Physical Landscapes in the UK Flashcards
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
Metamorphic rocks are formed when heat and pressure cause other rocks to change. This results in the rock becoming harder and more compact
What are some examples of rocks metamorphing?
Shale becomes slate when exposed to heat and pressure. Slate becomes schist when exposed to more heat and pressure
Where are metamorphic rocks found in the UK?
Metamorphic rocks are found in large bands across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
Sedimentary rocks are formed when layers of sediment are compacted over time
What are some examples of sedimentary rocks?
Carboniferous limestone is a fairly hard rock formed from shells and skeletons of dead marine organisms. Chalk is formed like carboniferous limestone but is softer. Clay is a very soft rock made from mud and clay minerals.
Where is sedimentary rock found in the UK?
Chalk and clay are mainly found in South-East England with carboniferous limestone to the North and West.
How are igneous rocks formed?
Igneous rocks are formed when magma from the Earth’s mantle cools and hardens.
Where are igneous rocks found in the UK?
Igneous rocks are found mainly in Scotland, North-East England, the Lake District and Snowdonia.
Where are the majority of upland areas in the UK?
Most of the upland areas in the UK is located in Scotland, the Lake District and the Pennines in the North and North-West of the UK.
Where are the majority of lowland areas in the UK?
Most of the UK’s lowland is found in the South and East of the UK. Cities like Norwich are the largest towns in the East Anglia lowland area.
What are the three types of weathering?
- Mechanical weathering
- Chemical weathering
- Biological weathering
What is erosion?
The wearing away of rocks as a result of being picked up and moved somewhere else.
What is attrition?
When pieces of rock scrape against other pieces of rock in the river.
What is abrasion?
Heavier rocks being scraped along the bottom of the river, making it deeper and wider.
What is hydraulic action?
Rocks being shaped & eroded from the force of the water, it gradually wears away the banks when air is trapped.
What is solution?
Slightly alkali sediments being dissolved in the river.
What are the 3 sections of a river?
Upper valley, middle course and lower course.
What are characteristics of the upper valley?
- A steep valley
- A narrow channel
- High bedload
- Vertical erosion
What are the characteristics of the middle course?
- Gently sloping valley
- Wider, deeper channel
- Suspended bedload
- Starts to meander
- Vertical erosion turns to lateral erosion
What are the characteristics of the upper course?
- Open, gentle sloping valley
- Flat and wide floodplain
- Fast flowing
- Lateral erosion
How are waterfalls formed?
When a river flows over a layer of soft rock, followed by a layer of hard rock, the soft rock erodes faster and creates a step in the riverbed. The force of the water then undercuts the hard rock and creates a plunge. This is left overhanging as it isn’t supported and eventually collapses. The fallen rocks cause erosion in the plunge pool. As this process continues, the waterfall retreats upstream.
What are the 4 river transport processes?
- Solution
- Suspension
- Saltation
- Traction
What is solution?
Minerals are dissolved in water and carried along as solution
What is suspension?
Fine, light material is carried along in the water
What is saltation?
Small pebbles and and stones are bounced along the riverbed
What is traction?
Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the riverbed.
What is deposition?
Dropping materials out of the water (from heaviest to lightest). The velocity of the river decreases
What processes transfer water into a river?
- Surface runoff
- Infiltration
- Throughflow
- Percolation
- Groundwater flow
What is surface runoff?
Water travelling on top of land
What is infiltration?
Water travelling into soil
What is throughflow?
Water travelling through soil to river
What is percolation?
Water getting into solid rock
What is groundwater flow?
Water travelling through rock to water
What is a spur?
A jutting bit of land that a river has to go around as it doesn’t have enough power to go through
What are some significant facts of the River Tees
- Located in North-East England
- 137km long
- Runs into the North Sea
What is an oxbow lake?
The leftover part of a meander when the water cuts across the neck of the river and creates a straighter course.
What is an estuary?
Transitional zones between river and coastal environments and are affected by wave action as well as river processes.
