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UK Lanscapes Flashcards

1
Q

What is relief??

A

Relief is the physical features of a landscape. This includes the height above sea level, steepness of slopes and shapes of different landscape features.

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2
Q

What areas of the Uk are mainly uplands?

A

North and west
Made or igneous and metamorphic rock
E.g Dartmoor

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3
Q

What areas of the Uk are lowlands?

A

South east
Made from sedimentary rock

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4
Q

How are waves created?

A

Waves are created by wind blowing over the surfac of the sea. As the wind blows over the sea, friction created - producing a swell in the water. The size of the wave is determined by the strength (speed) of the wind, time over which it blows and distance (fetch) it blows over.

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5
Q

Constructive waves-

A

This wave has a swash that is stronger than the backwash. This therefore builds up the coast.

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6
Q

Destructive waves-

A

This wave has a backwash that is stronger than the swash. This therefore erodes the coast.

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7
Q

What is erosion?

A

Erosion is the break down and transport of rocks - smooth, round and sorted.

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8
Q

What are the four types of erosion?

A

ATTRITION - Rocks that bash together to become smaller and smoother.

SOLUTION - A chemical reaction that dissolves rocks.

ABRASION - Rocks hurled at the base of a cliff like a sandpapering action that cause it to become smoother.

HYDRAULIC ACTION - Water enters cracks in the cliff, or river bank, air compresses, causing the crack to expand.

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9
Q

What is weathering?

A

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks where they are (in situ).

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10
Q

What are the 3 types of weathering?

A

Biological- Breakdown of rock by plants and animals e.g. roots pushing rocks apart.

Physical / mechanical- Breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition e.g. freeze thaw

Chemical- Chemicals (acids) react with the rocks (limestone). e.g. as carbonation

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11
Q

What is freeze thaw weathering?

A

Freeze-thaw weathering occurs when rocks are porous (contain holes) or permeable (allow water to pass through).

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12
Q

What is mass movement?

A

Mass movement is a large movement of soil and rock debris that moves down slopes in response to the pull of gravity in a vertical direction.

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13
Q

What are 4 examples of mass movement

A

Rockfall - fragments of rock beak away from the cliff face, often due to weathering.

Landslide - blocks of rock slide downhill.

Mudflow - saturated soil and weak rock flows down a slope.

Rotational Slip/Slumping - slump of saturated soil and weak rock along a curved surface.

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14
Q

What is a headland?

A

A headland is a rocky coastal highpoint of land made of rock that is resistant to erosion.

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15
Q

What is a bay ?

A

A bay is an area of less resistant rock where the land has been eroded by the sea.

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16
Q

What is the formation of headlands and bays?

A
  1. Coastlines can be made of alternating bands of hard and soft rock.
  2. These rock types will erode at different rates.
  3. Headlands form where more resistant (hard) rock such as limestone or sandstone is eroded slowly.
  4. Bays form where weaker (soft) rock such as clay erode more easily through processes of hydraulic action and abrasion.
  5. Bays are sheltered areas and so deposition takes place to form beaches.
  6. Headlands are dominated by high energy on the land sticking out, so erosional landforms are found at headlands.
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17
Q

What is a wave cut platform?

A

A wave cut platform is a rocky, level shelf at or around sea level representing the base of old, retreated cliffs.

18
Q

What’s the formation of cliffs and wave cut platforms??

A
  1. The sea erodes the cliff through processes such as hydraulic action and abrasion.
  2. This forms a wave-cut notch between high and low water.
  3. Over time the cliff is undercut and eventually collapses due to the force of gravity.
  4. The process is repeated with the cliff retreating over time.
  5. At the base of the cliff a wave-cut platform is formed.
  6. This is an area of flat rock that extends into the sea.
  7. This is exposed at low tider
19
Q

Define a cave, arch, stack, stump:

A

Cave - A large hole in a cliff caused by waves forcing their way into cracks in the cliff face.
Arch - A wave-eroded passage through a small headland. This begins as a cave which is gradually widened and deepened until it is cut through.
Stack - Isolated pillar or rock left when the top of an arch collapses
Stump - The eroded remains of a sea stack.

20
Q

Whats the formation of Cave, Arch, Stack, Stump?

A
  1. Wave refraction causes the waves to erode a headland from both sides.
  2. Hydraulic action and abrasion erode a crack/ fault in the cliff.
  3. This process continues to create a cave.
  4. The waves continue to erode from both sides forming an arch.
  5. The arch is unsupported and weathered from the top so the roof of the arch collapses, due to gravity.
  6. This leaves a stack.
  7. The stack is weathered and eroded and forms a stump.
21
Q

What are the 4 types of transportation?

A

-Traction
-Saltation
-Suspension
-Solution

22
Q

Define Traction:

A

Boulders and pebbles are rolled along the sea bed during times of high wave energy (storms).

23
Q

Define Saltation:

A

Sand sized particles are bounced along the sea bed by the flow of water.

24
Q

Define Suspension:

A

Fine clay and sand particles are carried along within the water even at low discharges.

