S7 Topic 01 - Natural Environment

Question 1

Caledonian

Answer 1

A physical region of Europe, typified by smooth rounded mountains (post-glacial) and red granite rocks. Located across Ireland, Scotland and Scandinavia.

Question 2

Baltic Shield

Answer 2

A physical region of Europe, typified by flat land, grey granite, many lakes and forested areas. Agriculture is a challenge in this area.

Question 3

North European Plain

Answer 3

A physical region of Europe, typified by flat or undulating land, across Northern France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Highly fertile soil rich in Loess good for agriculture.

Question 4

Variscian Mountains

Answer 4

A physical region of Europe, typified by sharp and jagged mountains mostly made of limestone. It exists across central parts of France and Eastwards.

Question 5

Location of Europe

Answer 5

Located “centrally” within the northern hemisphere and other continents.

Question 6

Landscape

Answer 6

The physical appearance of an area or an environment, shaped by physical and human processes and activities.

Question 7

Alpine landscape

Answer 7

The Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lie in south-central Europe. The mountain range stretches approximately 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) in a crescent shape across eight Alpine countries: France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia

Question 8

Orogeny

Answer 8

A process in which a section of the earth’s crust is folded and deformed by compression to form a mountain range, e.g the Alps. Importance of convection currents and former seas such as the Sea of Tethys folding sediment to create the Alps.

Question 9

Plate tectonics

Answer 9

The process of movement across the earth’s crust caused by convection currents below. Constructive, destructive and conservative plate boundaries.

Question 10

Glaciation

Answer 10

The process of global cooling leading to the accumulation of ice on land (and reduced sea levels).

Question 11

Weathering

Answer 11

Physical - Freeze thaw, Exfoliation / onion skin. Chemical - Carbonation, Oxidation. Biological - Plants.

Question 12

Fluvial processes

Answer 12

River processes which shape the landscape and transport material (Erosion, transportation, Deposition)

Question 13

Climate zones

Answer 13

Areas of our planet defined by different climate characteristics, e.g Alpine or Mediterranean climate zone.

Question 14

Factors affecting climate

Answer 14

Latitude, Altitude, Distance from the sea, Ocean currents, Prevailing winds

Question 15

Tundra / arctic climate zone

Answer 15

Areas dominated by the tundra climate type, winters are long and cold (temperatures may be below 0 °C for 6 to 10 months). Winter precipitation generally consists of dry snow, typical annual totals are less than 35 cm, but a range from 25 to 100 cm.

Question 16

Continental climate zone

Answer 16

A continental climate, associated with large landmasses and characterized by an extreme annual range of temperature owing to its distance from the sea.

Question 17

Mediterranean climate zone

Answer 17

Mediterranean climate, major climate type of the Köppen classification characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Question 18

Alpine climate zone

Answer 18

The Alpine biome is one of the coldest biomes in the world. It is so cold because of its high altitudes. Summer temperature range between -12 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius. The average precipitation is 30 cm a year. Mediterranean climates also tend to be drier than humid subtropical ones, with precipitation totals ranging from 35 to 90 cm.

Question 19

Precipitation types

Answer 19

Orographic (relief) rainfall, Convectional rainall, Frontal rainall, Depressional rainfall

Question 20

Maritime climate

Answer 20

Characterised by cool summers and cool winters, with a narrow annual temperature range and few extremes due to maritime influence. Depressions dominate this zone, especially in winter.

Question 21

Prevailing wind

Answer 21

The dominant wind direction. Important as we always talk about the direction wind comes from and which weather it “picks up” through advection along the way.

Question 22

Ocean proximity

Answer 22

Distance from the sea is hugely influential in moderating temperatures. The sea takes a long time to heat up and cool down, thus is brings warmth in winter to locations near the sea and causes a milder winter, the opposite is true in summer.

Question 23

Ocean currents

Answer 23

Currents such as the gulf stream bring reliable flows of warm water to regions in the west of Europe. As wind blows over these currents advection transfers these conditions to where it blows.

Question 24

Latitude

Answer 24

The distance North or South of the equator. Hugely influential in determining climate and climate zone as it directly affects the amount of incoming solar radiation and the angle and area over which it is distributed.

