Physical UK Landscapes Flashcards
What are the characteristics of a rivers upper course?
Steep, v shaped, steep sides, narrow, shallow
What are the characteristics of a rivers middle course?
Medium gradient, gentle sloping sides, wider, deeper
What are the characteristics of a rivers lower course?
Gentle gradient, very wide, almost flat valley sides, deep
What is vertical erosion?
Erosion that deepens the valley making a v shape. It is dominant in the rivers upper course due to rough particles being scraped along the river bed
What is lateral erosion?
Lateral erosion widens the river valley during the formation of meanders and it is dominant in the middle and lower courses
Outline the four types of erosion.
Hydraulic action
Abrasion
Attrition
Solution
Outline the four types of transportation.
Traction
Salutation
Solution
Suspension
What is hydraulic action?
A type of erosion where the force of the water breaks rock away from the river channel
What is abrasion?
A form of river erosion where rocks picked up by the river and scrape the channel bed, wearing it away. This is the most common erosion
What is attrition?
A from of erosion where eroded rocks smash into each other and break into smaller fragments, it causes the size of sediment to decrease between the source and mouth
What is solution?
A type of erosion where rocks are dissolved by the river
A type of transportation where rocks and minerals are dissolved and carried down the river
What is traction?
A form of transportation where large particles like boulders are pushed along the river bed by the force of the water
What is saltation?
A form of transportation where pebble sized particles are bounced along the river bed by the force of the water
What is saltation?
A form of transpiration where small particles are carried along by the water, suspended in it.
How are waterfalls formed by erosion?
They form where hard rock meets soft rock.
The softer rock is eroded more than the hard rock cresting a step in the river
As the water goes over the step it erodes the softer rock more and more which creates a waterfall
How are gorges formed by erosion?
Where a waterfall is present.
The softer rock underuse the hard rock and it collapses
The collapsed rock swirls around in the waterfalls plunge pool eroding the soft rock further
More undercutting causes the river to retreat further creating a steep sided gorge
Explain the creation of interlocking spurs?
In a rivers upper course most erosion is vertical this creates steep sided valleys.
Because the aren’t powerful enough to erode laterally they wind around mountains
The hillsides that interlock with a river in the middle are called interlocking spurs
how is a meander formed by erosion and deposition?
Rivers have a faster current on the outside of a bend due to less friction.
So more erosion takes place on the outside which forms cliffs
Eroded material is deposited on the inside of the meander due to a lack of force to carry the sediment
Describe the characteristics and formation of a floodplain.
Floodplains are wide valley floors which get flooded
When a river floods it deposits material which increase the height of a floodplain
Explain the characteristics and formation of a levee
Levees are natural embankments along the edge of rivers
They are formed when eroded material is deposited in a floodplain
Heavier materials drop closer to the river creating levees
What are the characteristics of estuaries
They are areas at the mouth of the river where the valley is near sea level
Here, the river level increase and decreases daily
When the river is high material is deposited creating mudflats
What is slip of slope?
An area in a meander where deposition occurs
Where can you find an estuary?
They are the transitional zone between river and coastal environments
What are pools?
Pools are normally found on the outside of a meander that are normally deep and the fast flow erodes a deep pool
What are riffles?
Riffles are shallow areas in a river, normally caused by the deposition of cause sediment
What is the example of a river valley?
River tees
Through which towns does the river tees run?
Darlington and Middlesbrough
What is the main landform that can be found on the river tees?
The high force waterfall can be found along with a gorge. The water drops 20m and was formed due to a resistant band of igneous rock.
What is igneous rock?
Cooled volcanic lava
Outline the physical factors effecting flood risk.
Precipitation
Geology
Steep slopes
Outline the human factors effecting flood risk.
Urbanisation
Deforestation
Agriculture
How can precipitation contribute to flood risk?
Torrential rain can lead to flash floods as rivers cannot hold the large amount of water
How can geology contribute to flood risk?
