A group of 26 fifth year Geography students from Athboy Community School with teachers Mr. Magner and Mr. Mahon went to Kippure House Estate near Blessington in Co. Wicklow for a river field study on Thursday April 18th.
The purpose of the field trip was to investigate the impact of the processes of transportation and deposition on the formation of a river meander on Athdown Brook, a tributary of the Liffey.
The group had an enjoyable, action-packed day gathering data in the river. With the aid of the park rangers each student measured the river velocity and classed the river flow using Berg’s Classification. Next the students did a River Channel Cross Section to see the effects of deposition and erosion on the shape of the river channel.They recorded the gradient of the river itself and used clinometers to carry out a Valley Profile to see the effect of deposition on the shape of the valley.They also measured the sinuosity of the curve of the river to determine whether or not it could be classed as a meander. The group also did a Bedload Analysis to see the impact of the processes of attrition, saltation and traction on the material being carried and deposited by the river.
The Geographers also observed features of erosion and deposition such as a point bar, river bends and meanders, rapids as well as a river cliff.The group also did field sketches to take note of the features, conditions and processes evident.
The students will now work on producing a report on the field trip which is worth 20% of their Leaving Certificate Geography examination.
