UK Physical (4) Flashcards
Where do the UK’s upland landscapes tend to be located?
In the North and West
Where do the UK’s lowland landscapes tend to be located?
In the South and East
What are the 3 types of rock?
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
How are Igneous rocks formed?
When molten rock (magma) from the mantle cools down and hardens, forming crystals ad they cool. Igneous rocks are hard eg granite
How are Sedimentary rocks formed?
When layers of sediment are compacted together until they become solid rock. 2 main types:
- Carboniferous limestone and Chalk: formed from tiny shells and skeletons of marine life
- Clays and Shales: made from mud and clay minerals
Clay, Shale, Chalk are soft, whilst limestone can be quite hard
How are Metamorphic rocks formed?
When other rocks are changed by heat and pressure. The new rocks become harder and more compact eg shale becomes slate which can become schist
How have Tectonic processes shaped the UK landscapes?
(1) Active volcanoes: 520 million years ago, these forced magma through the crust, forming igneous rocks
(2) Plate collisions: caused the rocks to be folded and uplifted , forming mountainous ranges. The intense heat and pressure formed metamorphic rocks
Characteristics of Granite and what landscapes it forms
- Very resistant and forms upland landscapes
- Lots of joints (cracks) spread unevenly. Areas with fewer joints are weathered less easily than surrounding rock, so stick out at the surface to form tors
- Impermeable so it doesn’t let water through, creating moorlands
Characteristics of Slate and Schist and what landscapes they form
- Slate forms in layers. It is generally very hard, but easily broken into thin slabs
- Schist has bigger crystals than slate and also splits easily into small flakes
- Often form rugged, up,and landscapes and are impermeable, leading to waterlogged soils
Characteristics of Chalk and Clay and what landscapes they form
- Chalk is harder than clay and forms escarpments in lowlands. One side is steep and the other is gentler
- Chalk is permeable - water flows through and emerges as a spring where it meets impermeable rock
- Clay is soft and easily eroded, so forms wide, flat valleys in lowlands. It is impermeable, so there are a lot of streams, rivers and lakes
Characteristics of Carboniferous Limestone and what landscapes it forms
- Rainwater slowly erodes limestone due to carbonation weathering along joints in the rock
- Limestone is permeable so limestone areas have dry valleys and resurgent rivers
Explain the impact of being covered in Ice previously
- During glacial periods, parts of the UK were covered in a massive ice sheet
- Ice is powerful, so can erode the landscape, forming U-shaped valleys in upland areas
- Glaciers deposited lots of material as they melted. Large parts of Eastern England are covered in till deposited by melting glaciers
State and explain the physical processes that change the landscape of the UK
(1) Weathering: breakdown of rock into smaller pieces (mechanical, biological, physical)
(2) Erosion: wears away rock. Rivers and seas erode the landscape
(3) Slope processes: includes mass-movements (rockfall, slumps, slides) and soil creep
(4) Post-glacial river processes: melting ice made rivers larger, so have more power to erode the landscape
How have Humans changed the landscape through Agriculture?
Cleared the land of forest to make space for farming
Hedgerows and walls have been put in to mark out fields
Which landscapes are best for Arable farming?
Flat land with good soil eg East England (growing crops)
Which landscapes are best for Dairy farming?
Warm and wet areas eg South-West England - lots of large, grassy fields
Which landscapes are best for Sheep farming?
Takes place in harsher conditions in the uplands as sheep are well-suited to the steep slopes and cold weather.
Although it has led to a lack of trees on the hills as young trees are trampled on
How have Humans changed the landscape through Forestry?
- Forestry is the management of woodland - used for timber, recreation or conservation
- The UK used to be covered in deciduous woodland, yet there is very little left now
- Coniferous forests have been planted for timber and are often planted in straight lines, so the forests loom unnatural
- When areas are felled, the landscape is left bare
- Deciduous forests are being replanted to try to restore the natural landscape
How have Humans changed the landscape throuh Settlement?
- Early settlers needed a water supply, shelter, bridging points and access to resources
- As they developed: land was concreted over for roads and buildings, affecting drainage; some rivers were diverted through underground channels; some river channels were straightened or had embankments built to prevent flooding
- Big cities are ports and industrial areas - more urban than natural
Describe the landscape of Snowdonia
A glaciated upland area formed from rock from extinct volcanoes
Contains steep mountains, such as Snowdon, and glaciated valleys
Describe the landscape of the Grampian Mountains
Part of the Highlands and home to Ben Nevis
They are steep, rocky and sparsely populated
Describe the landscape of the Cheshire Plains
An area of low, flat land formed by the deposition of material eroded by glaciers
Fertile land which is used for dairy farming
Describe the landscape of The Downs and the Weald
A lowland area with a wide valley situated between the parallel hills of the Downs
The area used to be covered in forest, but is now mainly agricultural
