3.02 Soils and Watersheds Lab Report
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Florida International University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
1001
Subject
Geography
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
Pages
6
Uploaded by SuperBuffalo3855
Soils and Watersheds Lab Report
Instructions: In this lab activity, you will design a watershed model that will help you investigate
the relationship between land surfaces, soil erosion, and water movement on Earth. Submit your
lab report to your instructor when completed.
Title: Soil and Watersheds Lab
Objective(s):
This experiment aims to investigate the relationship between Earth's water circulation, land
surface changes, and soil erosion. Using this information, I hope to determine if these elements
will likely result in the formation of watersheds.
Hypothesis:
After examining how the landscape is arranged in my watershed model, I predict that there will
be three watersheds at the lowest point—where the valley's highest point is—between two less
peaks. Furthermore, my model predicts the existence of five watersheds in all, which I attribute
to the arrangement of lower elevations surrounding the smaller peaks.
For example:
Based on the positions of landscape features in my watershed model, I predict there will be
watersheds located at
(--list locations--)
in my model due to lower altitude formed at lower
peaks.
Procedure:
The materials and procedures are listed for you.
Materials:
•
one sheet of plain white paper
•
several sheets of old newspaper, or wax paper if available
•
one thick water-based marker (Note: do not use permanent marker)
•
one spray bottle containing water (place on “mist” setting)
•
digital camera or camera from mobile device
Summary of Steps:
1.
Place several sheets of newspaper or wax paper over a large flat surface, such as a
kitchen counter. Use at least five sheets of paper so that you can protect your work
area.
2.
Crumple the sheet of white paper into a loose wad.
3.
Uncrumple the sheet of paper
slightly
so you can lay it on your work surface. The
paper should not be flat but should be wrinkled and puffed up from the crumpling.
4.
Imagine the paper as a miniaturized version of mountains, hills, valleys, and other
landscape features. If your paper is so flat that you can't imagine these features, you
should recrumple it.
5.
Use the marker to color the major folds or ridges in the paper, as well as some of the
minor folds or ridges. Do not allow the marker to color any other part of the paper.
6.
Place the paper on top of the newspaper on the counter, and then lightly mist the piece
of paper with the spray bottle. Don't spray too heavily: Three to seven squirts will
probably do the job.
7.
Stop misting as soon as you see some of the colored water starting to collect in some
of the valleys. Watch for a few moments as stream patterns develop over the paper.
Imagine the color is soil as it is picked up and moved with the water.
8.
Take a photograph of your work and include it in your Data and Observations.
9.
Record your observations of each watershed that forms in
Table 1
. Take note of
headwaters, channels, divides, tributaries, mouths, floodplains, precipitation, and
infiltration in your descriptions.
10. Complete the Conclusion and Post-Reflection Questions of the lab report.
Variables:
List your controlled variables, independent variable, and dependent variable of the lab activity.
Remember, controlled variables are factors that remain the same throughout the experiment. An
independent (test) variable changes so that the experimenter can see the effect on other variables.
The dependent (outcome) variable will change in response to the test variable.
Controlled variables: spraying of water, markers
Independent variable: sheet of paper
Dependent variable: The form of watershed
Data:
Place a photograph of your model here.
Table 1: Observations of Watershed Model
Observations
Source of Surface Water
Location on Model
Watershed 1
The left side of the
paper's center part
shows how
precipitation affects
the paper, elevating
some portions.
The rain that falls is
coming from the water
shooting out of the
container.
Lower portion of paper
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Because the
headwaters
remained consistent,
the watershed
resulted in the
formation of a
floodplain.
Watershed 2
The watershed in
the center of the
paper is the most
active because it
gets the greatest
amount of rainfall,
which spreads
across the paper.
This area has the
highest height and
its own streams that
flow from the
headwaters,
allowing the water
to spread out in
different directions.
Droplet from the bottle of
water
Center
Watershed 3
The water bottle
created a floodplain
in the top left corner
of this image, which
shows where
flooding happens
because higher
elevation places
block the water's
ability to move
elsewhere.
Droplet from the bottle of
water
top left
Watershed 4
This shows the two
different
headwaters, where
each channel takes a
different course and
converges to form
Droplet from the bottle of
water
top right
two different
mouths or openings.
Watershed 5
Because of the
canals, a watershed
in the center of the
bottom left quadrant
indicates a
floodplain.
Droplet from the bottle of
water
bottom left in the middle
Conclusion:
Write a conclusion statement that addresses the following questions:
●
Identify and describe all the ways water and soil moved in your watershed model. Be sure
to include headwaters, channels, divides, tributaries, mouth, floodplains, precipitation,
and infiltration in your description.
●
Does your data support or fail to support your hypotheses (include examples)?
●
Are there any experimental errors that could have changed the locations of your
watersheds?
The model I showed had lots of water moving, especially in the middle where most of the rain
gathered. When water was poured on the hill, it ran down and made puddles where the paper was
lower. It mixed with other streams in some places. The water went through hills and valleys and
sometimes came together. The start of the streams made the ink go towards the folds, and these
folds split up where the streams started. My guess was right: when the water touched the paper, it
stayed there, soaked in, and soaked up some of the water. Just like I thought, there were five
places where the water gathered. How high up things were really affected where the water went.
Sometimes, using a marker that isn't water-based made it hard to see the colors in the places
where the water gathered.
Post-Lab Reflection Questions
Answer the reflection questions using what you have learned from the lesson and your
experimental data. It will be helpful to refer to your class notes. Answer questions in complete
sentences.
1.
How many different watersheds were in your model? How were you able to identify
them? There are four main watersheds that I am aware of. I determined this count by
looking at the locations of the peaks and the places where the water routes primarily
dropped.
2.
Earth’s landscape can change over time. What can happen to a watershed and the soil that
deposits there as a result? Weathering and erosion cause changes to the Earth's surface
that result in a variety of transformations. These processes can cause significant shifts in
the landscape, such as the removal of watersheds owing to widespread erosion. As a
result, the impacted region will line up with the level of any nearby water bodies.
3.
How does particle size and composition of the soil affect its water capacity and rate of
erosion within a watershed? The soil's composition and particle size have an impact on a
watershed's ability to store water as well as its rate of erosion. The erosion process is
slowed down by larger soil particles because they offer resistance or grip. Water capacity
is also influenced by the makeup of the soil; for example, coarse soil can only store so
much water. Plant survival is made possible by lower rates of erosion in the watershed,
which are regulated by the composition of the soil and contribute to the sustainability of
the soil and watershed.
4.
View the surface water animation clip of the Mississippi watershed in the lesson.
a)
Explain
how the Mississippi watershed may affect adjoining watersheds depicted
in the animation.
b)
How does the animation
justify
the claim that pollution from agricultural use of
land becomes more than a local problem?
The pollution caused by the plundering of agricultural land has become a national problem rather
than a regional one. Its branches are spread all over a large portion of the country, and it extends
from the northern areas to the Gulf of Mexico. These contaminants have a wide-ranging effect
that can quickly damage nearby places, travel across seas, reach the Gulf of Mexico, and
eventually harm regions all over the world.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help