1C: Glacial Landscapes in the UK

Question 1

what was ice cover of the UK like during the last ice age?

Answer 1

vast ice sheets spread over the UK from the north to cover all of northern Wales and northern England

Question 2

what is abrasion?

Answer 2

the ‘sandpapering effect’ caused when rocks trapped beneath a glacier scratch and smooth underlying bedrock as the glacier moves down the valley

Question 3

what is plucking?

Answer 3

melt water in the glacier freezes onto rocks and as the glacier moves forward it rips or ‘plucks’ rock fragments form the bedrock

Question 4

describe the formation of corries

Answer 4

1) Snow collects in a natural hollow
2) The snow accumulates over time and turns into glacial ice
3) Material is added from above due to freeze thaw weathering
4) Abrasion and plucking steepen the back wall
5) Rotational slip ‘over-deepens’ the corrie, eroding downwards
6) Over-deepening leads to the formation of a rock lip at the head of the corrie
7) As the glacier increases in size it overspills the lip and flow downslope
8) Once the glacier retreats the corrie is left behind as a large hollow in a mountain slope (often with a tarn (lake) found at the bottom)

Question 5

how do glaciers move via basal slip?

Answer 5

melt water beneath the glacier allows it to slide forward

Question 6

how do glaciers move via internal deformation?

Answer 6

slipping and deformation of individual ice crystals within the glacier allows the glacier to move even when temperatures are so cold that basal flow cannot take place

Question 7

what is bulldozing?

Answer 7

when rock debris is pushed forward at the front of the glacier

Question 8

what is material carried by glaciers called?

Answer 8

moraine

Question 9

why do glaciers deposit sediment?

Answer 9

1) melting at the snout means sediment is dumped on the ground (till)
2) glacier meets an obstacle
3) is glacier is overloaded with material

Question 10

what is the difference between till and outwash?

Answer 10

1) till is poorly sorted with jagged rock fragments of all sizes
2) outwash is well sorted as it has been carried by the meltwater

Question 11

describe the formation of an arete

Answer 11

when two corries develop side by side or back to back they make a ridge between them

Question 12

describe the formation of a pyramidal peak

Answer 12

when several corries erode back to back until a sharp pyramidal peak is left

Question 13

Describe the formation of glacial troughs?

Answer 13

1) snow accumulates in a V-shaped valley and turns into ice over time
2) glacier erodes sides of the valley, deepening and widening it via a combination of plucking and abrasion
3) when ice melts a wide flat bottomed You-shapes valley with steep sides is left behind

Question 14

Describe the formation of truncated spurs

Answer 14

Interlocking Spurs are sawn off by the glacier during the formation of glacial troughs, leaving behind truncated spurs, which are found along the side of a glacial trough

Question 15

Describe the formation of hanging valleys

Answer 15

1) After a glacial trough is formed the tributaries that used to flow into the river valley sides now exit abruptly through a gap in the new cliff shaped valley wall
2) the water cascades down from a high altitude and creates a waterfall

Question 16

Describe the formation of ribbon lakes

Answer 16

1) river used to run through v shaped valley
2) v shaped valley eroded to form glacial trough
3) long narrow lake now left in wide basin

Question 17

What is an erratic?

Answer 17

A piece of rock that differs in size and type from the native rock of the area where it rests

Question 18

How do glacial erratics form?

Answer 18

1) rock enters the glaciers either in top by freeze thaw weathering or inside due to plucking
2) carries long distances by the glacier
3) glacier melts leaving behind moraine

Question 19

Describe the formation of drumlins

Answer 19

1) melting glacier meets a small obstacle which is enough to encourage deposition of till
2) on first meeting the obstacle more deposition takes place which forms a blunt stoss end
3) the moving ice moulds the boulder clay into shape around the obstacle which forms the tapered lee end
4) over time the material is reshaped by further ice movements

Question 20

What is lateral moraine?

Answer 20

1) moraine found along the edges of the glacier
2) material from the valley walls is broken up by freeze thaw weathering and falls onto the ice surface
3) carries along the sides of the glacier
4) when ice melts it forms a ridge of material along the valley sides

Question 21

What is medial moraine?

Answer 21

1) formes from two lateral moraines joining in the middle of the glacier forming a line of new material
2) when two glaciers merge the two edges that meat form the centre line of the new glacier
3) existence of medial moraine is evidence that the glacier has more than one source
4) when ice melts it forms a ridge of material along the valley centre

Question 22

What is terminal moraine?

Answer 22

1) forms at the snout of a glacier across the valley floor
2) marks the furthest extent of the ice
3) it is usually the feature which marks the end of unsorted deposits and the start of water sorted material
4) moraine is transported ahead of the glacier via bulldozing

Question 23

Name an arête in the Lake District

Answer 23

Striding edge

Question 24

Name a Corrie in the Lake District

Answer 24

Red tarn

Question 25

Name a glacial trough in the Lake District

Answer 25

Keswick is situated in the floor of a glacial trough

Question 26

Name a ribbon lake in the Lake District

Answer 26

Lake coniston

Question 27

Name a hanging valley found in the Lake District

Answer 27

Found at grisedale

Question 28

Name a drumlin found in the Lake District

Answer 28

Found in swindale

Question 29

What are the arguments for developement and the arguments for conservation?

