Glacial Landscapes in the UK Flashcards
Last Ice Age
18,000 years ago
Erosion: Abrasion
As glacier moves downhill, rocks frozen into base and sides, scrape the rock beneath, leaving scratches called striations behind
Erosion: Plucking
Rocks become frozen into bottom and sides of glacier. As glacier moves downhill, it ‘plucks’ rocks frozen into glacier from ground
Freeze-thaw weathering
Temp. higher at day, so snow melts and water enters cracks in rock. Temp. drops at night, so water freezes, expands, and forces rock to break eventually
Erosion Landforms: Corrie (cirques/cwms)
- Snow collects in sheltered hollow on side of mountain;
- Air squeezed out from compact snow —> ice
- Back wall of corrie gets steeper (freeze-thaw weathering and plucking);
- Base of corrie gets deeper (abrasion);
- Glacier gets heavier and moves downhill, out of hollow in circular motion (rotational slip);
- Less erosion at from of glacier —> corrie lip;
- After glacier melted, a lake forms —> corrie lake or tarn
Corrie Features
Arêtes — narrow ridge, between two corries erode side by side;
Pyramidal Peal — three + corries erode side by side, pointed peak left
Erosion Landforms: Truncated Spurs
Interlocking spurs eroded by plucking and abrasion as glacier moves through an old river valley
Erosion Landforms: Glacial Trough
U-shaped from when glacier melts through truncated spur
Erosion Landforms: Ribbon Lake
Sometimes glacial trough fills with water
Erosion Landforms: Hanging Valley
Old tributaries left suspended
Transportation: Bulldozing
Rocks and debris, found in front of glacier, are pushed downhill by sheer force of moving ice
Transportation: Rotational Slip
Circular movement of ice in corrie
Moraine
Any material carried or moved by glacier and deposited
Lateral Moraine
Material deposited along both sides — made of weathered material fallen from valley sides above glacier
Medial Moraine
Material deposited in middle of glacier — caused by lateral moraines of two glaciers when they meet
Terminal Moraine
Material deposited at end of glacier
Deposition Landforms: Erratics
Rocks (till) carried by glacier from an area with a different geology and deposited in a new area
Deposition Landforms: Drumlins
Mounds of deposited moraine; steep side and sloping side; small or large
Melt Water
As glacier melts, water carries fine material which is eventually deposited —> called glacial drift or glacial till;
Glacial outwash is sand and gravel deposited by running melt water leaving glacier;
Material is sorted: heavier particles (sand and gravel) deposited in glaciated valley, lighter particles (clay) deposited farther away from glacier and deposited in outwash plain.
Economic Activities: Farming
Upper slopes of Lake District used for sheep farming. Lower slopes used for dairy and beef farming
Economic Activities: Water Management
Water can be collected and stored in a dam. Used for hydroelectric power. Water transfer schemes to urban areas
Economic Activities: Forestry
Covered in woodland and coniferous forest. Logged for material. Provides employment and contributes to the economy
Economic Activities: Quarrying
Valuable source of rock and minerals. Easy access
Economic Activities: Tourism
Major source of income in Wales, Scotland, Lake District. Opportunities for walking, cycling, sailing, kayaking
Conflicts of Land Use: Water Management
Flooding mountain valleys to create dams:
+ Hydroelectric power is sustainable —> renewable energy (no carbon emissions);
+ Jobs created for locals;
- Loss of land and habitats;
Conflict between: conservation groups, local environmentalists vs company, locals
Conflicts of Land Use: Forestry
+ Provides jobs (employment) for locals —> boosts local economy;
- Destroys habitats;
- Reduces biodiversity;
Conflict between: local environmentalists, conservation groups vs company, locals, (government)
Conflicts of Land Use: Quarrying
Sandstone, granite, slate \+ Job opportunities for locals; \+ Boosts local economy; - Noise, heavy traffic, dust; - Eyesore for tourist sites Conflict between: locals, tourists, conservation groups vs government, locals, company
Conflicts of Land Use: Tourism
+ Major source of employment and income in rural mountainous areas;
+ Activities (skiing, snowboarding) for tourists;
- Wildlife upset
Conflict between: conservation groups, environmentalists, locals vs tourists, locals
