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Geography GCSE > Physical Landscapes in the UK > Flashcards

Physical Landscapes in the UK Flashcards

1
Q

define igneous rocks

A

-earths oldest rock
-formed from lavas and deep magmas
-once were molten, then cooled and crystalized
-most are resistant to erosion

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2
Q

define metamorphic rocks

A

-heated and compressed during igneous activity
-this hardens them and make them resistant
-shale=slate
-limestone=marble

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3
Q

define sedimentary rocks

A

-formed from sediments eroded and deposited by rivers, sea or the sea bed
-some are resistant (limestone) and some crumble easily (shale)

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4
Q

where are the highland regions mainly located in the UK

A

north and west

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5
Q

why is there mountain regions in the north of the UK

A

-it is mainly made of hard rocks like carboniferous limestone and schist
-it is difficult to erode
-also used to be by a plate boundary with active volcanoes
-making like the Grampian mountains

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6
Q

Why is there mainly flatter land in east anglia and the south of the uk

A

-made up of softer rocks
-clays, sandstones
-dont drain water do more greenery
-easier to erode

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7
Q

what is an example of a lowland area

A

east anglia

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8
Q

where is mt snowdon

A

wales

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9
Q

Why does the lake district have high relief and u shaped valleys

A

-the area was covered by an ice sheet during the last ice age
-the glaciers eroded away the soft rock

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10
Q

Why does the holderness have low land

A

-made up of sedimentary rock (boulder clay)
-this was deposited when the ice sheet melted
-this is soft rock that is easy to erode

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11
Q

why is the south downs a lowland area with dry valleys

A

-made up of chalk which froze during the last ice age
-creating rivers and valleys
-once the ice age ended the chalk absorbed the rivers leaving behind their valley

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12
Q

how are u shaped valleys created

A

by glaciers eroding the land

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13
Q

how is bolder clay created

A

by gaciers depositing material

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14
Q

where can dry valleys be found

A

the south downs

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15
Q

what created many of the mountain ranges in the uk

A

-by uplift from plate collision when the african plate collided into the eurasiian plate

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16
Q

define weathering

A

the breaking down of material in situ

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17
Q

define erosion

A

the wearing away and movement of material

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18
Q

what are the 4 types of erosion

A

-attrition
-abrasion
-hydraulic action
-solution

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19
Q

what is attrition

A

rocks hitting each other (smoother and rounder)

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20
Q

what is abrasion

A

material in the water is used as ammunition

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21
Q

what is hydraulic action

A

force of the wave forcing air into cracks

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22
Q

what is solution

A

the chemical breakdown of rock

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23
Q

what are the 3 types of weathering

A

-physical
-chemical
-biological

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24
Q

what is physical weathering

2 examples

A

-freeze-thaw
-onion skin

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25
Q

what is chemical weathering

A

-chemical breakdown
-acid rain

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26
Q

what is biological weathering

A

-tree roots
-animals

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27
Q

what does a discordant coastline look like

A
  • alternating layers of hard and soft rock running perpendicular to the shoreline
    -formation of headlands and bays as the softer rock erodes faster than the harder rock.
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28
Q

what does a concordant coastline look like

A
  • layers of rock that run parallel to the shoreline, often resulting in a more uniform coastline.
  • However, if the outer layer of hard rock is breached, softer rock behind it can erode, forming features like coves.
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29
Q

how does a headland and bay form on a discordant coastline

A

-waves erode the less resistant rock faster so it retreats, forming bays.
-the hard rock is eroded slower leaving headlands

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30
Q

how does caves, arches, stacks, stumps form on a discordant coastline

A

-cracks in the coastline widen in the headland cuz of hydraulic action and abrasion
-waves continue to grind away at the crack it opens to form a cave
-the cave becomes larger and forms an arch
-the base of the arch becomes wider until its roof collapses into the sea leaving a stack
-the stack is then undercut at the base until it collapses forming a stump

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31
Q

how does a wave cut platform form

A

-the sea attacks base of cliff
-between high and low water mark
-wave-cut notch is formed due to erosion
-notch increases and cliff becomes unstable and collapses
-cliff face then retreats
-backwash carries away the eroded material

