Limestone Landscapes Flashcards
What is Carbonation?
When Carbon Dioxide in the air mixes with rainwater to form a weak carbonic acid.
What are the 2 processes of erosion in limestone areas?
- Carbonation
- Solution
What is Solution?
When acids in the water dissolve minerals in the rock and then carry them away.
Name 3 Surface features.
- Limestone pavement
- Intermittent Drainage
- Swallow Holes
Name 2 Underground Features
- Cave/Cavern
- Stalactites and Stalagmites
Explain the formation of a limestone pavement.
- During glaciation, the ice scrapes away the topsoil, exposing the rock beneath.
- [Carbonation]
-[Solution] - Limestone is a permeable rock , meaning water is able to seep into the rock.
- Rainwater seeps into the vertical joints and widens them, forming grykes.
- In between the grykes, there are rectangular blocks of limestone called clints.
Explain the formation of Intermittent Drainage.
- [Carbonation]
- Water flows over impermeable rock until it reaches limestone.
- [Solution]
- Water flows down vertical joints and along horizontal bedding planes.
- Streams reemerge when the water reaches impermeable rock.
Explain the formation of a Swallow Hole 🕳️.
- [Carbonation]
- Water flows over impermeable rock until it reaches limestone, which is permeable.
- [Solution]
- Water seeps through the permeable limestone, widening vertical joints until the stream is able to fall through, creating a swallow hole.
Explain the formation of a Cave/ Cavern.
- [Carbonation]
- [Solution]
- When bedding planes and joints are close together, they are eroded to form a cave.
- The cave roof can collapse to form a large gap underground called a cavern.
Explain the formation of Stalagmites and Stalactites.
- Water slowly drips from the cave roof and some evaporates, losing CO2 and deposits solid calcium carbonate.
- Stalactites are long, thin deposits that grow down from the ceiling.
- Stalagmites form when water drips from the stalactite and splashes on the floor, depositing calcium carbonate on the ground.
- Stalactites and Stalagmites might meet to form a pillar.
Explain 6 Land Uses of Upland Limestone Areas.
IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES
- Hill sheep farming is found high up on hills. This is because sheep are sure - footed, so can live on steep land.
- They also have thick wool to cope with the harsh weather conditions.
- Dairy Farming can take place on Valley floors where the soil is more fertile and weather less harsh.
- Quarries are built near main roads to allow for easy export and access for workers.
- Tourism to limestone areas can provide job opportunities to local people.
- Local services such as campsites, B&B’s, and hotels encourage visitors to stay overnight, therefore causing them to spend more money in the local area, boosting the economy.
- Wind Turbines are found in upland limestone areas as they are high up and exposed, so there is more wind.
Explain 6 Land Use Conflicts in Upland Limestone Areas, and potential solutions.
- Tourists think that quarries are ugly and they leave a scar in the landscape, detracting from the natural beauty.
- A solution to this is to plant ‘Shelter Belts’ of trees around quarries to shield them from view.
- When rock from quarries is blasted from the ground, peace and quiet is disturbed.
- A solution to this is that thick shelter belts of trees can muffle the sound and stop it from travelling so far.
- Lorries transporting goods can cause traffic congestion on narrow roads, causing delays.
- Some Quarries have upgraded railway access to reduce lorry transportation.
- Farm gates are left open by tourists, allowing livestock to escape.
- A solution to this is kissing gates, which swing closed behind you, ensuring livestock do not escape.
- Dogs off leads can worry sheep, leading to trauma and miscarriages during lambing season.
- A solution to this is to remind dog - walkers of this through signage.
- Tourists drop litter, which spoils the natural landscape, and can harm local wildlife.
- A solution to this is to remove bins, to encourage people to take litter home.
