We began the day with a nice hike to the Grotto with the aim of finding a new site. At the Grotto we were met with a lovely view of the River Avon but unfortunately, no stream or pond. Following this disappointment, we decided to go back to the main tufa cascade site.
After taking measurements from the main and upper stream to show the difference between Monday’s readings, we walked further down from the lower pond site to another stream ( David even spotted a deer on the way!) and collected some more water sample data.
In the afternoon we walked along the main path and scouted a new site near to David’s pipe, amongst the area of thick conifers. We continued past the path intersection with the green pond, to find another stream from which we collected water samples and probe data along different points until its source from a hillside pipe.
After collecting green pond data and samples we packed up our equipment and called it a day.
For our recce trip we began the day at Paradise Bottom, with the aim of scouting out the location and potentially take some preliminary measurements.
From left: Hazim, Romney and David are discussing the day’s tasks
Following a brief meeting in the car park to plan out the tasks for the day (see David’s voice recordings for more info) and the route with our map, the team headed out into Paradise Bottom, all keen to see the site for the first time.
On arrival at the main tufa cascade, the team were delighted to see the vast extent of the tufa extending across the full width of the stream.
We decided the most systematic way of measuring data would be to divide the stream equally into sections which would enable us to measure the difference between areas of upper stream versus lower pond section, the stream velocities, total discharge and stream depth.
Upon Fiona’s arrival the team immediately got started on measuring data. This included pH, Dissolved Oxygen Content, Electrical Conductivity and temperature as well as marking the different site numbers with a whiteboard.
Labelled location 2 on the main stream
Shortly after taking measurements from site 2, we realised the area up beyond site 1 near the pipe, contained water with considerably different readings to site 1 and 2, there both the pH and DO readings were lower than site 1 with ~pH7.46 and DO ~8.0 mg/L. Therefore, we decided to include another site into our project, site 0.
Site 0 located at the top of the stream, less tufa observed in this section
We also came to the conclusion that two sites wouldn’t be necessary for the project and that the Paradise Bottom site contained enough streams, pipes and ponds to collect data from for our tufa investigation.
After some panic around lunchtime regarding the labelling of sites and samples, the team reorganized their labelling system before starting on the afternoon’s data collection tasks.
In the afternoon, Romney and Zara were set with collecting probe data from the Main Stream down to site *** whilst David and Hazim working from main footpath pond (site) down the lower stream to the lower forest pond.
David (left) and Hazim (right) collecting water samples for probe analysis
At 5pm we packed up the equipment and headed home. In the evening we scheduled another quick zoom meeting to conclude the day’s findings, organize our data and plan out our goals for Tuesday.
We arrived at IC1.01 in Wills Memorial at 2.30pm and began the first laboratory session of our third year. The strict COVID-19 precautionary measures made it an entirely different experience to previous labs, with acrylic dividers, face shields, masks and an enthusiastic Mac, armed with a rather menacing wooden pointer stick (to help point out things within 2 metres of the students).
The session consisted of a titration refresher as well as training in the use of the Hach HQ4OD Multimeter in order to prepare us for the Monday recce trip and Tuesday fieldwork day.
The Hach HQ4OD Multimeter is used to measure a wide range of data, but for the purposes of our fieldwork, we learnt how to calibrate the pH measurements, Dissolved Oxygen Content and the Electrical Conductivity. The meter can also be used to record time (in intervals if needed) as well as the temperature of samples.
Meanwhile, the titrations were conducted to measure total alkalinity using an indicator.
Lab Training session 02.10.2020Romney loves washing burettesMac is labelling the probe metersDavid and Zara checking through all the equipmentZara measuring bags of table salt
Armed with plenty of sharpies, we carefully collected and labelled our equipment to store at Hazim’s House, all ready to go for our Monday Recce Trip.
As part of the third year Environmental Geoscience course, students are set the task of conducting an independent research investigation project. This involves planning, collecting in-field data, laboratory analysis and computational skills before presenting the write-up, summarising conclusions and process. This year’s project is about the carbonate chemistry of groundwater-fed streams.
9th September
Following the introductory meeting and carbonate chemistry refresher by Fiona (Senior Lecturer and Professor of Earth Sciences) we were set with the task of sending in 3 project ideas, each linked to scientific questions. Our team immediately got started on brainstorming ideas and proceeded to discuss preliminary thoughts via ZOOM.
Our first preference proposal was focused around incorporating renewable energy into the project since it would be highly relevant with the current climate crisis and recent advances in renewable energy technology.
Renewable Energy Geothermal
In Fiona’s paper, she used numerical modelling to understand controls on hydrothermal dolostone formation that will then lead to geothermal convection.
In the context of our study: We can study ground-surface water interactions at Bristol/Bath hot springs to understand dolostone formations?
Maybe can relate to the dolomitic conglomerate in the Avon Gorge Bristol
However, Fiona advised this proposal was too complex for our project since dolomite formation requires the presence of Mg-rich fluids and we would have to extend the scope of our data collection beyond the Bristol area to investigate hydrothermal karst (dissolution) cases across the UK.
2. Project 10 Gloucestershire Sites a….to z
How conifer plantations would affect calcite precipitation
Conifer causes lower Ph, greater calcite dissolution, less tufas?
More conifer plantations would cause less tufas at nearby spring
Fiona seemed a lot more enthusiastic about this proposal and even suggested that we incorporate a comparison of conifer trees against deciduous trees.
3. Vernham wood springs
Looking on the effects of different springs on the water/carbonate chemistry
Effects of land slipping on carbonate precipitation
Fiona suggested we include other source geologies and land use differences to investigate the effect on the springs/carbonate precipitation.
A screenshot of our zoom meeting to discuss which of the three proposals we wanted to use for the research project.
Following another group ZOOM meeting and careful consideration of Fiona’s feedback in mind, we decided that proposal 2 was the best fit for our project. An investigation into the effect on pH and spring water chemistry caused by conifers or deciduous trees and the tufa formation left us with plenty of variables to analyse and scientific questions to explore.
In the end, we agreed on our (very rough) first draft hypothesis: If a river system is influenced by conifer plantations, through surface runoff and soil seepage, the water chemistry will be more acidic allowing greater amounts of CaCO3 to dissolve and thus potentially smaller tufa deposits when compared with streams affected by deciduous plantations.
Welcome to Group 3’s environmental geoscience research project. Before we get started, it’s important to get to the know the team behind all this work.
Zara
Having spent the summer writing articles in Bangkok, Zara is the head blogger of the team. Zara is also part of the University’s Charity Fashion Show team. Zara is an animal lover and loves travelling to new places. After university Zara hopes to work in sustainability management or conservation.
Romney
Our team’s expert on all things agricultural thanks to her exciting farm life upbringing, Romney is also the captain of the University of Bristol women’s hockey C team. If she’s not working on the farm Romney loves to skii during vacation time, and is now a fully qualified skii instructor. After university Romney hopes to work as an environmental consultant.
Hazim
Hazim has a particular interest in solar energy having spent the summer working with a renewable energy firm back in Malaysia. Hazim is also a keen football player and is an active member of the University of Bristol Malaysian football team. After university Hazim is hoping to work in either a geoscience or tech firm in the UK.
David
South African photographer and water polo player David is the leader of our team. Whenever he’s not in Wills Memorial lab working on a project, he’s cycling to all ends of Bristol trying to capture the best wildlife photo to feature on BBC nature. David is also a part of the University of Bristol Surf Society, braving the freezing welsh seaside each weekend.