Impermeable rock such as clay can encourage water to flow overland j to rivers, causing flooding to be more likely
How can steep slopes contribute to flood risk?
They encourage a rapid transfer of water towards river channels
How can urbanisation contribute to flood risk?
Building on a floodplain creates impermeable surfaces like tarmac. The rapid movement of water makes flooding more likely
How can deforestation contribute to flood risk?
Water that falls on trees is transpired or stored. When trees are removed more water is suddenly available
How can agriculture contribute to flood risk?
Soil is left unused and exposed, this can lead to more surface run off. This can be increased when soil is ploughed up and down steep slopes
What is the discharge of water measured in?
Cumecs or cubic m^3/s
What is lag time on a storm hydrograph and what does it show?
The time between the peak rainfall and peak discharge and it shows how long it takes for water to be transferred into a river
What is the rising and falling limb on a storm hydrograph?
The portion of a hydrograph that is to the left of peak discharge
What is river discharge?
The volume of water flowing along a river per second
What is hard engineering?
Hard engineering involves the use of man made structures to prevent or control natural processes.
What are some examples of hard engineering?
Dams and reservoirs
Channel straightening
Embankments
Flood relief channels
What are the costs and benefits of dams and reservoirs?
Costs - huge amounts of money and often large scale flooding
Benefits - flood prevention, HEP, water supply
What’s are the costs and benefits of channel straightening?
Costs - problem is shifted elsewhere, unattractive, can damage wildlife
Benefits - stops banks collapsing, speeds up river flow
What’s re the costs and benefits of embankments?
Costs - concrete can look ugly, usually expensive
Benefits - increases max river volume, used in cities to prevent flooding of valuable properties
What are the costs and benefits of flood relief channels?
Costs - expensive due to cost of machinery and materials
Benefits - water can flow into channel during high flow
What is soft engineering?
Working with natural river processes to manage risk
What are some examples of soft engineering?
River restoration
Floodplain zoning
Preparation
What are the costs and benefits of river restoration?
Costs - cost of machinery
Benefits - return river to natural course, meanders and wetlands slow flow
What are the costs and benefits of floodplain zoning?
Costs - restricts land uses, some have already been built on
Benefits - reduce losses from flood damage
What is an example of a flood management scheme in the UK?
Banburys flood defence scheme
Why was bamburys flood scheme required?
Has a history of devastating floods
Shuts local roads
Trains station
12.5million in damage
What is baburys flood management strategy?
3km embankment with height of 4.5m, 3 million cubic meters
Raising roads to bambury and in flood storage area
New pumping station to transfer excess water
What are the social benefits of bamburys scheme?
Raising roads will avoid disruption to people’s lives
Quality of life improved
Reduced levels of anxiety about flooding
What are some economic costs and benefits a of bamburys scheme?
18.5 million
Protecting around 100million of property
What’s are some environmental coasts and benefits to bamburys scheme?
100k tonnes of dirt was needed
A new biodiversity plan
Part of the floodplain will be purposely flooded
What is plucking?
Plucking occurs when meltwater freezes onto rocks and as the glacier moves it pulls piece of rock out
What is abrasion?
Where bits of rock stuck to the ice grind against the rock below wearing it away
What is freeze thaw?
Meltwater gets into cracks in rocks, and as the water thaws and re freezes the rocks become weakened and will break off
What is rotational slip?
At the top of a glacier ice doesn’t move in a straight line it move in a circular motion called rotational slip. It’s when meltwater allows the ice to move
What is bulldozing?
A form of transportation where rocks are pushed in front of the glacier
What is till?
A unsorted mixture of material that is moved by the glacier
What is moraine and what are the different types?
Landform made from till that has been dropped by the glacier
Lateral moraine - at the side of the glacier
Medial moraine - along the centre where two glacier meet
Terminal moraine - at the end
Ground moraine - along the base, spread out over large area
What are drumlins and their formation?
