Physical Environments Flashcards
Name the factors affecting weather (4)
Latitude, Relief, Aspect and Distance from the sea.
PPQ Explain the factors which cause differences in average UK temperatures. (4)
South-East England is usually warmer because it is closer to the Equator (1). This is due to intense heating from the sun (1) because sun rays are more concentrated (1). Places in Northern Scotland eg Wick, are colder because they are closer to the North Pole(1). This is due to a lack of insolation from the sun as the rays are less concentrated (1) and reflection of heat by the snow and ice (1).
PPQ COASTAL LANDSCAPES Formation of a stack (4)
Waves attack a line of weakness in the headland (1). Types of erosion include hydraulic action, solution and abrasion (1). Continuous erosion will open up the crack and it will develop into a sea cave (1). Further erosion of the cave, often on opposite sides of the headland, will form an arch (1). The roof of the arch is attacked by the waves until it eventually collapses (1). This leaves behind a free standing piece of rock called a stack which is separate from the headland (1).
PPQ COASTAL LANDSCAPES Formation of a bay (4)
Bays are formed due to differential erosion (1) where rocks along the coastline are formed in alternating bands of different rock types (1) eg sandstone and clay (1) and which meet the coast at right angles (1). Clay is a softer rock than sandstone so it is eroded more quickly (1). The waves erode the softer rock through hydraulic action, corrasion and corrosion (1) to form sheltered bays (1) which may have beaches (1). The harder sandstone areas are more resistant to erosion and jut out into the sea to form exposed headlands (1).
PPQ GLACIATED UPLANDS Explain the formation of a corrie. (4)
Snow collects in the north facing hollow of a mountain and the bottom layers turn to ice (1); the ice begins to move and the hollow is eroded (1); Rocks frozen on to the bottom of the ice scrape away at the base of the hollow (1) this is known as abrasion (1); ice plucking is when the glacier freezes on to loosened rock and pulls if free as the glacier moves (1); frost shattering may cause material to be incorporated into the ice (1); the ice melts leaving a tarn or corrie loch (1)
PPQ Describe how a prolonged spell with a tropical continental air mass in summer would affect the people of the British Isles (3)
A tropical continental air mass will bring hot dry weather in summer which could result in droughts (1); grass might wither and die causing problems for livestock farmers (1); ice cream sales might rise (1) as people make the most of the sunny weather and head for the beach (1); it could be very hot and difficult to do physical work outside (1); heavy rain from thunderstorms might cause flash floods (1).
PPQ GLACIATED UPLANDS Explain the formation of a U-shaped valley.(4)
A glacier forms in a corrie/north facing slope and moves downhill due to gravity (1), eroding the sides and bottom of the valley (1) through plucking and abrasion (1). This action makes the valley sides steeper and the valley deeper (1). When the glacier retreats a deep, steep, flat floored U-shaped valley is left behind (1). The original river in the valley now seems too small for the wider valley and is known as a misfit stream (1).
PPQ GLACIATED UPLANDS Explain different ways in which people use glaciated landscapes. (4)
Forestry Commercial forestry can take place on the lower slopes of u-shaped valleys where weather conditions are less harsh and soil quality is better (1). This is possible as trees are hardy and can grow on quite steep land and relatively thin soils (1). Trees make use of steep land that is unsuitable for farming or building on (1). Trees help to prevent soil erosion on slopes and flooding in valleys as their roots bind soil together and absorb water (2). Recreation and Tourism Tourists are attracted to glaciated upland areas for the natural scenery which includes ancient forests, vast mountains with glacial features, rivers and lochs (1). Ribbon lochs provide opportunities for water sports such as water skiing and canoeing (1). Mountains provide great opportunities for hill walking and rock climbing (1). Snow-filled corries enable winter sports such as skiing and snow-boarding (1). Bird watching is also popular in forests (1). Small settlements eg Aviemore provide tourist services such as hotels, eateries, information centres/ car parks/ equipment hire shops (1).
Describe the four factors affecting our weather. (4)
Latitude - places closer to the equator are usually warmer, and places nearer to the North Pole and South Pole are colder. Relief - places located on flat low-lying land are warmer and places higher up, ie mountains, are colder and wetter. Aspect - places which are south-facing are warmer and places which are north-facing are colder. Distance from the sea - places nearer to the sea are mild and wet, and places further from the sea are drier, but temperatures are more extreme.
An air mass which moves over land in Southern Europe/ North Africa from the Tropics is called _____ _____ and brings with it _____ _____ weather?
[tropical continential] [warm, dry]
An air mass which moves over the Tropic of Cancer, the Atlantic Ocean, is called _____ _____ and brings with it _____ _____ weather?
[tropical maritime] [warm, wet]
An air mass which moves over land in Northern Europe from west (Russia) is called _____ _____ and brings with it _____ _____ weather?
[polar continential] [cold, dry]
An air mass which moves over the North Atlantic from the north west is called _____ _____ and brings with it _____ _____ weather?
[polar maritime] [cold, wet]
An air mass which moves over the Arctic Ocean is called _____ _____ and brings with it _____ _____ weather?
[arctic maritime] [very cold. not always wet due to low humidity]
Low pressure systems can be identified from a synoptic chart due to:
- cold fronts
- warm fronts
- possible occluded fronts
- tightly packed isobars
- isobars showing pressure decreasing towards the centre from about 1004mb
Changes as a depression passes over
features of corrie formation
OS map example of a corrie
OS map example of an arete
OS map example of a pyramidal peak
OS map example of a U-Shaped valley
Formation of cliffs
Cliffs usually form where there is harder rock such as limestone and chalk.
Wave erosion is strongest where large waves break against the base of the cliff.
A wave-cut notch will be formed as the cliff is under cut by the erosive power of the waves, through the processes of hydraulic action, corrosion and corrasion.
Eventually, the cliff becomes unsupported and collapses into the sea.
The cliff retreats and leaves behind a wave-cut platform which is visible at low tide.
Formation of Headlands and Bays
Headlands and bays are created by differential erosion, where rocks along the coastline are formed in alternating bands of different rock types, eg sandstone and clay, which meet the coast at right angles.
Clay is a softer rock than the sandstone so is eroded more quickly - the softer rocks erode backwards faster, to form sheltered bays (which may have beaches).
The harder sandstone areas are more resistant to erosion and jut out into the sea to form exposed headlands.
Formation of caves, arches and stacks
All rocks have lines of weakness; the sea and its waves use hydraulic action, abrasion and solution to erode along any lines of weakness.
These lines of weakness get enlarged and develop into small sea caves.
The caves are deepened and widened on both sides of the headland until eventually the sea cuts through the headland, forming an arch.
The rock at the top of the arch becomes unsupported as the arch is enlarged, eventually collapsing to form a stack.
The stack gets eroded until only a stump remains.
Over time the stump will disappear.
As the headland retreats under this erosion, the gently sloping land at the foot of the retreating cliff is called a wave-cut platform.
Identifying features of coastal erosion on an OS map
On this extract, the term ‘point’ (meaning headland) appears at Warren Point, 667421, ‘cliff’ at West Cliff, 692383 and ‘cove’, indicating where erosion has produced a small bay, at Redrot Cove at 668394.
Shape
The shape of the coast is also a good indicator.
In this extract the large headlands at Burgh Island, 646438 and Bolt Tail, 667396 stand out, suggesting a much more resistant rock type than in the area that lies in between these headlands.
Smaller headlands like Warren Point and Thurlestone Rock, 675414 enclose sandy bays like the ones depicted at 676416 on the map.
Off the headland there are small islands: Mew Stone 725359 and Little Mew Stone, 727358. These will be former parts of the headland now worn down to be stacks or stumps. Burgh Island was separated from the mainland by erosion.
Symbol evidence
Symbol evidence is also important and we see the symbols for cliffs at 688383 and steep slopes at 704368. Around here, contour lines appear to run into the sea, indicating the height of the cliffs at that point.
The flat rock symbol on the seaward side of the coastline indicates a wave-cut platform at 669421.
Describe longshore drift using the diagram
Transportation of particles along a coastline is influenced by the strength of waves and the angle at which the waves strike the shoreline. This is determined by the direction from which the prevailing wind blows:
A pebble or sand particle moves from point A to B, carried by the swash up the beach, the angle determined by the wave and wind direction.
It is then pulled down the beach from B to C, carried by gravity and the wave’s backwash.
This process is repeated over and over again and the particle moves along the shoreline- this process is called longshore drift.
Formation of a spit / sandspit
Spurn Head sand spit
Spits form where the coastline changes direction and longshore drift continues to move material along the beach.
Longshore drift will deposit material in the sea after the coastline has changed direction.
Over time the level of the sand deposited will build-up until it is above sea level.
The spit cannot develop right across the bay as a river’s estuary prevents the build-up of sand.
Sand spits often have a curved or hooked end. This is created when secondary wind and wave direction causes waves to strike from a different direction.
The beach therefore appears to extend out into the sea and is known as a spit or sandspit.
The spit creates an area of calmer water, sheltered by the spit. A lagoon, salt marsh and finally dry land can develop in this sheltered area.
Identify deposition features on an OS map
A good start is to look for name evidence. On this extract, the term ‘sands’ appears at 833443, Slapton Sands. Start ‘Bay’ itself lies between the headlands of Start Point, 8337 and Combe Point (to the north-east, off the map extract area). In Scotland, the term ‘links’ often indicates a sandy area along a coastline.
Shape
The shape of the coast is also a good indicator. In this extract the smoothness of the coastline shown indicates a depositional coastline. This contrasts with the roughness of the erosional coastline area around Start Point.
Longshore drift
When sand spits appear on an OS map the direction of the longshore drift can be determined as it will be moving towards the point where the end of the spit is being formed. Here, however, the direction cannot be determined from the map as the spits have formed sand bars right across the river mouths.
Sand spits
Sand spits are fairly easy to identify on an OS map. The fact that they extend out into the water is a good way of spotting them and if you look closely you can see the curved hook at the end.
