Geography N5 Flashcards
explain the process of freeze-thaw
Water enters a crack in a rock, it freezes and expands, breaking the rock apart over time
explain the process of plucking
Ice freezes onto a rock, pulling the pieces away as the glacier moves
explain the process of abrasion
Rocks embedded in the glacier scrape against the valley floor and sides wearing them down
explain how a corrie is formed
Snow accumulates in a hollow, compresses to ice and begins to move, plucking steepens the back wall and abrasion deepens the hollow, freeze-thaw adds debris. When the ice melts a tarn may form
explain how an arete and pyramidal peak are formed
A narrow ridge between two corries is formed when erosion from two corries are back to back - arete. Formed when three or more corries erode a mountain from all sides
How a U-shaped valley is formed
A glacier widens, deepens and straightens a V-shaped river valley through plucking and abrasion
How is a truncated spur formed
It forms when a glacier moves through a river valley. Instead of winding around interlocking spurs like a river, the glacier erodes the tips of the spurs through plucking and abrasion, cutting them off and creating steep, cliff-like faces. This results in a U-shaped valley with truncated spurs on its sides.
How is a hanging valley formed
It forms when a smaller glacier erodes its valley less deeply than a larger main glacier. After the glaciers melt, the smaller valley is left high above the main U-shaped valley, often with a waterfall
Describe and explain the conflicts which can arise between land uses within the lake district
tourism, farming, conservation, and quarrying.
Tourism vs. Farming: Walkers can damage crops or disturb livestock by leaving gates open.Quarrying vs. Tourism: Quarrying scars the landscape, reducing its appeal to tourists.
Tourism vs. Locals: Traffic congestion and second homes increase house prices, making it hard for locals to afford housing.
Describe and explain the solutions adopted to deal with the conflicts within the lake district
Footpath Repair: Stone pitching and re-routing paths to reduce erosion from walkers.Education: Signs and campaigns encourage responsible behaviour, such as closing gates and taking litter home.Traffic Management: Park-and-ride schemes and improved public transport reduce congestion.Planning Restrictions: Limits on quarrying and second home ownership protect landscapes and support local communities.
How is a ribbon lake formed
A ribbon lake forms when a glacier erodes softer rock more deeply than surrounding harder rock, creating a hollow. After the glacier melts, the hollow fills with water, forming a long, narrow lake, often in a U-shaped valley.
What is a misfit stream
A misfit stream is a small river or stream that flows through a large U-shaped glacial valley. It is “misfit” because its size is too small to have created the valley, which was formed by a much larger glacier during glaciation.
How is a metamorphic rock formed
They are formed when rocks are subjected to high heat, high pressure, hot mineral rich fluids or, more commonly some combinations of these factors
How is an igneous rock formed
They form when hot, molten rock crystallises and solidifies
How is a sedimentary rock formed
They are formed from deposits of pre-existing rocks or pieces of once-living organisms that accumulate on Earths surface
How is a glacier formed
Snow accumulates overtime in upland areas, the weight of layers compress snow into firn, firn compacts further to form glacial ice, when the ice becomes thick enough, it starts to move under gravity
What is a glacier
A large mass of ice that moves slowly down hill due to gravity, typically found in upland or cold areas
Describe deposition in glaciers
When glaciers lose energy, they deposit material they are carrying
Give 2 environmental impacts of glaciation
Creation of landscapes (peaks, ridges, valleys). Creates natural habitats for wildlife
Give 2 Economic impacts of glaciation
Tourism - uplands (the lake district) attracts millions of tourists, providing jobs and income. Challenges include congestion and footpath erosion
Farming - upland areas are used for sheep grazing due to thin, poor soils
Give 2 social impacts of glaciation
Settlements are often built in glaciated valleys. Overcrowding and rising house pricing in tourist
How is a V-shaped valley formed
A V-shaped valley forms through river erosion. The river cuts down into the land over time, deepening and widening the valley, while the sides are shaped by weathering and mass movement. The result is a steep, V-shaped valley.
Explain Hydraulic action
Waves force water and air into cracks in a rock , the pressure of the trapped air cause the rock to weaken and eventually break
Explain Corrasion (abrasion)
Rock fragments and sediment carried by the waves are thrown against the coastline, this “sandblasting” effect wears away the cliffs
Explain Corrosion (Solution)
weak acids in seawater dissolve soluble rocks like limestone and chalk, this chemicals process contributes to the breakdown of cliffs
Explain Attrition
Rock fragments in the water collide with each other , over time, these fragments become smaller and more rounded
Explain in detail the process of Longshore drift
Longshore drift is the movement of sediment along the coast, caused by waves hitting the shore at an angle. The swash moves sediment up the beach at the same angle, while the backwash pulls it straight down. This zigzag motion gradually moves material along the coastline, shaping features like spits and sandbars.
Explain swash and backwash
Swash is the movement of water up the beach after a wave breaks, carrying sediment in the direction of the wave. Backwash is the water flowing back down the beach, under the influence of gravity, moving sediment perpendicular to the shore. Together, they contribute to processes like longshore drift.
