ok, i need help again :(

[scotty777]

I'vee trying to avoid this like the plague for the past week, but since the synopsis is for friday, i'm out of idea's here.

I have this huge geography project, which involves field research rather then library research(and google). It must be bases on something from these sections: climatology, geomorphology, rivers etc... It needs to be something interesting btw. Also, considering my limited funds, it should be cheap.

but I just keep drawing on blanks here :(.

[thedutchman]

where you situated ?

[waynegohl]

he's between a rock and a blank space.

[scotty777]

where you situated ?

Northcliff (next to Rudepoort(sp?) ). So I'm close to a park and dam and such...

[Hosehead]

he's between a rock and a blank space.

:D

[The_Pumpkin_King]

highveld lightning storms ftw!!

[scotty777]

highveld lightning storms ftw!!

but how do i base field research on that???

[blunomore]

I know Picard says I am harsh, but how can one live in an area and see the name boards on an almost daily basis and still not spell it correctly?

[The_Pumpkin_King]

I know Picard says I am harsh, but how can one live in an area and see the name boards on an almost daily basis and still not spell it correctly?

lol

maybe you should explain "field research" to us first

[blunomore]

maybe you should explain "field research" to us first

research in a field

[The_Pumpkin_King]

research in a field

hey! you're pushing it now!:p

i meant what exactly does he need?

[scotty777]

by field research, i mean i need to go out and like observe something, take down measurements and make a 2000 word essay off that...

[waynegohl]

tell your teacher that due to Global Warming it was too hot to sit outside (this is when you show the teacher some figures), and you go to a libray and do the work from some research books.

you may even score points for creativity.

[Flanders]

Since it's summer, maybe you could do something on rainfall on the Highveld. (like measurements of the water level in a river before and after thunderstorm, how it correlates to rain gauge readings, define that particular catchment area etc...)

Dunno mate, I'm just snowballing here. Guess you'll need some rain for that to be viable too. It's been a long time since I heard the word 'geography', let alone did a project. :D

[The Axe Dude]

Mine was based on crime and how it was affecting the area I live in (florida).

I did well, so it must've beeen good, also, I didnt really have to leave the house to do research, just take a few photos of "crime prevention" techniques (aka electric fences), etc. Its not too hard :)

[thedutchman]

how about taking measurements on how high the water level is, the amount of visible animals, the state of the grass and trees. How dry or wet the ground is, water absorbtion. rainfall, :)

[Albereth]

Simple - find a dam and place a depth marker in it. I am not suggesting that you try and measure how deep the dam is at present, but you want to establish the current water level. You then have measures up and down your marker that will show you whether the water level has dropped, or risen relative to your original 'depth' mark.

Then get a rain gauge and a thermometer. Take your measures on a daily basis. With a bit of luck you should be able to show evaporation rates (on dry days) and the lag that water takes to raise the level on rainy days.

If your dam has an out flow you could try and measure the water flow but then the equipment is a little trickier.

Perhaps an even easier option could be to talk to Joburg Water and track the content of one of their water towers. Do a simple demand vs temperature trend.

For how long are you supposed to observe things?

[scotty777]

Simple - find a dam and place a depth marker in it. I am not suggesting that you try and measure how deep the dam is at present, but you want to establish the current water level. You then have measures up and down your marker that will show you whether the water level has dropped, or risen relative to your original 'depth' mark.

Then get a rain gauge and a thermometer. Take your measures on a daily basis. With a bit of luck you should be able to show evaporation rates (on dry days) and the lag that water takes to raise the level on rainy days.

If your dam has an out flow you could try and measure the water flow but then the equipment is a little trickier.

Perhaps an even easier option could be to talk to Joburg Water and track the content of one of their water towers. Do a simple demand vs temperature trend.

For how long are you supposed to observe things?


until end of feb hey...

[Albereth]

A month? Not enough happens in a month but I suppose the aim of the exercise is to look at how you conduct field work rather than the actual results.

Try this - measure temperature and rainfall for the month. Also choose an area that you can access at the same time daily. Then collect any hail stones that occur and measure their size. Track whether hail is before, after or during the storm.

You need to write up what you are trying to observe - i.e. correlation between temp, amount of rain, and size of hail stones. And you could limited it to only storms that occur between 4 and 6 in the afternoon so you are not running around in the middle of the night.

And your tests can be inconclusive if you don't have enough data. I really can't think of any value that could be derived from just a single month's worth of observations.

[scotty777]

A month? Not enough happens in a month but I suppose the aim of the exercise is to look at how you conduct field work rather than the actual results.

Try this - measure temperature and rainfall for the month. Also choose an area that you can access at the same time daily. Then collect any hail stones that occur and measure their size. Track whether hail is before, after or during the storm.

You need to write up what you are trying to observe - i.e. correlation between temp, amount of rain, and size of hail stones. And you could limited it to only storms that occur between 4 and 6 in the afternoon so you are not running around in the middle of the night.

And your tests can be inconclusive if you don't have enough data. I really can't think of any value that could be derived from just a single month's worth of observations.

do you see my predicament now :(. but yeah, I guess i could do that :). however, trick is gonna be writing a synopsis off it ... and to think, the reason why i took geography is to spend my time studying :(

[poffle]

Maybe go up to northcliff koppie and do wind readings? Speed/Warmth/direction which then effects clouds etc. Not to sure just throwing out a suggestion :P

[scotty777]

Maybe go up to northcliff koppie and do wind readings? Speed/Warmth/direction which then effects clouds etc. Not to sure just throwing out a suggestion :P

and how does that prove anything :p

[poffle]

lol sorry i have no idea. As i said just throwing something into the air :p

[Lord Anubis]

Isn't there a cat show coming up at Northcliff community centre soon..

[MyWorld]

Did they have to remove the "Bloekom bome" next to the Juksei river?

Now that is an interesting study, talked to a guy way up north in Groot Marico and it made a HUGE difference in the river flow. They measure how much water the logs retained/use up, a meter long log syphoned out over 2lt of water. The water level picked up considerably with the removal of the trees, etc.

This borders on biology, but I'm sure you will be able to use something.