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32
Q

what is a wave cut notch

A

-a dent in the cliff formed at the level of high tide

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33
Q

define deposition

A

when sediment is dropped by water due to a lack of energy to carry it

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34
Q

define transportation

A

when sediment is carried by water from one place to another

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35
Q

what creates waves

A

wind blows over the sea causing friction

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36
Q

what 3 things decide the size and energy of a wave

A

-strength of wind
-how long the wind has been blowing
-distance the wind has blown (fetch)

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37
Q

which part of england has the largest fetch

A

south-west (cornwall)

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38
Q

which kind of wave deposits material on the shoreline

A

-constructive

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39
Q

which kind of wave removes material from the shoreline

A

-destructive

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40
Q

which kind of wave has a stronger swash?

A

constructive

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41
Q

which kind of wave has a weak backwash

A

constructive

42
Q

which kind of wave has a gentle beach gradient

A

constructive

43
Q

which kind of wave has a long (<10p/min) wavelength

A

constructive

44
Q

which kind of wave has a low(<1m) wave height

A

constructive

45
Q

which kind of wave has low energy

A

constructive

46
Q

which kind of wave has a weak swash

A

destructive

47
Q

which kind of wave has a strong backwash

A

destructive

48
Q

which kind of wave has a steep beach gradient

A

destructive

49
Q

which kind of wave has a short(>10p/min) wavelength

A

destructive

50
Q

which kind of wave has a high(>1m) wave height

A

destructive

51
Q

which kind of wave has high energy

A

destructive

52
Q

when does longshore drift occur

A

-when prevailing wind approaches the beach at an angle

53
Q

what is the longshore drift

A

-due to wind at an angle the swash goes up the beach at an angle
-backwash goes back to the beach in a straight line cuz gravity
-sediment is transported along the beach in this

54
Q

what landforms can be created from longshore drift

A

-spits
-bars
-lagoons
-tombolos

55
Q

how does a spit form

A

-longshore drift transports sand along coast
-coastline changes shape and waves lose energy
-sediment builds up through deposition at the proximal end and the spit grows out to sea
-spit is exposed to changes in wind and wave direction which cause the end to hook back towards the land

56
Q

how does a spit become a bar

A

-it joins to another headland as the sediment keeps being deposited along the beach/coastline

57
Q

how does a spit form a lagoon

A

-it forms a bar
-a lagoon is formed behind the bar due to prevailing wind

58
Q

how does a spit become a tombolo

A

-it joins to an island as the sediment is still being transported

59
Q

what are the 4 main human activities at the coast

A

-agriculture
-development
-industry
-coastal management

60
Q

AGRICULTURE
what does changing the way farmland is being used lead to

A

-vegetation helps bind soil together and stabilise cliff tops.
-removing vegetation for grazing animals affects stability

61
Q

AGRICULTURE
what does marshlands drained to reclaim land for agriculture lead to

A

-reduces the natural flood barrier marshlands provide

62
Q

DEVELOPMENT
what does coasts with lots of settlements have more sea defences lead to

A

-the land is more protected from erosion

63
Q

how long is the Holderness coasline

A

61km

63
Q

DEVELOPMENT
what does building on coastal lowlands lead to

A

-can restrict sediment to beaches making them more narrow

63
Q

INDUSTRY
what does creating coastal quarries lead to

A

-exposes large areas of rock making them vulnerable to erosion and weathering

64
Q

INDUSTRY
what does extracting gravel from beaches lead to

A

-removes material from the beach making it more prone to erosion

64
Q

COASTAL MANAGEMENT
what does building coastal protection lead to

A

-alters sediment movement, increasing erosion down the coast

65
Q

In what direction is the material moving in the Holderness coastline

A

South-east

65
Q

where does the Holderness coastline stretch to and from

A

-Flamborough head (headland) to spurn head (spit)

66
Q

how does the holderness location make it vulnerable to erosion

A

-mostly made from boulder clay
-faces the direction of prevailing wind
-brings waves from north east from the norwegian sea
-waves increase in power over the distance so coast is battered by highly erosive waves

66
Q

Why is the Holderness coastline being protected?

