Changing landscapes of the UK

Question 1

Characteristics of an igneous rock?

Answer 1

1. Formed when molten rock (magma) from the mantle cools down and hardens.
2. The rock forms crystals as it cools.
3. They are usually hard.

Question 2

Examples of igneous rock?

Answer 2

1. Granite
2. Basalt

Question 3

Characteristics of a sedimentary rock?

Answer 3

1. Formed when layers of sediment are compacted together until they become solid rock.
2. Are usually softer and more easily eroded than metamorphic and igneous rocks.
3. Some are still relatively hard.

Question 4

Examples of sedimentary rock?

Answer 4

1. Sandstone (made of sand-sized particles that have been cemented together)
2. Chalk (formed from tiny shells and the skeletons of dead sea creatures)

Question 5

Characteristics of a metamorphic rock?

Answer 5

1. Formed when other rocks are changed by heat and pressure.
2. The new rocks become harder and more compact.

Question 6

Examples of metamorphic rock?

Answer 6

1. Slate
2. Schist

Question 7

How did plate collisions shape the landscape of the UK?

Answer 7

1. Collisions between tectonic plates caused the rock to be folded and uplifted, forming mountain ranges.
2. Many of these areas remain as uplands, e.g. the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, and north Wales.
3. The intense heat and pressure caused by plate collisions formed hard metamorphic rocks in northern Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Question 8

How did plate movements shape the landscape of the UK?

Answer 8

1. Plate movements meant that hundreds of millions of years ago Britain was in the tropics and higher sea levels meant that it was partly underwater.
2. Carboniferous limestone formed in the shallow, warm seas. This can be seen in the uplands of the Peak District, south Wales and south west England.

Question 9

How did active volcanos shape the landscape of the UK?

Answer 9

1. 520 million years ago the land that now makes up the UK used to be much closer to the boundary of a tectonic plate than it is now.
2. Volcanoes occur near some plate boundaries, and volcanic eruptions forced magma through the Earth’s crust which cooled to form igneous rocks.

Question 10

What landscapes does granite form?

Answer 10

1. Granite is an igneous rock and forms upland landscapes.
2. It has lots of joints that aren’t evenly spread. The parts of the rock where there are more joints wear down faster. Areas that have fewer joints are weathered more slowly than the surrounding rock and stick out at the surface, forming tors.
3. Granite is impermeable, it doesn’t let water through. This creates moorlands, large areas of waterlogged land, and acidic soil with low-growing vegetation.

Question 11

What landscapes does basalt form?

Answer 11

1. Basalt is an igneous rock made of volcanic lava.
2. It is very hard and impermeable. It forms escarpments in UK uplands and cliffs at the coast.
3. As lava cools it can form columns. Cracks between the columns may be eroded by glaciation and the sea to form steps, e.g. the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Question 12

What landscapes does chalk form?

Answer 12

1. Chalk is a sedimentary rock. It forms hills in UK lowlands and cliffs at the coast. One side of the hill is usually steep and the other side is more gentle.
2. Chalk is permeable, water flows through it and emerges as a spring where it meets impermeable rock.

Question 13

What landscapes does sandstone form?

Answer 13

1. Sandstone is a sedimentary rock made from sand. Sandstone can be soft or hard.
2. Softer sandstones form lowland landscapes. Harder sandstones can form upland landscapes like the Torridon hills in Scotland.
3. Sandstone is porous- it has small gaps in it, so it can store water in underground aquifers.

Question 14

What landscapes do slate and schist form?

Answer 14

1. Slate and schist are metamorphic rocks.
2. Slate forms in layers creating weak planes in the rock. It is generally very hard and resistant to weathering but it is easily split into thin slabs.
3. Schist has bigger crystals than slate and also splits easily into small flakes.
4. Slate and schist often form rugged upland landscapes. They are impermeable, which can lead to waterlogged and acidic soils.

Question 15

How has forestry changed the landscape?

Answer 15

1. The UK used to be covered in deciduous woodland, but there is very little natural woodland left.
2. Coniferous forests have been planted for timber. The trees are often planted in straight lines. When areas are felled, the landscape is left bare. This affects drainage and can lead to increased erosion.
3. In some places, deciduous woodland is being replanted to try to return the area to a more natural state.

Question 16

How has settlement changed the landscape?

Answer 16

1. Early settlers needed a water supply, flat land to build on, or a place that could be easily defended.
2. This meant that the development of settlements has been concentrated on lowland areas and near rivers and coasts.
3. As settlements grew: land was concreted over for roads and buildings which affected drainage patterns, some rivers were diverted through underground channels, and some river channels were straightened or had embankments built to prevent flooding.
4. Most of the biggest cities are ports and industrial areas.

Question 17

How has agriculture changed the landscape?

Answer 17

1. People have cleared the land of forest to make space for farming.
2. Over time, hedgerows and walls have been put in to mark out fields.
3. Different landscapes have been adapted for different types of farming.
4. Arable - flat land with good soil, e.g. eastern England, is used for arable farming (growing crops)
5. Dairy - warm and wet areas, e.g. south west England, are good for dairy farming as there are lots of large, grassy fields.
6. Sheep- sheep farming takes place in the harsher conditions in the uplands. Sheep farming has led to a lack of trees on the hills as young trees are eaten or trampled before they get a chance to mature.