The UK's evolving physical landscape Flashcards

1
Q

How are igneous rocks formed

A

They are formed by magma from the molten interior of the earth.
When magma erupts it cools inside the earth which forms igneous rock

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2
Q

How are sedimentary rocks formed

A

Formed from sediments that have settled at the bottom of the lake, sea or ocean

Have been compressed over millions of years

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3
Q

How are meta-morphic rocks formed

A

They are formed by a rock being put under immense amounts of heat and pressure causing them to change into a metamorphic rock

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4
Q

Describe the characteristics of an igneous rock and give 2 examples

A

Granite
Basalt
Impermeable
Very resistant to erosion

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5
Q

Describe the characteristics of a meta-morphic rock and give an example

A

Slate
Very resistant
Impermeable

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6
Q

Describe the characteristics of a sedimentary rock and give 2 examples

A

Chalk
Clay
Permeable

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7
Q

Describe the process of freeze thaw weathering

A

1.Water enters the rock
2.water freezes and expands widening the crack (below 0°C)
3 the ice melts water goes deeper into crack
4 process is repeated until rock splits

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8
Q

What is biological weathering

A

Plants and animals effecting rocks. Roots burrow down weakening the structure if the rock until it breaks away

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9
Q

Explain one type of biological weathering

A

1 Plants roots get into smalls cracks in the rock
2 As the roots grow the cracks become larger
2 This causes small pieces of rock to break down

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10
Q

What is chemical weathering

A

Rainwater and sea water contain weak acids. Over time the acids dissolve weak rock such as limestone or chalk

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11
Q

What are sea walls

A

Concrete walls placed at the foot of the cliff to prevent erosion. They are curved so they reflect the energy back into the sea

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12
Q

What is rock armor

A

Large boulders placed at the foot of a cliff. When waves hit them they absorb wave energy

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13
Q

What are gabions

A

Rocks which are held in mesh cages and placed in area affected by erosion

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14
Q

What are groynes

A

Wooden or rock structures built at right angles into the sea

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15
Q

What is beach replenishment

A

Sand and shingle from the sea bed is moved towards the beach

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16
Q

What is beach reprofiling

A

Reshaping the beach using existing beach material

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17
Q

What is dune regeneration

A

Grass planted in sand dunes to stabilise the dunes and helps to trap sand to build them up

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18
Q

What is dune fencing

A

Fences are built on the sandy beaches, which encourage new dunes to form

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19
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of sea walls

A

+
Very effective
Very long lasting
~
Very expensive £2000 per meter
Very ugly

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20
Q

Advantage and disadvantage of groynes

A

+
Not to expensive
Builds up beaches
~
Starves the beack further down the coast line of sediment
Look unattractive

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21
Q

Advantage and disadvantage of groynes

A

+
Not to expensive
Builds up beaches
~
Starves the beack further down the coast line of sediment
Look unattractive

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22
Q

Advantage and disadvantage of gabions

A

+
Cheap and easy to maintain £100 per meter
Absorbs wave energy
~
Not very strong
Looks unnatural

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23
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of rock armour

A

+
Relatively easy to maintain
Effective at reducing wave energy
~
Can be shifted if the rock is too small
Expensive to transport

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24
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of beach nourishment

A

+
Blends in with the existing beach
Creates wider beaches
~
Can kill or destroy animal habitats
Expensive and has to be repeated

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25
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of beach reprofiling

A

+
Provides an effective buffer for the coastline
Looks reasonably natural
~
Can be expensive
Has to be done regularly

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26
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dune regeneration

A

+
Wave energy is absorbed
It is cheap
~
The protection is limited to a small area
Can be damaged by storms or waves

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27
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dune fencing

A

+
Constructed out of natural material
Have minimal minimal impact on natural systems
~
Can be damaged by storms
Needs maintenance

28
Q

What is a concordant coastline

A

A concordant coastline has the same type of rock along its length

29
Q

What is a discordant coastline

A

A discordant coastline has two types of rock soft and hard bays and headlands form here

30
Q

How does a cove form

A

1.For a cove to form hard and soft rock must alternate
2. The hard rock cliff may suddenly crack as erosion weakens a section of the cliffs
3. Overtime The hard-rock erodes to expose a less resistant rock behind it
4. The less resistant rock erodes much quicker so the Cove widens more in the soft rock band
5. Erosion continues to widen the Cove but cannot extend further inland due to another band of hard Rock
6. Finally waves defect as they passed to the Coves opening

31
Q

What is a a bay

A

A bay is it inlet of sea where The land curves inwards usually with a beach

32
Q

What is a headland

A

a headland is another piece of land that projects from a coastline into a sea

33
Q

What is hydraulic action

A

An erosional process in which the wave hits the cliff using shear force to erode it

34
Q

What is abrasion

A

Erosional processes in which pieces of sediment are thrown at a cliff By a wave

35
Q

What is attrition

A

Wave action causes rocks and pebbles to hit each other wearing each other down to become around in smaller

36
Q

What is corrosion/solution

A

Seawater in the rain water contain weak acids overtime rocks and cliffs are eroded by it

37
Q

Describe the formation of Caves, arches, stacks and stumps

A

The cave wide and deep and due to both marine erosion and sub aerial processes and eventually a large hole will form through the other side of the headland

this is known as an arch the arch continues to widen until it is unable to support itself the top falls due to its own weight through mass movement

this leaves a stack as one side of the arch becomes detached from the mainland

With marine erosion attacking the base of the stack eventually the stack will collapse into a stump

38
Q

What is marine erosion.

