Chapter 2 4.2 Flashcards
Compare the weathering found in the uplands and lowlands
Upland - scree (rock fragments) makes the ground very rough. Scree consists of angular rock pieces created by freeze-thraw weathering. Each winter, temperatures are often below freezing each night and warmer during the day. Rainwater gets into cracks in the rocks, widening and expanding the crack by 10%, this bit of the rock eventually breaks into little pieces.
Lowland- plant roots and animals burrowing into the rock puts pressure on the rock. This starts to break down the structure of the rock, after continuous cycles larger cracks are formed. This process is called biological weathering
Explain 2 ways humans have affected the Upland landscape
- Humans have put boundaries in the upland areas that are called drystone walls this helps the farmers to keep sheep in their pens.
- Farming sheep in the upland areas happens because the soil is too thin to grow any crops on the hills
Explain 2 ways humans have affected the Lowland landscape
- Humans have been farming crops because of the lowland’s geology is mainly sand and clay producing fertile soil perfect for crop farming
- Humans have built large villages near to farmland, a water supply and close to fertile soil. A large amount of trees were cut down to make way for the farmland and large villages
Compare the soil/rock movements processes in the uplands and lowlands
In the upland areas slope processes affect valley sides. In lowland areas chemical weathering affects the chalk and the calcium carbonate, an alkali, so is affected by solutions like rain water. In upland areas like the Lake District landslides are common and scree fragments are unstable and move easily during the landslides. In lowland areas such as the Weald, the other main type of weathering is biological weathering were plant roots and animals burrow into rocks breaking them up over time.
Compare misfit rivers and dry valleys (location, characteristics, formation)
Misfit rivers are found in U shaped valleys in upland areas such as the Lake District. Dry valleys are found in vales in lowland areas such as the Weald. Misfit rivers are small rivers that deposit silt and mud ( known as alluvium) in the valley bottoms. Dry valleys are usually found near chalk because chalk is impermeable, they are found where rivers have once flowed. During and After the last ice age, water in the chalk rocks froze, making it impermeable. Then, fresh water formed rivers and valleys. As the climate warmed, water seeped through the chalk rocks once more leaving dry valleys where the river has once flowed. Glaciers in the ice ages created deep U-shaped valleys and hollows. Today rivers flow at the bottom of the valley instead of glaciers. These are small compared to their valleys, these rivers are called misfit rivers.
Explain how glaciers have affected both landscapes
In upland areas glaciers created deep U-shaped valleys and hollows that are now filled by lakes. There are rivers at the bottom of the U-shaped valley called a misfit river. In lowland areas, during glacial periods the gaps in the chalk froze making it impermeable. When the ice started to melt, a river started to flow above the ground as it could no longer go into the chalk because it was impermeable, the climate started to get warmer and the river now runs underground and can’t be seen.
Compare which landscape (upland or lowland) have been affected more by humans
In the lowlands, timber was cut down to make way for large farmlands and villages. In the uplands, rock and stone walls were taken from the mountains. In the lowlands large villages are found around farmland, a water supply, on fertile soil. In Uplands settlements are spread out, near a water supply, could be easily defended, sheltered from wind and rain. There are less homes in upland regions than in lowland regions. I would say that the lowland areas have been affected more than upland areas.