Elongated hills of glacial deposits
They are egg shaped and form as moraine is deposited and streamlined by moving ice
What are erratics?
Rocks that have been picked up, carried and dropped in an area with a different rock type, they look out of place.
What are arêtes?
A narrow steep sided ridge formed when two glaciers flow in parallel valleys
What are pyramidal peaks?
Pointed peaks with at least three sides
What’s are truncated spurs?
Cliff like edges where formed when bits of land that stick out into the valley are cut off as the glacier moves past.
What is a hanging valley?
Valleys formed by smaller glaciers flowing into a main glacier
What is a ribbon lake?
Long thin lakes formed where soft rock was eroded more than the hard rock
What is a glacial trough?
Steep sided valleys with a flat bottom. Where a v shaped valley has been eroded deeper and wider by glaciers.
What is a Corrie?
Begin as hollows containing ice but as the ice moves by rotational slip it erodes the back of the hollow, it can leave a small lake called a tarn
How is farming an economic opportunity in glaciated areas?
Farming is hard due to steep slopes and harsh conditions but sheep are common way to make money
How is forestry an economic opportunity in glaciated areas?
Coniferous trees can cope with high rainfall and cold conditions so are normally farmed for timber
How is quarrying an economic opportunity in glaciated areas?
Erosion made lots of rock left exposed so it is easy to get to. Quarried for slate, granite and limestone
How is tourism an economic opportunity in glaciated areas?
Dramatic landscape making it attractive to visit and partake in activities like climbing, biking and boating
What is an example of an upland areas affected by glaciation and what are its major landforms?
Snowdonia - specifically glyders mountain range
Llyn Bochlwyd and llyn idwal are tarns that sit in Corries
Llyn ogwen is the ribbon lake
What are some conflicts caused by farming in the Lake District?
Sheep remove vegetation so trees and shrubs don’t grow
What are some conflicts caused by tourism in the Lake District?
Conservations object developments of infrastructure like the snowdon cafe. Tourists can leave rubbish, damage wall, scare sheep
What are some conflicts caused by quarrying in the Lake District?
Destruction of habitats and damage to wildlife
What are some conflicts caused by forestry in the Lake District?
Damage to habitats and scaring of animals, limited access as trees are being cut down
Explain the conflict of the glenridding zipwire.
One mile long zip line, enhance economy and improve what is on offer for visitors
Drive away visitors that go for peace and glenridding has a huge number of outdoor activities anyway
What are the attractions of the Lake District?
Lakes for water sports and fishing
Mountains for hiking and biking
Adventure activities like abseiling and rock climbing
Landscape has inspired writers and poets
House of Beatrix potter
Scenic towns are popular
What are some social impacts of tourism in the Lake District?
14.8 million tourists will have impact on 40k locals
Roads are narrow and congestion is an issue
House prices are high
Jobs are seasonal
What are some economic impacts of tourism in the Lake District?
Tourists spent nearly 1billion in the Lake District.
Jobs for thousands of locals
Traffic slows down business communications
What are some environmental impacts of tourism in the Lake District?
Footpath erosion, litter, damage, pollution
Outline the three strategies that can be used to manage the impacts of tourism in the Lake District
Managing footpath erosion
Managing traffic congestion
Protecting wildlife and farmland
How is the Lake District managing footpath erosion?
Resurface oaths with hard wearing materials
Reseed vegetation to reduce visual impacts
Encourage visitors to use alternative routes by putting up signs
How is the Lake District managing traffic congestion?
Increase public transport in the tourist season
Improve the road network
Encourage people to use bikes, buses, boats and trains by providing discounts
How is the Lake District protecting farmland and wildlife?
Use signs to remind people to take their litter home and provide covered bins at the most popular sites
Encourage visitors to enjoy the countryside responsibly by closing gates and keeping dogs on leads
