The Uk Evolving Physical Landscape Flashcards
What is geology
The study of the structure and substance of rocks
What is past tectonic processes
Previous volcanic eruptions and tectonic uplift
What are the 2 glacial processes -erosion
Plucking -freezing onto the surface and removing sediment
Abrasion-embedded sediment scouring the valley floor and sides
What are the 2 glacial processes-weathering
Freeze thaw-water freezing into cracks in the rock,expanding and splitting the rock apart
Deposition- sediment put down as a glacier retreats creates outwash till in the valley floor,and moraine at the snout and edges of the glacier
What do the range of processes combined create
Upland areas-U shaped valleys and screw slopes
Lowland-dip slopes and escarpments
What are sedimentary rocks and give examples
Small ,eroded particles/remains of plants deposited in layers that turn into rocks over time and under pressure
E.g chalk clay limestone
The layers structure in sedimentary rocks creates what ?
Weakness inbetween layers
What happens to sedimentary rocks over time
They consolidate over time ,so you get rocks are less consolidated and therefore less resistant to weathering erosion
What are igneous rocks and a propertie of it
Igneous rocks are formed by heat eg cooling magma which created a magma
And it’s extremely resistant to erosion
What are metamorphic rocks and. Give a few examples
Metamorphic rocks are formed by existing rock changing shape and characteristics through heat and or pressure
Eg schists and slate
What are the metamorphic rocks layers like
Their layer stucture has faults which can be eroded easily
What rocks are found north and west of the UK and why
igneous and metamorphic due to past techtonic processes
Where are sedimentary rocks found in the UK
The south and east of England
What are dip slopes
Gently sloping areas following the fold of rocks
What are encampments
Steep slopes oftern on areas of alternating more resistant chalk and less resistant clay due to different rates of erosion
Describe the formation of a v shape valley
Caused by the movement of glaciers
They pluck rocks from valley sides and weathering eventually provides more angular sediment which embeds into the glacier
This means the moving glacier with embedded rocks causes the deepening of vally floor and widening of vally sides by abrasion
How are hanging valleys caused
Caused by glacial erosion and later post glacial rivers
How are scree slopes caused
Caused by slope processes and freeze thaw
How are outwash plains caused
By glacial deposition
How are misfit streams caused
By post glacial rivers
How are lowland areas shaped
By biological chemical and physical weathering
What for lowland landscapes features include
Dip slopes
Escarpments
Low clay valves
How do people use upland landscapes
People use landscape for dry scape walled hill farming ,large scale forestry and forest clearances ,and tourism such as skiing in Scotland
What is the forestry in lowland areas
Deciduous and orchards which are used for walking and public areas
How is the agriculture in lowland areas
Argricultre is arable as climate is more temperate,means that’s there is a longer thermal growing season creating higher crop yeilds
How is the land different in lowland areas
There is less soil erosion,more fertile land and larger and flatter sites whoch means tractors and other machinery can be used
What is a concordant coastline
Rock layer parallel to coast ,have harder more resistant outer layer protecting softer rock inland
How are coves formed
Once the resistant rock on a condordant coastline is eroded away the softer rock is eroded rapidly creating a cove
What is a discordant coastline
Alternating rocks types at a right angle to the coast
What are the 4 features of discordant coastlines
•creates headlands and bays
•as a headland erodes other landforms are created
•Faults and cracks in the rocks are widened by Abrasion,hydrolic action,wave pounding and solution
•these faults and cracks creating caves ,arch,then a stack and a stump
How do softer rock cliffs Eddie
Soft rock coastlines suffer from mass movement
How do harder rock coastline erode
Hard rock coastlines erode by the foot of a cliff being eroded between high and low water marks cause a wave cut notch
Overtime cliff is undercut and unsupported cliff face collapses
Cliff retreats inland leaving flat rock area which is a wave cut notch
How do seasons affect the climate in the UK
Autumn and winter are wettest and have most storms,which creates low pressure and higher waves leading to more rapid coastal retreat
How does strom frequency effect coastline
More storms create higher winds and low pressures creates larger more powerful waves which erode the coastline more rapidly
What are marine processes
Actions caused by the sea
What is a destructive wave
High in height frequency and have a stronger backwash then swash
Increasing coastal retreat
What is a subarieal process
Actions happening above sea level
How do sub Aerial processes affect coastlines
They act on cliff face after the waves have undercut the bottom of the cliff
They lead to mass movement
What is rock falls
Weathered areas undercut ,unsupported area collapse
What is slumping
Rapid mass movement
What is sliding
The movement of a large amount of material along a flat surface
What is transportation
The movement of material by solution ,saltation suspension and traction
What is longshore drift
The transportation of sediment along a beach in a zig zag movement
What can longshore drift create
Spit ,lagoon or tombolo
What is deposition
constructive waves built up beaches that have a stronger swash than backwash,causing sediment to build up on a beach
These beaches are oftern wide
How does this link to the fieldwork
Coastal processes can be investigated through measuring beach profile
What is a beach profile
Is a cross section of beach measured from beach to cliff base which helps you investigate its morphology
Why are people dependent on the Uk coastline
Millions of people have jobs dependent on it
What is direct effect
Where the coastline is defended
Why arnt agriculture areas protected
Due to them being less valuable
How much of dorsets coastline is developed
25%
What features does swanage bay have
Has a range of semi natural and human landscapes
Half of it is built up,it’s a residential and employment centre and has built sea defences
