UK landscapes Flashcards
What is the distribution of rock types in the UK?
- Tees-Exe line splits the UK into upland and lowland landscapes
What are upland landscapes?
Landscapes made from more resistant rock e.g. granite/basalt
What are lowland landscapes?
Landscapes made from less resistant rock e.g. chalk/limestone
How were the UK upland landscapes formed?
520 million years ago converging plate boundaries forced the land upwards
How were the UK lowland landscapes formed?
50-60 million years ago when diverging plate boundaries caused the ocean to open
Give an example of an upland landscape.
Cairngorms (Scotland) and Snowdonia (North Wales)
What are the characteristics of metamorphic rocks? (3)
- formed in layers of crystals
- more resistant
- impermeable
What are the characteristics of sedimentary rocks? (4)
- permeable
- less resistant
- contains fossils
- formed in layers
What are the characteristics of igneous rocks?
- made of crystals
- more resistant
- impermeable
How are igneous rocks formed?
from the cooling and solidification of magma from volcanic activity
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
small particles are deposited in layers and are compressed to form a new rock
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
formed when sedimentary rocks are eventually pushed so far towards the earth’s crust that they undergo heat and pressure to form a new metamorphic rock
Give an example of an igneous rock.
Granite/basalt
Give an example of a sedimentary rock.
Chalk/limestone
Give an example of a metamorphic rock.
Marble/slate
What are the positives of farming on the South Downs National Park? (2)
- generates income - supporting local community
2. hedgerows provide habitats for skylarks and wildlife corridors for bats
What are the negative impacts of farming on the South Downs National Park? (2)
- reduction in chalk grassland from chemicals in fertilisers
- fewer sheep leads to shrub encroachment
- arable plants reduced due to some practices (leads to habitat loss)
What are the advantages of forestry on the South Downs? (2)
- harvested timber provides income and fuel
2. creates space for development
What are the disadvantages of forestry on the South Downs?
- removal of woodland for developments threatens ancient woodland and biodiversity e.g. lime/hazel trees
How have settlements on the South Downs been impacted by population growth?
- wooden signs replaced by metal
- loss of community facilities e.g. post office, pubs
- loss of local distinctiveness as recent developments aren’t sticking to traditional styles
Which human activities have altered the landscape at the South Downs National Park?
- Settlements
- Forestry
- Agriculture
What are the characteristics of settlements in the South Downs?
- spring-line and built along the south slopes (providing shelter)
- most populated national park with 120,000
- market towns e.g. Petersfield located here
What are the characteristics of forestry in the South Downs?
- deciduous and coniferous woodland covers 24% of the park
- more heavily wooded in the west
What are the characteristics of agriculture in the South Downs?
- 1,100 farms - 85% of the land
- underlying geology in the North is chalk so soil is rich and well drained - grass is short ideal for grazing sheep and horse racing
- the South has deeper soils suitable for arable farming and clay grassland with longer grass for cows
How has geology and tectonic processes formed the North and South Downs?
- 75 million years ago the UK was covered in tropical seas (cretaceous period) - lots of marine deposits formed on the seabed at this time
- 30 million years ago large earth movement caused this seabed to fold upwards - creating a large chalk-covered dome
- overtime water eroded this dome - revealing older sandstones and clays which eroded at different rates to create escarpments; dip slopes and scarp slopes
What distinctive landscapes are found at Dartmoor?
tors
Give an example of a tor
bowman’s nose, dartmoor, devon
How have tectonic processes and physical processes formed distinctive landscapes at Dartmoor (tors)?
- 290 million years ago a massive dome of magma (batholith) developed underground
- the batholith cooled and contracted to form granite with cooling joints
- chemical weathering widened the cooling joints in the granite
- physical weathering caused the joints to expand and crumble apart
- more granite became exposed to the air and processes like wind removed the broken rock until only the largest blocks remained
How have physical processes worked together to form distinctive landscapes in the Yorkshire Dales?
- the structure of the carboniferous limestone is made up of blocks divided by horizontal and vertical joints
- rainwater passes through the joints - solution widens and deepens the cracks (called grykes)
- the blocks of limestone (clints) become exposed and create a pavement
e. g. at Malham Cove
Where is an example of a limestone pavement?
Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales
