Glacial Landscapes in the UK Flashcards
Relief of the land
Refers to the highest and lowest elevation points in an area. e.g. mountains and rivers are typically the highest elevation points
Topography
The natural features of land, especially the shape of its surface.
Altitude
Height above sea level, measured in metres or feet.
Land use
The purpose or function of land for example pasture, grassland, retail.
Lowland
Are close to or below 200m above sea level. One example is the Fens in East Anglia.
Uplands
Are normally made up of mountains or high hills. Normally they are areas over 600m above sea level. Examples include the Cumbria mountains in the Lake District.
Glacial erosion
The wearing away and removal of the land by flowing water, ice or wind.
Plucking
A type of erosion where melt water in the glacier freezes onto rocks, and as the ice moves forward it plucks or pulls out large pieces along the rock joints.
Abrasion
Erosion caused by rocks and boulders in the base of the glacier acting like a giant file scratching and scraping the rocks below.
Bulldozing
Ice pushes material of all shapes and sizes as it moves slowly forward.
Glacial Till
Sediment transported by ice.
Moraine
Frost-shattered rock debris and material eroded from the valley floor and sides, transported and deposited by glaciers.
Outwash
Sediment deposited by meltwater streams in front of, and underneath,
a glacier. The material is sorted and rounded by water action.
Corrie
Armchair-shaped hollow in the mountainside formed by glacial erosion, rotational slip and freeze-thaw weathering.
This is where the valley glacier begins.
When the ice melts, it can leave a small circular lake called a tarn.
Arete
A sharp, knife-like ridge formed between two corries cutting back by processes of erosion and freeze thaw.
Pyramidal Peak
Where several corries cut back to meet at a central point, the mountain takes the form of a steep pyramid.
conservation
Managing the environment in order to preserve, protect or restore it.
drumlin
A hill made of glacial till deposited by a moving glacier, usually elongated or oval in shape, with the longer axis parallel to the former direction of ice.
erratics
Rocks which have been transported and deposited by a glacier some distance from their source region.
Freeze-thaw weathering
Occurs in cold climates when temperatures are often around freezing point and where exposed rocks contain many cracks.
Water enters the cracks during the warmer day and freezes during the colder night.
As the water turns into ice it expands and exerts pressure on
the surrounding rock, causing pieces to break off.
glacial trough
A river valley widened and deepened by the erosive action of glaciers; it becomes ‘U’-shaped instead of the ‘V’-shape of a river valley.
hanging valley
A tributary valley to the main glacier, too cold and high up for ice to be able to easily move.
It therefore was not eroded as much as the lower main valley, and today is often the site for a waterfall crashing several hundred metres to the main valley floor.
land use conflicts
Disagreements which arise when users of the land do not agree on how it should be used.
ribbon lake
A long, narrow lake found in glaciated valleys formed in locations where the glacier had more erosive power, e.g. in areas of softer rock, where the valley gradient temporarily steepened or a tributary glacier joined the main valley
rotational slip
This occurs when the ice moves in a circular motion.
This process can help to erode hollows in the landscape, and deepen hollows into bowl shapes.
truncated spur
A former river valley spur which has been sliced off by a valley glacier, forming cliff-like edges.
Example of an upland area in the UK affected by glaciation
Lake District
economic activities
tourism
farming
forestry
quarrying
farming overview
can be difficult to grow crops due to
- thin soils
- limited fertility
- soil erosion
well suited for pastoral farming:
sheep farming is common on the upper slopes
dairy and beef farming on the lower slopes
forestry overview
Coniferous Forests: Glaciated areas often have forests, particularly coniferous ones, which are logged for materials.
Employment: Forestry provides employment and contributes to the local economy.
quarrying overview
Glaciated landscapes expose valuable stone and minerals, leading to quarrying for building materials and other uses.
Example: Slate mining and quarrying still take place, providing building materials.
tourism overview
Tourism is a major source of income in the Lake District, with people visiting for the beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities.
Tourism supports hotels, shops, restaurants, and other businesses, creating jobs for local people
Tourism can also lead to challenges like traffic congestion and increased costs of living
The landscape provides opportunities for walking, cycling, sailing, and kayaking
conflicts between tourism and farming
Tourists can cause damage to crops and livestock, and their presence can be a nuisance for farmers
conflicts between forestry and conservation
While forestry can provide economic benefits, the clearing of trees for timber can destroy habitats and reduce biodiversity.
conflicts between tourism and wildlife conservation
Large numbers of tourists can damage fragile ecosystems, especially along popular walking routes, leading to erosion and habitat loss
Tourists can disturb wildlife and their habitats
Increased visitor numbers can lead to more litter, noise pollution, traffic congestion and air pollution
conflict between local residents and tourists
The influx of tourists, causes significant traffic congestion, which can disrupt local residents and damage roads
Visitors tend to focus on certain villages, leading to overcrowding of car parks and parking on grass verges, which causes congestion and annoys local residents.
conflict between quarrying and tourism
Quarries can be an eyesore, potentially discouraging tourists from visiting.
Quarrying activities, can cause noise and dust pollution, disturbing wildlife, tourists, and local people
conflict between quarrying and wildlife conservation
Quarrying for materials like slate and granite can disrupt landscapes and habitats, and can also cause pollution
conflict between development and conservation
Development for housing, roads, and infrastructure can lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, impacting wildlife populations
While wind farms can provide renewable energy, their placement can conflict with conservation goals, particularly in areas with scenic beauty
Farming practices, such as overgrazing and deforestation, can lead to soil erosion, habitat loss, and water pollution.
social impacts of tourism
positive:
Increased Job Opportunities
Improved Infrastructure
Increased cultural awareness
negative:
traffic congestion
seasonal and low-paying jobs
rising house prices leads to the displacement of local residents
pressure on local services
increased crime
conflict between locals and tourists
economic impacts of tourism
positive:
creates jobs
local business support
money from tourism can be invested in improving infrastructure
negative:
rising property prices - due to increased demand for holiday homes
seasonal jobs
pressure on infrastructure - sewage systems, roads and facilities
environmental impacts of tourism
causes many challenges:
footpath erosion - vegetation damage
increased pollution - air pollution from vehicle emissions, water pollution from fuel spills from ferries
damage to ecosystems
water activities - wash from water sports vehicles
attractions to tourists
Lakes - sailing, kayaking etc, scenery
Mountains - hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, views
Valleys - walking, cycling, wildlife watching
strategies used to manage the impact of tourism
improving public transport - enhancing bus services and rail links, pay-as-you-go car and cycle hire, integrated ticketing to use different modes of transport
promoting responsible tourism - signs to encourage tourists to stay on designated routes, educating visitors
protecting the environment - designated footpaths, car parks
Glacial features in the Lake District and their location
Aretes and corries - near Scafell Pike
Moraines and corries - Easedale valley
Drumlins - South East of area around Kendal
U shaped and hanging valleys - Langdale
Erratic from Scotland - near Bowder stones
What type of rock has been shaped by ice in the Lake District?
Tough volcanic rocks
What landform does the Lake District lack a good example of?
Pyramidal peak
Name a well known arete
Striding edge
Name a hanging valley example
Grisdale
Where is rotational slip evident?
Red Tarn
What causes glacial features to soften over time?
rain and running water
What have developed on the valley floors?
settlements due to the flat landscape
Where can drumlins be seen?
Swindle, North East Lake District
