distinctive landscapes Flashcards
what is friction?
when 2 surfaces rub together to create resistance
what is erosion?
the process of eroding or being eroded by natural agents
what is hydraulic action?
the power of waves as they smash against cliffs, air becomes trapped in the cracks in the rock and causes the rock to break apart
what is abrasion?
when pebbles grind along a rock platform. overtime, the rock becomes smooth
what is a meander?
when water flows in a curvy path
what is an oxbow lake?
the remains of a bend in a river
what is a slipoff slope?
depositional landforms that occur on the inside of a meandering river
what is a river cliff?
a steep bank created on the outside of a river bend
what is undercutting?
lines get weaker and enlarged before developing into a sea cave
what is a plunge pool?
a pool found at the bottom of a waterfall
what is a gorge?
a steep valley where a waterfall used to be
what is a waterfall?
when a river flows overland that is 2 different heights
what is the source of a river?
the start of a river
what is a landscape?
any physical feature of the Earth’s surface which has characteristics, recognisable shape
how is a landscape produced?
by natural causes
what are the 4 elements that make up a landscape?
- human
- biological
- variables
- natural / physical
what does it mean by the term ‘built landscape’?
where there are more human than physical elements visible
what does the term ‘natural landscape’ mean?
where the majority of the landscape is made up of natural or physical elements
what are 2 areas of the UK that are lowland?
Norfolk + Canterbury
what are 2 areas of the UK that are upland?
Glasgow + Exeter
what are 2 areas in the UK that are glaciated?
Snowdonia + Northwest Highlands
how do humans use glaciated areas?
tourism + farming
what sort of farming would take place in glaciated areas?
grazing
why can you not harvest in glaciated areas?
it is too steep for machines to get to and go on fields
what are 3 ways in which upland areas are different to glaciated areas?
- lots more vegetation
- no natural water sources nearby
- people live in upland areas
how high above sea level does an area have to be to count as upland?
100-600m
what is a typical example of a lowland area?
the fens
what elements mean that lowland areas are good for farming?
excellent drainage so soil isn’t saturated; the climate is warmer and drier, the soil is fertile and nutritious so is good for growing crops; flat so is accessible for all machinery
the higher up you get how does the climate change?
it gets colder, windier and wetter
the higher up you get how does the soil change?
there are more rocks so less soil depth and therefore the nutrients get washed away
the higher you go above sea level, how does the temperature change?
pressure decreases so particles loose heat and temperature drops
for every 1000ft you go above sea level, how much does the temperature drop by?
2°C
what is mass movement?
the process of soil, rock and other materials moving downslope due to gravity
how are light sediments held then moved?
held in suspension then moved by turbulence
what is saltation?
when small pieces of shingle bounces on the sea bed
what is traction?
where pebbles and larger material rolls on the sea bed
what is solution?
when rocks are slowly dissolved by the acidic sea water and transported by the sea
what is deposition?
when the sea looses energy so drops the material it has been carrying
what is weathering?
the impact of mechanical, chemical and biological processes which break down the Earth’s surface in situ
what is a sub ariel process?
a land-based process that occurs above the waterline
how is carbonation a part of chemical weathering?
when the carbon dioxide dissolved in rainwater (carbonation) then leads to the weak acids reacting with the limestone to form calcium bicarbonate which is soluble. limestone is then removed by solution
what are the 3 types of weathering?
- chemical
- biological
- mechanical / physical
what are examples of natural/physical features of a landscape?
mountains, coastlines, valleys + plains, rivers + lakes
what are examples of human features of a landscape?
buildings, man-made structures, infrastructure, fences + pylons
what are examples of variables features of a landscape?
weather, cloudscapes, smells+ sounds, temporary elements (storm, snow, mist)
what are uses of glaciated areas?
pastoral farming, water management, forestry, tourism
how is pastoral farming used in glaciated areas?
The upper slopes of the Lake District are ideal for sheep farming. The lower slopes of glaciated areas are suitable for dairy and beef farming.
how is water management used in glaciated areas?
the water in mountainous areas can be collected and stored in a dam. This water can be used to generate
hydroelectric power
how is tourism used in glaciated areas?
this is a major source of income in Wales, Scotland and the Lake District. people come to look at the scenery
what are the different geomorphic processes that occur in the UK?
erosion + weathering, deposition and transportation
what is freeze thaw weathering?
when water enters a crack in a rock which then freezes and expands, widening the crack. the ice melts and water goes deeper into crack. process repeats until rock splits
what is biological weathering?
plant roots get into small cracks in the rock. as the roots grow the cracks get larger and causes small pieces of rock to break away
what is chemical weathering?
rainwater and seawater can be a weak acid. limestone and chalk can overtime be dissolved by the acid in the water
what is attrition?
when rocks that the sea is carrying knock against each other, breaking apart to become smaller and more rounded
what is suspension
small particles are suspended in the flow of the water
what is the order of the formation of the coastal landforms?
crack, cave, arch, stack and stump
how is a cave formed?
the sea attacks the cracks, joints and bedding planes of the cliff with erosion, weathering, abrasion and hydraulic action
how is an arch formed?
the sea keeps on attacking the cave until it is eroded on both sides
how is a stack formed?
the top of the arch (the roof) gets weak and collapses leaving just a column (a stack) behind
how is a stump formed?
the waves cut off the top of the stack due to weathering and erosion and leaves a stump of rock that finishes at the tide line
how is a beach formed?
sand and rocks get ‘collected’ which are then broken own whilst being transported in the sea. the sand is then deposited along a coastline and over a long time, it builds up as a slop and creates a beach
