NEA Geography

Individual investigation planning and data collection opportunities in a range of environs on Gower. Students will spend a day being introduced to the location and taught a range of data collection skills and techniques sited to the location. Students will then be supported in generating a provisional question and focus for their NEA.

Second day once the individuals have finalised and had their question approved, the students will spend the day following their method and undertaking primary data collection on site to finish the day with a complete set of primary data.

The opportunities available include but are not limited to:

1. Field survey of beach profiles: long and cross transects to map changes in beach material, gradient, pebble length (long axis) and pebble roundness along a transect from low to high tide and across the width of the beach (linking to the process of longshore drift) Caswell or Pwll Du.
2. Field survey of wave characteristics (wave height, frequency, wavelength) along a stretch of coast – Caswell, Pwll Du
3. Field survey of sand dunes using transects to show dune topography, plant zonation and succession – Oxwich
4. Field survey of a salt marsh using transects to show salt marsh topography, plant zonation and succession – Crofty, Llanmadoc
5. Field survey of impact of humans on coastal environments – foot path erosion, trampling of dunes, beach litter (in and out of season, before or after each clean up) – Oxwich
6. Field survey of coastal management schemes along a stretch of coast threatened by either erosion or flooding to investigate the impact of management structures on sediment transfer e.g. groynes; undertake cost benefit analysis or study shoreline management plans – Cwm Ivy, Llanelli.
7. The impact of Tourism on Villages and local environment.
8. Ilston river – suitable for river features and process, flooding and flood prevention.
9. Biomass surveys and different management techniques.
10. Cold environments – Glacial processes and landscape development. Erosional landforms.
11. Inner city regeneration – Field mapping, Bi-polar surveys. New SA1 development impacts on local services and housing.
12. Climate – Microclimate survey -The heat island effect, winds and precipitation. Air quality surveys.
13. Settlement – CBD study – Defining a settlement. Land use survey – cross section through an urban area. CBD study and comparison with out of town retail locations. Urban fringe and rural area study. Urban regeneration.
14. Climate change day – Looking at ancient limestone platforms and analysing past sea level changes. Surveying areas at risk from sea level change. Looking at biodiversity changes over time. Measuring lichen with distance from a point source of air pollution. Analysis of effect of sea level change on coastal communities. Microclimate survey.
15. Sustainability – Investigating sustainable communities. Microclimate survey and identifying sites for renewable energy generation.