For my pilot project I have decided to photograph aerial images of the Thames river
running through central London. I have chosen to photograph the Thames as it will be affected by climate change. In a warming world, the general trend is going to be toward greater water scarcity and drier rivers. A major study of 900 rivers published in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate in 2009 concluded that flows into the oceans have decreased significantly over the last 50 years, with that trend predicted to continue. Direct climate change impacts on rivers will occur through rising temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations, while indirect effects will be caused by changing precipitation (rainfall, snow, fog, etc.) and melting glaciers/ice. Climate change impacts on rivers will include changes in water quality, impacts on wetland plants and animals, and biodiversity loss, changes in climate and land use will place additional pressures on already-stressed ecosystems along many rivers in the world.
The Thames Basin drains an area of over 10,000km2 through London to the North Sea. It encompasses both rural and heavily urbanised areas overlying a spatially-varied and complex geology. Historically, the lower Thames has proved resilient to climate variability, and careful river management in recent years has helped protect the region from flooding. However, recent climate projections for the region indicate that over the next century winter rainfall might increase by 10-15%, potentially leading to higher flows than the Thames can accommodate.
I have organised a helicopter flight with British International Helicopters which will fly from Redhill Aerodrome to London and along the Thames then back to Redhill. The flight is 30 minutes so that should give me enough time to get used to photographing from the helicopter before flying over London and trying to get the image I want of the river flowing through the city. This seems to be the cheapest way of getting an aerial view of London and I will also have full control over the camera.
I did research purchasing a drone and attaching a camera to it but this was much more expensive than using a helicopter or microlight aeroplane and I wouldn't have full control over the camera.
running through central London. I have chosen to photograph the Thames as it will be affected by climate change. In a warming world, the general trend is going to be toward greater water scarcity and drier rivers. A major study of 900 rivers published in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate in 2009 concluded that flows into the oceans have decreased significantly over the last 50 years, with that trend predicted to continue. Direct climate change impacts on rivers will occur through rising temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations, while indirect effects will be caused by changing precipitation (rainfall, snow, fog, etc.) and melting glaciers/ice. Climate change impacts on rivers will include changes in water quality, impacts on wetland plants and animals, and biodiversity loss, changes in climate and land use will place additional pressures on already-stressed ecosystems along many rivers in the world.
The Thames Basin drains an area of over 10,000km2 through London to the North Sea. It encompasses both rural and heavily urbanised areas overlying a spatially-varied and complex geology. Historically, the lower Thames has proved resilient to climate variability, and careful river management in recent years has helped protect the region from flooding. However, recent climate projections for the region indicate that over the next century winter rainfall might increase by 10-15%, potentially leading to higher flows than the Thames can accommodate.
I have organised a helicopter flight with British International Helicopters which will fly from Redhill Aerodrome to London and along the Thames then back to Redhill. The flight is 30 minutes so that should give me enough time to get used to photographing from the helicopter before flying over London and trying to get the image I want of the river flowing through the city. This seems to be the cheapest way of getting an aerial view of London and I will also have full control over the camera.
I did research purchasing a drone and attaching a camera to it but this was much more expensive than using a helicopter or microlight aeroplane and I wouldn't have full control over the camera.
