How does velocity influence the characteristics of a meander in the Caura

River, Caura, Trinidad, West Indies?

CANDIDATE NAME: Shayn Ryan

CANDIDATE NUMBER: 1600731411

CENTRE NAME: ST. MARY’S COLLEGE

CENTRE NUMBER: 160073

TERRITORY: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY

YEAR: 2023
 Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………1
Aim………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
Location…………………………………………………………………………………………...3
Map 1…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Map 2…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Diagram 1………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………... 7
Discussion & Analysis…………………………………………………………………………… 8
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….... 12
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………. 13
Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………... 14

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 Introduction

A meander is a bend in a river and is mostly found in the middle course of a river. Velocity in a
river is the speed of the water as it flows through a river channel. Generally, the velocity of a
river is slower at the inner bank of a meander, and material is deposited due to friction with the
bank to form a slip-off slope. The outer bank is usually faster at a meander and because of the
increased velocity, the river erodes the outer bank until it is completely eroded to form a river
cliff.

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 Aim

The aim of SBA is to assess how velocity influences the characteristics of a meander in the
Caura River, Caura, Trinidad, West Indies.

Location
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 Trinidad is the most southern island in the Caribbean and is surrounded by the Gulf of Paria
(west), the Atlantic Ocean (east), the Caribbean Sea (north), and the Columbus Channel (south).
(Map 1)

The study area is located in the Caura Valley, which is north of Tunapuna and El Dorado in the
Northern Range. The valley is accessed via the Caura Royal Road. (Map 2)

The Caura River is in the Northern Range and flows through the Caura Valley, Tacarigua, and
eventually joins the Caroni River, as a tributary. The study area was a 20m meander section of
the river. (Diagram 1)

Methodology

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On Friday 4th November 2022, a field trip was conducted at Caura River, Caura Valley,
Trinidad. Upon arrival, a meander was identified and a 20m section was measured out. Then a
sketch map of the section was done, including all features observed (Diagram 1). The meander
section was then split up into 4 equal segments and the following tests were done in each
segment.

Firstly, the channel width was measured with a measuring tape at the start of the segment. The
tape was tautly held to measure the distance from bank to bank and was also held approximately
3 cm above the river to avoid the tape dragging on the water.

Then, the channel depth was measured with a meter ruler. The channel was split into 10 equal
parts across its width and the distance between the top of the water and the riverbed was then
measured at each of those 10 parts. The ruler was held parallel to the river to ensure the ruler
more streamlined and prevent the water from shifting the ruler. Each depth reading was recorded.

Finally, the velocity of the channel was measured with a table tennis ball and a stopwatch. The
channel was split into 3 equal parts across its width: (the inner interval, middle interval, and
outer interval). The table tennis ball was placed at the start of the interval and to the end of the
segment. As the ball flowed down the river it was timed until the ball reached the end of the
segment in each of the 3 intervals. The length of time it travelled to the end of the interval was
measured, this was done 3 times in each interval.

After the tests, pictures of features observed were taken. Additional information was also
obtained from secondary sources.

Discussion & Analysis

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The velocity of the meander increased because the water’s velocity increases through bends. The
velocity of the meander steadily increased throughout each segment with higher velocities on the
concave bank and decreased velocities on the convex bank. As seen in Figure#1, the average
velocities were between 0.16m/s and 0.33m/s in Segments 1and 4 respectively. The reason for
the increased velocity on the concave bank is due to increased erosion and the reason for
decreased velocity on the convex bank is due to increased deposition. The velocity increases
through the segments because of the increased momentum that the water carries as it goes
through the 20m meander section.

0.35

0.3
Velocity in Meters Per Second

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4

Figure #1: Line graph showing the average velocity with the correction factor of 0.85 of a meander
across 4 segments.

The channel’s width of the meander increased throughout the 4 segments. As seen in Figure #2,
the widths increased from between 3.5m in Segment #1 to 5.5m in Segment #4. As a result of the

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increased velocity, the meander undergoes increased lateral erosion. The increase in velocity
causes the rate of the erosion to increase since the water is hitting banks with greater force and
momentum. The water’s velocity allowed for the concave (outer) bank to get undercut due to its
increased velocity. This undercutting can be a result of erosional processes such as hydraulic
action. This formed scarped slopes known as river cliffs (Photo #1). While on the convex (inner)
bank, sediments are slowly deposited because the velocity is slower, and the depth is much
shallower compared to the outer bank. This led to the formation of a point bar and slip-off slope
(Photo #1). Since velocity increased through the segments, this explains the paralleling width
increases through the segments.

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Channel Width in Meters

Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4

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Photo #1: Features formed at the Caura River Meander

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The average channel depth of the meander increased because of vertical erosion. As seen Figure
#3, the average depths from between 0.39m in segment #1 to 0.47m in segment #4. The water’s
velocity erodes the concave bank, and the channel gets deeper and faster. While on the convex
bank, sediments are deposited making the channel shallower and slower. The depth of the
meander was increased where the riverbed is eroded and decreased where the riverbed had
deposition. This erosion can be a result of abrasion where the riverbed is eroded by material
coming into contact with it. The water’s velocity allowed the material to erode the riverbed on
the concave bank faster as the material will be moving at a greater force. This is proven by the
fact that the depth increases through the segments and the water’s velocity also increases.

0.5

0.45

0.4
Channel Depth in Meters

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4

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 Conclusion

In conclusion, the velocity of the Caura River meander affects the width and depth of the river
channel. The width & depth of the channel increases progressively through the 4 segments. This
is due to the velocity of the water increasing as it progresses through the meander, so it is
expected that the velocity increase is greater after each segment passed. The increased velocity
on the concave bank increases the width and creates a river cliff. The decreased velocity on the
convex bank causes deposition to occur and form a point bar and slip-off slope. With the
information gathered it is safe to say that the velocity of a meander does affect its characteristics.

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 Bibliography

Bartholomew, Collins, “Student Atlas for the Caribbean”, HarperCollins Publishers, Glasgow,
2017

Jackson, Hiram, “Rivers and Streams, and erosional processes”, 15/11/2000,

Wilson, Mark, “The Caribbean Environment”, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2016

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Appendix

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