How are cliffs formed
Cliffs form through the process of erosion. Waves, wind, and weathering erode softer rock at the base of the coastline, while harder rock remains intact. Over time, this creates steep, vertical rock faces. The process involves abrasion, hydraulic action, and attrition, which wear away the rock, causing the cliff to retreat.
How are caves, arches and stacks formed
A large crack is opened by hydraulic action, the crack grows into a cave, the cave becomes larger, the cave breaks through the headland forming a natural arch, the arch is eroded then collapses, this leaves a tall rock stack, the stack is eroded or falls down to form a stump.
How are headlands and bays formed
waves erode soft rock more quickly than hard rock, along coastlines where the cliffs are made of different rock types, the softer rocks are eroded back quickly to form bays, the harder rocks are eroded more slowly and are left jutting out to form headlands.
How are spits and sand bars formed
They form where the coastline changes direction, longeshore drift transports sand and deposits it in a sheltered area, deposited sand builds up over time until it is over sea level, this deposition continues until the beach extends into the sea to form a spit which can develop a hooked or curved end due to a change in prevailing wind.
Describe and explain the conflicts which can arise in the Dorset coasts
Tourism vs. Conservation: Overcrowding, footpath erosion, and litter damage natural habitats.Tourism vs. Locals: Increased traffic and second homes raise house prices, affecting locals.Conservation vs. Quarrying: Quarrying for stone harms landscapes and ecosystems.
Describe and explain the solutions which can deal with the conflicts in the Dorset coasts
Footpath Maintenance: Resurfacing and re-routing paths to reduce erosion.Education: Signs and campaigns to encourage responsible tourism, such as litter disposal.Traffic Management: Improved public transport and car parks to reduce congestion.Conservation Policies: Limits on quarrying and protection of areas like the Jurassic Coast to preserve habitats.
Explain the process of Attrition
The process where rocks and pebbles carried by waves or a river collide with each other. Over time, this makes them smaller, smoother, and more rounded as their edges are worn away. It’s common in areas with strong wave or river activity.
What is coastal erosion
Coastal erosion is the process where waves wear away the land along the coastline. It involves the removal of rock and sediment through processes like hydraulic action, abrasion , attrition, and solution .
What are some factors affecting coastal erosion
Wave Strength, Coastal Shape, Tides and Currents, Human Activity, Climate
How are beaches formed
They form where the waves have little energy so that they deposit the mud silt, sand and shingle that they have been carrying.
how are bars and lagoons formed
Longshore drift moves sand along the coastline, creating a sandbar that connects two headlands, blocking the entrance to a bay or estuary.
The area behind the bar, now cut off from the sea, forms a shallow, sheltered water body known as a lagoon.
How is a tombolo formed
A tombolo is formed when a sandbar or deposit of sand connects an island to the mainland. This occurs through the action of longshore drift, which moves sediment along the coastline, gradually building up a narrow strip of land between the island and the shore.
Explain sea walls (hard engineering)
They are large, strong structures made of concrete or stone, built parallel to the shore. Sea walls reflect wave energy, preventing the sea from eroding the land behind them. However, they can be expensive to build and maintain, and may cause erosion further along the coast due to wave energy being redirected.
Explain groynes (hard engineering)
Groynes are wooden or concrete barriers built at right angles to the shore. They trap sediment moving along the coast due to longshore drift, helping to build up beaches and protect the coastline from erosion. Groynes prevent beach loss but can cause erosion further down the coast by interrupting sediment flow.
Explain a riprap (hard engineering)
They are large rocks or boulders are placed along the coastline to absorb and dissipate wave energy. This helps protect the shore from erosion by reducing the impact of waves. Riprap is relatively low-cost, flexible, and can last a long time, but it may be less aesthetically pleasing and requires ongoing maintenance
Explain Beach nourishment (soft engineering)
Its a method where sand or shingle is added to eroding beaches to restore them. This helps protect the coastline by enhancing the natural defense against waves and erosion. It is environmentally friendly, but it requires regular maintenance and can be costly over time.
Explain Managed retreat (soft engineering)
Its a strategy where human activity is deliberately moved away from vulnerable coastal areas, allowing the sea to flood and erode the land naturally. This approach reduces the need for costly sea defenses and allows ecosystems to adapt, but it may displace people and businesses.
Give some real Dorset examples of coastal landforms
Old Harry Rocks:stacks and stumps. Durdle Door: A limestone arch. Chesil Beach: A tombolo. Lulworth Cove
Give 2 social impacts of coastal erosion in dorset
Displacement of Communities: Coastal erosion threatens properties near the shore, leading to the potential relocation of residents, especially in areas like Studland Bay. Loss of Tourism: Erosion can damage beaches and coastal attractions, negatively affecting tourism, which is a key economic driver for areas like Weymouth.
Give 2 environmental impacts of coastal erosion in dorset
Habitat Loss: Coastal erosion can destroy natural habitats, such as saltmarshes and sand dunes, affecting wildlife in areas like the Chesil Beach. Damage to Ecosystems: Erosion can lead to the loss of coastal ecosystems, such as the destruction of coastal vegetation, which helps protect the shoreline and supports local biodiversity.