2 The Weald - A Lowland Landscape Flashcards
What does the Weald consist of?
Undulating (gently rolling) hills
What did the Weald used to be and what did this form?
A dome of folded rocks forming an arch called an anticline
What are encarpments?
Higher areas of resistant rocks like chalk
What is a dipslope?
Where behind the encarpment, gentle slopes follow the angle at which the rocks are tilted
What is a vale
softer clays from lower and flatter grounds
What kinds of weathering occur in the Weald in southern England (lowland area)?
Chemical weathering as chalk is an alkali and is easily effected by acid rain and biological weathering as tree and shrub roots break up solid rock.
Why is it unusual to find rivers in chalk areas?
Chalk is porous except when saturated after wet weather
Why are rivers common in vales?
As clay is impermeable
How do you get dry valleys where rivers once flowed?
During and after the last ice age, water in the chalk froze making it impermeable but then fresh water formed rivers and valleys. The climate warmed up so the water was able to deep through the chalk again
What is an anticline?
A ridge/fold of rock with many layers
