeable surfaces therefore there is increased surface run off and so shorter lag time.

Selecting appropriate ways to present fieldwork data Shop Owner Interview (Proportional Symbols) Results General pattern: Businesses to the north of the river Severn in Frankwell, Shrewsbury have the perception that flood management in Shrewsbury is successful. South of the river Seven in Frankwell= not successful.

Describe, Analyse and Explain fieldwork data Storm Simulation Plots (Hydrographs) Results Storm Simulation hydrographs • The site with the longest lag time is low intensity grassland (70 seconds), site with shortest lag time is high intensity urban land use (35 seconds). • Vegetation intercepts some rainfall = longer lag time decreased flood risk/ takes up some water reduces peak discharge= reduced flood risk. • The site with shortest lag time has higher flood risk as water is getting to the river quicker. This was the concrete plot. • Impermeable surfaces increase surface run off, route of water to river quicker = shorter lag time/ steeper rising limb/ higher peak discharge= increased flood risk

Describe, Analyse and Explain fieldwork data Flood Defence Walk Results Removable Flood Gates at university car park Storm run off drains (underground storage) Flood embankments/ Flood Walls

Reach conclusions and evaluate geographical Enquiry Conclusion Hypothesis 1. What are physical and human factors effecting flooding in Shrewsbury? Evidence of: impermeable surfaces and not enough green space so increased flood risk. Proved by hydrographs of concrete storm plots and people in more urban areas being more worried about flooding. 2. How sustainable are the flood defences in Shrewsbury? Removeable gates/ extra storage and flood walls means Shrewsbury has been protected in the most recent floods. This means they are sustainable.

Reach conclusions and evaluate geographical Enquiry Evaluation Fieldwork Data Not know enough about how defences worked – could get someone in from the environment agency to interview. Not enough questionnaires or interviews – more needed to be done. This would make more valid.

Limitation of Data collection methods: Why is it appropriate for the enquiry? - Where is it? Limitation of Data: Storm Simulation Model Flood Risk Survey Interview & Questionnaire Have flood defences been successful in alleviating the pressure of flooding in Shrewsbury? Geographical Theory Underpinning Enquiry Risk Assessment How to reduce risk - Description Justification Flood Risk Survey - Answer initial research question Description Justification How valid are your conclusions? - Reliability of data Data Analysis Hydrographs Primary Data Collection (Human) Description Justification Questionnaire Other useful data: Conclusions Primary Data Collection (Physical) Storm Simulation - Selection of sites Scale of project Evaluation Study Area Potential Hazards - - Describe Data Reasons for data Link to theory Flood Defence Walk - Description Justification Flood Risk Survey - Describe Data Reasons for data Link to theory Flood Defence Walk - Describe Data Reasons for data Link to theory