Answer 29

DEVELOPMENT:
1) more jobs
2) generate money for the economy
CONSERVATION:
1) keep house prices down
2) preserve natural environment
3) conserve sense of community

Question 30

What are some strong conflicts between different land uses?

Answer 30

1) wildlife conservation and reservoirs
2) farming and forestry
3) reservoirs and forestry
4) tourism (walking) and hunting and shooting

Question 31

describe quarrying in glaciated upland areas

Answer 31

1) Glacial, upland regions are suited to quarrying because:
- the geology of upland areas is different to that of lowland areas (composed of tough resistant rock not found in low land areas)
- not very populated so few dangers or complaints when using explosives to shatter sections of rock.
2) There are 13 active quarries in the Lake District which mine slate for roofing and as decorative material.
3) Penryn Quarry in Snowdonia accounts for 50% of the UK’s slate production.
4) Limestone is mined in the Pennines to be used as building materials.

Question 32

describe tourism in glaciated upland areas

Answer 32

1) The beautiful natural scenery of glaciated upland areas attracts lots of tourists.
2) The Lake District National Park attracted over 15 million people in 2014, who spent nearly ₤1000 million in the local economy.
3) Tourism provides over 16,000 full time jobs.
4) Activities include cruises in Windermere and Scafell Pike is the highest peak in England.

Question 33

describe farming in glaciated upland areas

Answer 33

1) Difficult to farm crops due to steep slopes and low temperatures so animal grazing is better suited, if the species have adapted to graze on hilly slopes and withstand cold + wet + windy conditions.
2) The Lake District is famous for its native Herdwick sheep, and breeders have patented ‘Lakeland Herdwick’.
3) In the Scottish Highlands, sheep have been being grazed since the 1800s. Recently deer and highland cattle have been introduced to meet demands.

Question 34

describe forestry in glaciated upland areas

Answer 34

1) Glacial troughs are good locations for forestry because conditions in them are less harsh and the soil is better quality.
2) There are over 2 million hectares of coniferous woodland in the UK, much of it in upland areas.
3) Private investors in the 1980s expanded forest cover in the Isle of Arran.

Question 35

what are the physcial features in the Lake District which attract tourists?

Answer 35

1) Lakes like Windermere and Ullswater offer water sports, cruises and fishing
2) Mountainous landscapes with peaks like Scafell Pike (the tallest mountain in England) and Helvellyn are popular for walking and mountain Biking
3) Adventure Activities include abseiling, gorge scrambling and rock climbing

Question 36

what are the human features in the Lake District which attract tourists?

Answer 36

1) The landscape has inspired writers and poets such as William Wordworth
2) Beatrix Potter’s house is now a National Trust Attraction
3) Scenic towns and villages, such as Grasmere and Keswick, are popular
4) Other monuments, such as Muncaster Castle at Ravenglass

Question 37

what are the social impacts of tourism in the Lake District?

Answer 37

1) In 2014 nearly 15 million tourists visited the lake district – only 40 thousand locals
2) 90% of visitors arrive by road, creating lots of congestion
3) House prices increased due to 20% of property being either holiday rental or second homes
4) Jobs can be seasonal, poorly paid and unreliable

Question 38

what are the economic impacts of tourism in the Lake District?

Answer 38

1) In 2014 tourists spent almost ₤1000 million in the lake district
2) Tourism provides 16,000 full time jobs
3) Traffic congestion slows down business communications

Question 39

what are the environmental impacts of tourism in the Lake District?

Answer 39

1) ‘Honeypot’ sites and footpaths show signs of overcrowding – footpath erosion, litter, damage to verges by cars
2) High congestion means lots of fumes polluting the air and the surrounding environment, possibly damaging ecosystems
3) Walkers can damage farmland by trampling crops or leaving litter
4) Dogs can disturb sheep

Question 40

how is congestion managed in the Lake District?

Answer 40

1) Several dual-carriageways have been built around the Lake District to improve access
2) Transport hubs, like at Ambleside, help create an interchange between parking, buses, ferries, walking and cycling - this helps to relieve congestion elsewhere
3) Park-and-ride bus schemes, like the ‘Honister Rambler’ have been expanded for tourists

Question 41

how is footpath erosion managed in the Lake District?

Answer 41

1) ‘Fix the Fells’ maintains and repairs mountain paths
- Supported by the National Trust
- Use techniques such as stone pitching (large stones dug into path to create hard-wearing surface)
- Use local stones and sheep fleece to make well-drained solid surface
2) Still hundreds of kilometres of footpath in need of constant attention presents huge challenge

Question 42

What are the features of an arrête?

Answer 42

1) steep sided
2) narrow/sharp at top
3) (surface is uneven or loose rocks/boulders)