Question 25

Depression

Answer 25

A depression is a huge area of low pressure that measures many 100s of km. It may take 3 to 5 days to pass over a spot. Low atmospheric pressure, often below 1000mb. Shown on a weather map by closed isobars with decreasing pressure towards the centre. Brings first light rainfall, followed by a short warm spell and lastly by intense rainfall and stormy conditions (air forced to rise rapidly as cold front approaches)

Question 26

Relief

Answer 26

The changing height and shape of the land. Can cause orographic rainfall.

Question 27

Pangaea

Answer 27

The supercontinental landmass defined by Alfred Wegener in 1912.

Question 28

Convection currents

Answer 28

The movement of warm magma (heated by core at 5500 celsius), it becomes less dense, rises, cools and sinks.

Question 29

Coniferous trees

Answer 29

A type of tree adapated to cold climate zones, tundra and alpine. Shallow roots, needles, dark green colour.

Question 30

Deciduous trees

Answer 30

A type of tree adapted to maritime and temperate climate zones. Deeper roots, flat large leaves.

Question 31

Loess

Answer 31

A loosely compacted yellowish-grey deposit of wind-blown sediment as a result of glacial erosion from Alps. Hugely fertile and key to the success of the North European Plain.

Question 32

Humus

Answer 32

Humus is dark, organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays. When plants drop leaves, twigs, and other material to the ground, it piles up. More common in maritime climate zones.

Question 33

Erosion

Answer 33

Abrasion, Attrition, Corrosion(solution), Cavitation (hydraulic action)

Question 34

River transport

Answer 34

Solution , Saltation, Traction, Suspension

Question 35

Hjulström curve

Answer 35

Shows the relationship between, erosion, transportation and deposition. Essentially, deposition occurs at low speeds, transportation at middle speeds and erosion at highest speeds. Exception is clay (very fine which requires higher speeds to overcome floculation).

Question 36

Hydrological cycle

Answer 36

The flow of water (in various forms) around a system. Evaporation > Condesation > Coalescence > Precipitation > Run-off…

Question 37

Drainage basin

Answer 37

An area of land, separated from other drainage basins by a watershed. This area of land collects and drains water through a series of rivers and streams.

Question 38

Open / Closed system

Answer 38

An open system allows inputs from outside and outputs can leave. A closed system continually “recycles” elements within its system.

Question 39

River restoration

Answer 39

To return a river back to ist more natural or orginal state. It can be a natural form of flood defense.

Question 40

River management

Answer 40

To interfer and modify a river in an attempt to reduce the risk of flooding. (Not always sucessful)

Question 41

Flood hydrograph

Answer 41

A graph that shows preciptiation and how a river responds to inputs (quickly or slowly). The lag time can be affected by slope gradient, vegetation rock types.

Question 42

Glacial landforms

Answer 42

Arete, Pyramidal peak, Hanging valley, Moraine

Question 43

Glacial erosion

Answer 43

Plucking and abrasion. Plucking - as ice and glaciers move, they scrape along the surrounding rock and pull away pieces of rock which causes erosion. As a glacier flows downslope, it drags the rock, sediment, and debris in its basal ice over the bedrock beneath it, grinding it.

Question 44

Landforms of glacial erosion

Answer 44

Corrie (Cirque), U-shapes Valley, Hanging Valley, Arete, Horn

Question 45

Landforms of glacial deposition

Answer 45

Erratics, Lateral moraines, Medial moraines, Terminal Moraines, Drumlins

Question 46

Weather

Answer 46

The day to day changes in the state of the atmosphere.

Question 47

Climate

Answer 47

The average weather conditions in a place or region across 30 years.

Question 48

Orographic rainfall

Answer 48

Precipitation caused by winds being forced to rise over hills or mountains (Alps, Caledonian etc.)

Question 49

Convectional rainfall

Answer 49

Precipitation caused by the heat of the sun causing water to evaporate from the soil, cool and condense. Common in summer.

Question 50

Frontal rainfall

Answer 50

Precipitation caused by warm and cold air masses meeting. Air masses cannot mix (except at the end of a depression) so warm air rises over the cold, cools, condenses and precipitates.

Question 51

Climate change

Answer 51

Physical causes (Milankovitch, Volcanic eruptions, change in ocean currents, sun spots) and human causes (Deforestation, fossil fuel use, agriculture)

Question 52

Air pressure

Answer 52

A key determinant of weather. Low air pressure is rising air, High air pressure is sinking air. Air rises when the ground below it is warmed. Wind always blows from high to low pressure. The bigger the difference in pressure the faster the wind.