A

-towns and villages like hornsea and mappleton where people live
-important infrastructure(B1242 road, links many towns and businesses to the coast)
-gas terminal at Easington supplies 25% of UKs gas and is right on the edge of the cliff

67
Q

how many metres of land is lost to the sea (erosion) every year at the Holderness coastline

A

1.8m

68
Q

What has been built in the Holderness coast to protect it and where?

A

-over 11km is protected by hard engineering strategies
-coastal defences called groynes have been built in Mappleton
-groynes and sea wall at Hornsea and at Withersea

68
Q

what 3 natural factors make Holderness prone to erosion

A

-made of boulder clay
-beaches are narrow, so dont provide enough protection
-eroded material is moved south along the coast instead of staying in the same place

69
Q

What are 5 ways to protect the coastline from the waves

A

-Sea wall
-Groynes
-Beach replenishment
-Slope stabilisation
-Strategic realignment

70
Q

What is a sea wall

A

it is a wall made out of a hard material like concrete that reflects the waves back to sea

71
Q

What are the benefits of a sea wall

A

It prevents erosion of the coast. It also acts as a barrier to prevent flooding

72
Q

What are some of the costs with sea walls

A

It creates a strong backwash, which erodes under the wall. Sea walls are very expensive to build and to maintain

73
Q

What are groynes

A

Wooden or stone fences that are built at right angles to the coast. They trap material transported by longshore drift

74
Q

What are some benefits of groynes

A

They create wider beaches which slow the waves. This gives greater protection from flooding and erosion. They’re a fairly cheap defence.

75
Q

What are some costs of groynes

A

They starve beaches further down the coast of sand, making them narrower. Narrower beaches don’t protect the coast as well leading to greater erosion and floods.

76
Q

What is beach replenishment?

A

Sand and shingle from elsewhere or from lower down the beach are added to the upper part of beaches.

77
Q

What are some benefits of beach replenishment?

A

It creates wider beaches which slow the waves. This gives greater protection from flooding and erosion

78
Q

What are some costs of beach replenishment?

A

Taking material from the seabed can kill organisms like sponges and corals. It’s very expensive and it has to be repeated

79
Q

What is slope stabilisation?

A

Slopes are reinforces by inserting concrete nails into the ground and covering the slope with metal netting

80
Q

What are some benefits to slope stabilisation?

A

It prevents mass movement by increasing the strength of the slope

81
Q

What are some costs to slope stabilisation?

A

Very expensive and sometimes very difficult to install

82
Q

What is strategic realignment?

A

Removing an existing defence and allowing the land behind to flood

83
Q

What are some benefits to strategic realignment?

A

over time the land will become marshland- creating new habitats. Flooding and erosion are reduced behind the marshland.

84
Q

What are some costs to strategic realignment?

A

People may disagree over what land is allowed to flood.

85
Q

What threats does erosion have on people?

A

-cliffs eroded can destroy homes
-permanent flooding can make other areas inhabitable
-people are forced to move
-infrastructure such as roads, railways can become damaged
-Companies lose money as people can’t use the transport
-Industries can be destroyed or shut down
-Tourism may decline in coastal areas

86
Q

What threats does erosion have on the environment?

A

-salty sea water from flooding can damage ecosystems through salinization
-Surging flood water can drown plants/trees
-some conservation areas are threatened

87
Q

What is the Integrated Coastal zone Management?

A

a holistic management approach which means sections of the coast are managed as a whole rather than individual sections

88
Q

What does the Integrated Coastal zone Management take into account?

A

-needs of different people
-economic costs and benefits of different strategies
-a long term view of what is best for the coastline

89
Q

What are the 4 options the Integrated Coastal zone Management can take?

A

-Do nothing
-Hold the line
-Advance the line
-Management retreat/strategic realignment

90
Q

What is the Do nothing approach?

A

This lets nature take its course

91
Q

What is the hold the line approach

A

keep the coastline where it is by using hard engineering

92
Q

What is the advance the line approach?

A

Build coastal defences out to sea to reclaim land

93
Q

What is the Management retreat/strategic realignment approach?

A

halfway house between holding the line and doing nothing

94
Q

define hard engineering?

A

man-made structures built to control the flow of the sea and reduce flooding and erosion

95
Q

define soft engineering

A

schemes set up by using knowledge of the sea and its processes to reduce the effects of flooding as erosion. Uses natural materials, sound

Geography GCSE (3 decks)

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