Investigating Magnitude Rivers

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Investigating the magnitude and frequency of river flows requires an understanding of the character of the river catchment as well as climatic factors. Critically review this statement. Introduction: In order to conduct a full investigation of the magnitude and frequency of river flows, one must first understand what it is that is the object of the investigation, namely the magnitude and frequency of river flows. For the purposes of this enquiry magnitude shall be taken as the significance or size of an event, whereas frequency will be a measure of the recurrence of an event. Similarly the essay needs to define catchment in order to appreciate if a true understanding is needed to investigate river flows. Here catchment will be identified as the whole watershed for a water course. The essay will attempt to set out why it is important to fully understand both catchment and climatic factors when researching a river flow. The essay will be split into two distinct sections; The first being an analysis of how climatic factors may affect flows. The second will be an overview of how just the catchment can affect flows. A small part of the discussion will be a brief overview on how both factors combined can come together and affect the flow. Upon reaching this final talking point, the essay will be at a point where a conclusion becomes relevant. Climate: Climate plays an obvious but important role in both the frequency and magnitude of river flows due to the direct correlation between the amount of precipitation and river flow. However one mustn’t let oneself think that climatic factors are simply the weather and amount of rainfall. This category also includes elevation, global location and season. Consider a situation where 100mm of precipitation fell. This would undoubtedly be a significant event however if it all fell as snow in a region where the temperature was
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