Capel Bangor

Many thanks to the Vale of Rheidol Railway for facilitating this camera's location. This camera is capitally funded by Aberystwyth University. The River Rheidol, spanning 19 miles in length, flows through Ceredigion, Wales. Its source is located in Plynlimon, which receives an average annual rainfall of 40 inches and serves as the origin of both the Wye and Severn rivers. The Rheidol emerges from the headwaters of the Nant-y-moch Reservoir on the western slopes of Plynlimon. It then meanders southward, passing through the increasingly deep valley to Ponterwyd, and continues its course southwest through the ancient woodland of Welsh Oak. Eventually, it veers westward, reaching its confluence with the Afon Mynach at Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion (known as Pontarfynach in Welsh, meaning 'bridge on the Mynach'), where a magnificent waterfall resides. Moving onward, the river passes the abandoned workings of the Cwm Rheidol lead mine, one among several metal mines in the valley that contribute to metal pollution in the river. It continues its westward flow until it joins the Afon Ystwyth and ultimately reaches the estuary at Aberystwyth, draining into Cardigan Bay. In the late 1960s, following the closure of the mine, a significant discharge of water trapped in an adit caused the entire river to turn an ochre orange color, greatly increasing lead and zinc concentrations. Presently, water management for the mine's drainage involves the use of constructed wetlands, while previous methods included a now obsolete limestone filter bed installed in the 1960s, still visible from the road.Aberystwyth experiences an oceanic climate similar to the majority of the United Kingdom, which is particularly evident due to its coastal location facing the Irish Sea. With little land moderation, the air temperature closely aligns with the sea temperature when prevailing onshore (westerly) winds prevail. The nearest Met Office weather station, situated 3 miles northeast in Gogerddan, shares a similar elevation. The area has recorded an absolute maximum temperature of 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) in July 2006, a figure also representing the highest recorded temperature for the month across Wales. This suggests that the region's lower lying position, aided by a potential föhn effect when offshore winds occur, contributes to occasional high temperatures. On average, the warmest day reaches 28.0 °C (82.4 °F), and approximately 5.6 days achieve a maximum temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or higher. Conversely, the absolute minimum temperature stands at −13.5 °C (7.7 °F), recorded in January 2010. Air frost occurs on approximately 39.8 days in a typical year. The annual rainfall in Aberystwyth averages 1,112 mm (44 in), with more than 1 mm recorded on 161 days. These averages are based on data from the 1981–2010 period.The Farson Digital webcam is strategically positioned at Capel Bangor Railway Station on the River Rheidol as part of a project initiated by the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University, specifically within the field of physical geography. The webcam serves to monitor the movement of large woody debris in specific areas, including the Capel Bangor road bridge on the River Rheidol and the downstream end of the Grogwynion reach of the Ystwyth, with a focus on assessing potential flooding risks.