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- When
starting a research project that needs primary data collection,
it is important
to know what is to be measured, how to measure it, and how to
analyse the data.
Choose one of the following research questions and fill in this
downloadable document.
(a) Does air quality next to main
roads change during the day?
(b) How does river discharge change
over the year?
(c)
What is the difference in the bulk density of the soil between
a field under pasture
and one that has been used for cereal
production for years?
(d)
What is the rate of rock erosion in the Australian outback as
compared to Dartmoor?
(e)
What has been the change in the extent of the Amazon forest from
1980 to present day?
- Chapter 5 talks about
the different purposes of and techniques for monitoring air quality.
Using the interactive map of the UK available at www.stanger.co.uk/siteinfo/,
click on any UK region to find out which sites are in operation,
what pollutants
they monitor and complete the
downloadable table.
After you have completed the table above,
consider:
(a)
How do the site type and the pollutants measured reflect the purpose
of
monitoring in each case?
(b)
Why might it be useful to know the distance from roads for each
of the sites?
- Using Figure 2.7 and
the text in Chapter 5 of Physical
Geography, describe how
each component of the hydrological cycle can be measured or monitored.
Use Other sources of information to find out how to measure changes
in glacier size
and movement.
- Many soil properties
can be determined either in the field or in the laboratory.
State the advantage and disadvantage of field and lab approaches
for measuring
soil moisture over a large area.
Consider accuracy, potential areas of error, logistics, access
to equipment or
facilities, and time required.
- Find two land-cover
maps of different dates for an area of your choice.
See if you can see any changes in land cover. Suggest what might
have caused
the changes.
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