This dissertation investigation aims to interpret the following; to examine how a variety of channel patterns can affect the River Marshaw Wyre’s characteristics

Abstract

This investigation is a quantitative based study which focuses on the different channel patterns present, within the River Marshaw Wyre. The investigation aims to explore whether various different channel pattern’s affect the downstream proposed characteristics. The study also considered if there were any relationships between different river parameters, but also investigated the influences of meandering and braiding to any disruptions to the downstream form. Ten sites were selected by purposive sampling and the river parameters including; width, depth, velocity, wetted perimeter and bedload size and shape were tested. The results within the investigation were interpreted using graphs, and further statistical analysis was performed including: descriptive statistics, and correlation coefficient tests were also applied to test for relationships.
As for the downstream form the all the river parameters followed the expected changes within their characteristics, except for bedload description and the river’s velocity. Even though some of the characteristics imposed by braiding and meandering did not disrupt the results as a whole, they did however stand out as specific points with in the graphs and sites. Out of the three relationships which were decided to be tested: width and depth, bedload and velocity and bedload and width. None of these showed they had any relationships between one another which could be attributed due to these channel patterns.