A

The wearing away and breaking up of a rock along the coast

39
Q

Describe the process of longshore drift

A

1.Waves approach the coast at an angle

2.Swash Carries sediment up the beach at an angle

3.Backwash carry sediment down the beach with gravity at a right angle to the sea

4.This creates a zigzag movement of sediment along the beach

40
Q

How does a wave cut notch and platform form

A
  1. The sea attacks the base of the cliff between high and low tides
  2. A wave cut notch is formed by a erosional processes such as abrasion and hydraulic action
  3. As the notch increases in size the cliff becomes unstable and collapses leading to the retreat of the cliff face

4.The backwash carries away eroded material, leaving a wave cut platform

  1. The process repeats which makes the cliff continue to retreat
41
Q

What is sub aerial processes

A

The processes of weathering and mass movement

42
Q

What are the characteristics of a Constructive waves

A

-These waves are are low in height and have limited energy
-They have a strong swash but weak backwash
-They tend to build the beaches by depositing sediments

43
Q

What are the characteristics of a destructive wave

A

-These waves are high powerful waves
-Have a weeks wash but strong backwash
-They erode the coastline by removing material from beaches and cliffs

44
Q

How do waves form

A

1.Waves are created by winds as they blow over the sea

2.Shallow water near the coast causes friction with the seabed

3.The top of the water is travelling faster so it starts to tip forward

4.The wave then topples forward or breaks

45
Q

What is solution

A

Chemicals are dissolved into the sea water

46
Q

What is suspension

A

Particles and smaller rocks are light enough to float within the waves

47
Q

What is traction

A

Large rocks rolled along the seabed

48
Q

What is Saltation

A

Pebbles or small rocks that are too heavy to be suspended bounce along the seabed

49
Q

How to spits form

A

Spits are formed due to deposition

Longshore drift occurs along the coastline but as the wave lose energy the deposit the sediment

Normally due to going into a sheltered area such as behind the headland or a mouth/estuary

The deposit of sediment overtime this creates a spit

50
Q

What are rockfalls

A

Occur on sloped cliffs when the rock becomes exposed to mechanical weathering often Freeze thaw which causes rocks to roll down a cliff

51
Q

What are landslides

A

Water between sheets of rock and the rock face reduces friction and allows large chunk of rock to slide down the cliff

52
Q

What are mudflows

A

Saturated soil flows down the face of a hill like a fluid bulging at the bottom in a lobe

53
Q

What are rotational slips

A

Also known as slumps, soil and rock fragments become saturated with water however instead of sprawling down the hill like a mudflow chunks of rock and soil slip creating stepped heads down the cliff face

54
Q

What is a wave cut notch

A

A dent in the cliff usually at he level of high tide

55
Q

What types of rock are found in high relief areas

A

Igneous and Metamorphic as they are more resistant

56
Q

What type of rock is found in low relief areas?

A

Sedimentary rock as they are less resistant

57
Q

How do V-shaped valleys form?

A

Rivers erode into the valley over time

58
Q

How do U-shaped valleys form?

A

Glaciers erode further into the V-shaped valleys making wide troughs

59
Q

A drainage basin is…

A

The land surrounding a river where all the water flows into one river

60
Q

Define river discharge:

A

The water that moves from the river’s flow into the sea

61
Q

Which factors influence erosion

A

Volume of water
River gradient
Rock type
Friction
Type of flow

62
Q

How are waterfalls (and gorges) formed?

A

1) Hard, resistant rock is on top of softer rock in a river.
2) The soft rock gets eroded, leaving an undercut and an unstable overhand of hard rock. A plunge pool contains the eroded material.
3) Hard rock falls to the ground due to gravity, leaving large angular stones.
4) A gorge forms as this process continues. The sides are very steep.

63
Q

What is lag time?

A

The time between peak rainfall and peak discharge

64
Q

Which factors give a river a short lag time?

A

Impermeable rocks
Frozen soil
Round drainage basin (many tributaries)
Heavy precipitation
Towns and cities
Saturated antecedent conditions

65
Q

Which factors give a river a long lag time?

A

Long slim drainage basin
Slow light rain
Vegetated areas

66
Q

Explain one impact of glaciation on the landscape of the UK

A

Creation of (U-shaped) areas eroding preexisting landscapes

67
Q

Explain one reason why there may be an increase in the frequency of storms in the future.

A

Climate change may increase storminess because of larger areas of warm water generating more energy in the atmosphere and so more storms