25
Define Solution:
Some minerals dissolve in water such as calcium carbonate. This requires very little energy.
26
What is longshore drift?
Transport of sediment along a stretch of coastline caused by waves approaching the beach at an angle, due to prevailing winds.
27
What is deposition?
when material (sediment) being carried by sea water is deposited at points along the coast. This happens when the sea has little or no energy in protected areas such as bays and river mouths.
28
List the conditions for deposition to occur:
Low/little energy environments Sheltered bays Waves are not very powerful = constructive waves Large supply of sediment Sea defences (e.g. Groynes) stop the movement of sediment
29
What are the characteristics of a sandy beach?
Gradient: generally shallow, almost flat Dominant wave: constructive Distance inland: a long way Back of beach: sand dunes (sometimes)
30
What are the characteristics of a sandy beach?
Gradient: generally shallow, almost flat Dominant wave: constructive Distance inland: a long way Back of beach: sand dunes (sometimes)
31
What’s the characteristics of a pebble beach?
Gradient: generally steep Dominant wave: destructive Distance inland: not far Back of beach: storm beach with large pebbles
32
What is a spit?
Depositional landform formed when a finger of sediment extends from the shore out to sea, often at a river mouth.
33
What is a bar?
A bar is formed when the prevailing wind causes longshore drift. There is a change in angle of the coastline. A spit extends into the sea. If there is no river the spit will grow across and meet the other side
34
Formation of sand dunes:
1. Embryo dunes form around deposited obstacles such as pieces of wood or rocks. 2. These develop and become stabilised by vegetation to form fore dunes and tall yellow dunes. 3. Marram grass is adapted to the windy, exposed condition and has long roots to find water. These roots help bind the sand together and stabilise the dunes. 4. In time, rotting vegetation adds organic matter to the sand making it more fertile. A much greater range of plants colonise these 'back' dunes. 5. Wind can come form depressions in the sand called dune slacks, in which ponds may form.
35
Costal management : hard engineering
Curved Sea Wall (£5000-10,000 per m) ADV: Effective at stopping the sea. DISADV: Can look obtrusive and unnatural. Groynes (£150,000 each) ADV: Create a wider beach, which can be popular with tourists. DISADV: Starve beaches further along the coast of sediment. Rock Armour (£200,000 per 100m) ADV: Relatively cheap and easy to maintain. DISADV: Often do not fit in with the local geology. Gabions (£50, 000 per 100m) ADV: Can improve drainage of cliffs. DISADV: Cages only last 5-10 years before they rust.
36
Costal management : soft engineering
Beach Nourishment and re-profiling (£500,000 per 100m) ADV: Blend in with existing beach. DISADV: Needs constant maintenance. Sand Dune Regeneration (€200-£2000 per 100m) ADV: Maintains a natural coastal environment that is popular with people and wildlife. DISADV: Time consuming to plant the marram grass and fence areas off. Managed Retreat (Highly variable) ADV: Allows some land to flood. DISADV: Expensive to pay compensation.
37
Erosion case
The Holderness Coastline is one of Europe’s fastest eroding at an average annual rate of around 2 metres. This is around 2 million tonnes of material every year. Approximately 3 miles (5kms) of land has been lost since Roman times, including 23 towns/villages.
38
wave cut platform formation:
A wave cut platform is a rocky, level shelf at or around sea level representing the base of old, retreated cliffs. A cliff is a steep high rock face formed by weathering and erosion. Formation of Cliffs and Wave Cut Platforms: 1. The sea erodes the cliff through processes such as hydraulic action and abrasion. 2. This forms a wave-cut notch between high and low water. 3. Over time the cliff is undercut and eventually collapses due to the force of gravity. 4. The process is repeated with the cliff retreating over time. 5. At the base of the cliff a wave-cut platform is formed. 6. This is an area of flat rock that extends into the sea. 7. This is exposed at low tide.
39
headlands and bays:
A headland is a rocky coastal highpoint of land made of rock that is resistant to erosion. A bay is an area of less resistant rock where the land has been eroded by the sea. Formation of Headlands and Bays: 1.Coastlines can be made of alternating bands of hard and soft rock. 2.These rock types will erode at different rates. 3.Headlands form where more resistant (hard) rock such as limestone or sandstone is eroded slowly. 4.Bays form where weaker (soft) rock such as clay erode more easily through processes of hydraulic action and abrasion. 5.Bays are sheltered areas and so deposition takes place to form beaches. 6.Headlands are dominated by high
40
cave-arch-stack-stump formation:
Cave – A large hole in a cliff caused by waves forcing their way into cracks in the cliff face. Arch – A wave-eroded passage through a small headland. This begins as a cave which is gradually widened and deepened until it is cut through. Stack – Isolated pillar or rock left when the top of an arch collapses Stump – The eroded remains of a sea stack. Formation of Cave, Arch, Stack and Stump: 1. Wave refraction causes the waves to erode a headland from both sides. 2. Hydraulic action and abrasion erode a crack/ fault in the cliff. 3. This process continues to create a cave. 4. The waves continue to erode from both sides forming an arch. 5. The arch is unsupported and weathered from the top so the roof of the arch collapses, due to gravity. 6. This leaves a stack. 7. The stack is weathered and eroded and forms a stump.

Geography (10 decks)

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