Physical Landscapes in the UK Flashcards
Relief of the UK
Relief of the UK can be divided into uplands and lowlands. Each have their own characteristics
What is Erosion
The break down and transport of rocks , smooth, round and sorted
Attrition
Rocks that bash together to become smooth/ smaller
Solution
A chemical reaction that dissolves rocks
Abrasion
Rocks hurled at the base of a cliff to break peices apart
Hydraulic Action
Water enters cracks in the cliff, air compresses, causing the crack to expand
What is Transportation
A natural process by which eroded material is carried/ transported
Solution
Minerals dissolve in water and are carried along
Suspension
Sediment is carried along in the flow of water
Saltation
Pebbles that bounce along the sea/ river bed
Traction
Boulders that roll along a river/sea bed by the force of the flowing water`
What is Mass movement
A large movement of soil and rock debris that moves down slopes in response to the pull of gravity in a vertical direction
Mass Movement
- Rain saturates the permeable rock above the impermeable rock making it heavy
- Waves or a river will erode the base of the slope making it unstable
- Eventually the weight of the permeable rock above the impermeable rock weakens and collapses
- The debris at the base of the cliff is then removed and transported by waves or river
How do spits form (pt. 1)
Swash moves up the beach at the angle of the prevailing wind.
Backwash moves down the beach at 90° to coastline, due to gravity.
Zigzag movement (Longshore Drift) transports material along beach.
How do spits form (pt. 2)
Deposition causes beach to extend, until reaching a river estuary.
Change in prevailing wind direction forms a hook.
Sheltered area behind spit encourages deposition, salt marsh forms.
Types of weathering
Weathering is the breakdown of rocks where they are.
Carbonation
Breakdown of rock by changing its chemical composition
Mechanical
Breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition
What is deposition
When the sea or river loses energy, it drops the sand, rock particles and pebbles it has been carrying. This is called deposition
Formation of bays and headlands (pt. 1)
Hydraulic action widens cracks in the cliff face over time.
Abrasion forms a wave cut notch between HT and LT.
Further abrasion widens the wave cut notch to from a cave.
How do waves form
Waves are created by wind blowing over the surface of the sea. As the wind blows over the sea, friction is created - producing a swell in the water.
Why do waves break
- Waves start out at sea
- As waves approaches the shore, friction slows the base
- This causes the orbit to become elliptical
- Until the top of the wave breaks over
Size of waves
Fetch how far the wave has travelled
Strength of the wind.
How long the wind has been blowing for
What are the two types of waves
Constructive waves
Destructive waves
Constructive waves
This wave has a swash that is stronger than the backwash. This therefore builds up the coast
Destructive waves
This wave has a backwash that is stronger than the swash. This therefore erodes the coast
Examples of coastal stacks in the UK
Old Harry Rocks, Dorset
Formation of Coastal Stacks (pt.1)
Hydraulic action widens cracks in the cliff face over time.
Abrasion forms a wave cut notch between HT and LT.
Further abrasion widens the wave cut notch to from a cave.
Formation of Coastal Stacks (pt.2)
Caves from both sides of the headland break through to form an arch.
Weather above/erosion below –arch collapses leaving stack.
Further weathering and erosion eaves a stump
