Glaciated uplands

Question 1

What is a glacier?

Answer 1

A glacier is formed as rainfall collects between mountains and turns to snow. The weight of the snow then compressed it into ice. The ice is weighed down by gravity which causes it to move and when the ice melts, it changes the shape of the landscape. Rounded hills are turned into steep sided mountains and V-shaped valleys turn to U-shaped valleys.

Question 2

Glaciated uplands

Answer 2

North west highlands 
Grampian mountains/ Cairngorms 
Loch Lomond 
Lake District 
Snowdonja

Question 3

Physical weathering: Freeze thaw action

Answer 3

• Water collects in the rock crack
• Water freezes and expands/ forcing crack to widen
• ice contracts and water gets deeper into cracks again
• repeated expansion and contraction causes further erosion until the rock splits

Question 4

Methods of erosion

Answer 4

Plucking: the ice freezes onto rocks and when the ice moves downhill, pieces of rock from the mountain break off with it and go downhill

Abrasion: the pieces of rock broken off from plucking and freeze thaw weathering scrape against the side of the glacier, wearing it away

Question 5

Formation of a u shaped valley

Answer 5

Before glaciation:

• Before glaciation a river runs through s v shaped valley
• snow will accumulate in valley during glaciation period
• snow is compressed into ice to form a glacier

During glaciation:

• As glacier moves through the valley it erodes the land by abrasion and plucking
• Over time the valley is straightened, widened and deepened

Question 6

Formation of a u shaped valley: after glaciation

Answer 6

• When ice melts, u shaped valley is left with steep sides and wide/ flat valley floor
• When ice melts a river may flow through valley but is too small for the very wide valley floor so it is called a misfit stream

Question 7

Alluvial fan

Answer 7

A fan shaped pile of rock remains washed down by a stream and piled up where a steep valley side meets the valley floor

Question 8

Truncated spur

Answer 8

Rounded areas of land which have been cut off. They are often rounded at the top but steep at the bottom

Question 9

Hanging valley

Answer 9

A valley where the valley floor is much higher than the floor of the main valley

Question 10

Ribbon lake

Answer 10

A long narrow lake in a part of the valley cut deeper by the glacier

Question 11

Misfit stream

Answer 11

Small stream flowing through the valley because it is too small to have cut the valley

Question 12

Land uses in glaciated uplands

Answer 12

Renewable energy
Recreation and tourism 
Water storage and supply
Farming 
Industry
Forestry

Question 13

Renewable energy

Answer 13

• Wind farms and hydroelectric power (HEP)
• HEP is usually in hanging valleys and they’re dammed to generate electricity using the force of water from rivers
• The strong winds on higher lands can also provide an opportunity to generate wind energy

Question 14

Recreation and tourism

Answer 14

• Natural picturesque scenery and variety of year round activities
• ribbon lakes for water sports
• corries for winter sports

Question 15

Water storage and supply

Answer 15

• High rainfall ensures that lakes in this region can be used to supply drinking water to nearby towns and cities
• the hard rocks provide excellent geological conditions for water storage in reservoirs

Question 16

Farming

Answer 16

• Sheep can survive harsh environments and steep slopes
• Not suitable for growing crops on hills - rainfall leaches nutrients and leaves soil thin and in fertile
• Too steep for using farming machinery

Question 17

Industry

Answer 17

• Type of work people do
• the main type in the Cairngorms is quarrying
• rock is extracted and used for:
• slates extracted for roofs
• granite used for construction and making roads

Question 18

Forestry

Answer 18

• Trees are grown for sale
• On the flat land of u shaped valley as better soil quality
• Makes use of land unsuitable for farming or building on and helps prevent soil erosion or flooding
• Provides habitat for wildlife and encourages tourism by creation of nature trails and picnic areas