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UK physical landscape Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 2 types of weathering?

A

Physical and weathering

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2
Q

How does mechanical weathering work?

A

Temperature drops below 0°C.
Water enters cracks in the rock.
Water freezes and expands, putting pressure on the rock.
Water thaws, releasing pressure.
Repeated freezing and thawing widens cracks and eventually breaks the rock apart.

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3
Q

How does chemical weathering work?

A

Rainwater absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere.
This forms acid rain.
Acid rain reacts with certain rocks, dissolving them.

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4
Q

What are the 3 types of mass movements?

A

Slides
Slumps
Rockfalls

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5
Q

How do slides work?

A

Material shifts in a straight line along a slide plane.

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6
Q

How does a slump work?

A

Material rotates along a curved slip plane.

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7
Q

How do rockfalls work?

A

Material breaks up along bedding planes and falls down a slope

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8
Q

What are the 2 types of waves?

A

Destructive waves
Constructive waves

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9
Q

Tell me about destructive waves.

A

High frequency, high and steep.
Backwash is more powerful than the swash, so material is removed from the coast.

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10
Q

Tell me about constructive waves.

A

Low frequency, low and long.
Swash is more powerful than the backwash, so material is deposited on the coast.

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11
Q

How does hydraulic power work?

A

The force of water compresses air in cracks, putting pressure on the rock and causing it to break apart.

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12
Q

How does abrasion work?

A

Eroded particles like rocks in the water scrape and rub against rock, wearing it away.

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13
Q

How does attrition work?

A

Eroded particles in the water collide and break into smaller pieces, becoming smoother and more rounded over time.

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14
Q

How is material transported in longshore drift?

A

-Waves follow the prevailing wind (most common).
-They hit at an oblique angle (not 0 degrees), and swash carries material up the beach in the same direction as the waves.
-Backwash carries material down the beach at 90-degree angles towards the sea. Over time, material zigzags along the coast.

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15
Q

What are the 4 types of transportation?

A

Traction: Large particles (e.g., boulders) are pushed along the sea bed by water.
Saltation: Pebble-sized particles bounce along the sea bed.
Suspension: Small particles (e.g., silt and clay) are carried in the water.
Solution: Soluble materials dissolve in water and are transported.

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16
Q

What is deposition?

A

Material is dropped when water loses energy and slows down.

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17
Q

What are discordant coastlines?

A

Alternating bands of hard and soft rock at right angles to the coast.

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18
Q

What are concordant coastlines?

A

Alternating bands of hard and soft rock parallel to the coast.

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19
Q

How are headlands formed on a discordant coastline?

A

Hard rock erodes slower and juts out.

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20
Q

How are bays formed on a discordant coastline?

A

Soft rock erodes faster, forming a bay with a gentle slope.

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21
Q

Explain the formation of CCAS (Crack, Cave, Arch, Stack):

A

Crack: Resistant rock in headlands develops cracks due to hydraulic action and abrasion.
Cave: Repeated erosion enlarges the crack into a cave.
Arch: Further erosion deepens the cave, breaking through to form an arch.
Stack: The arch collapses, leaving a stack separated from the headland.

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22
Q

How do waves erode cliffs to form wave-cut platforms?

A

-Waves erode the foot of a cliff, creating a wave-cut notch.
-Repeated erosion makes the rock above the notch unstable, causing it to collapse.
-Over time, the cliff retreats, leaving a wave-cut platform.

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23
Q

How is a spit formed?

A

-Spits form at sharp bends in the coastline.
-Longshore drift transports sand past the bend, depositing it in the sea.
-Strong winds and waves can curve the end of the spit.
-Sheltered areas behind the spit allow material to accumulate, enabling plants to grow.

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24
Q

How is a bar formed?

A

A spit joins two headlands, cutting off the bay from the sea.
The trapped water forms a lagoon behind the bar.

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25
Q

How are sand dunes formed?

A

Sand is deposited by longshore drift.
Obstacles (e.g., driftwood) reduce wind speed, causing sand to accumulate and form embryo dunes.
Plants colonize embryo dunes, stabilizing the sand and allowing more accumulation.
Dune slacks (small pools) form in hollows between dunes.

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26
Q

Location of the Holderness Coast

A

Northeast England, 61 km stretch from Flamborough Head.

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27
Q

What is hard engineering?

A

Man-made structures built to control the sea and reduce erosion.

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28
Q

What is soft engineering?

A

Using natural processes to reduce flooding and erosion effects.

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29
Q

How do sea walls work?

A

Reflect waves back to the sea to prevent erosion and flooding.

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30
Q

Example of soft engineering:

A

Dune regeneration: Restoring or creating dunes by nourishment or planting vegetation.
+ Cheap.
- Nourishment can be expensive.

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31
Q

What is managed retreat?

A

Allowing the sea to flood low-value land, creating marshland that reduces erosion and flooding naturally.

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32
Q

Positives of managed retreat:

A

Creates habitats.
Cheap and easy.

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33
Q

Negatives of managed retreat:

A

Can flood farmland, affecting farmers’ livelihoods.
Saltwater can damage ecosystems.

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34
Q

Name two examples of hard engineering

A

Sea wall, gabions, rock armour, or groynes.

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35
Q

How does dune regeneration work?

A

Restoring dunes by adding sand or planting vegetation to stabilize them

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36
Q

How do groynes prevent erosion?

A

They trap material carried by longshore drift, creating wider beaches.

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37
Q

What are the pros and cons of rock armour?

A

Pros: Cheap and absorbs wave energy.
Cons: Can be moved by strong waves, requiring replacement.

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38
Q

What are the positives and negatives of managed retreat?

A

Positives: Creates habitats, cheap and easy.
Negatives: Floods farmland and damages ecosystems with saltwater.

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38
Q

How do Gabions work?

A

Wire cages filled with rocks absorb wave energy and reduce erosion.

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39
Q

how does rock armour work?

A

Large boulders absorb wave energy, reducing erosion.

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40
Q

how does managed retreat work

A

Low-value land is allowed to flood naturally, creating marshland that absorbs wave energy and reduces erosion.

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41
Q

what are the positives and negatives of sea walls

A

Positives:

Very effective at reducing erosion and flooding.
Long-lasting.
Negatives:

Expensive to build and maintain.
Can create a strong backwash, eroding the base of the wall.

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42
Q

what are the positives and negatives of rock armour

A

Positives:

Relatively cheap and easy to install.
Provides immediate protection.
Negatives:

Can be moved by strong waves, requiring regular replacement.
May look unnatural in some areas.

43
Q

what are the positives and negatives of gabions

A

Positives:

Cheap and easy to build.
Effective in reducing erosion short-term.
Negatives:

Can look unattractive.
Wire cages may corrode over time.

44
Q

Where is Walton-on-the-Naze located?

A

On the South East coast of the UK, home to 6,000 people.

44
Q

Why is Walton-on-the-Naze a significant location?

A

It is popular with tourists and faces rapid erosion.

44
Q

What is the rate of erosion at Walton-on-the-Naze?

A

About 2 meters per year.

44
Q

What are the cliffs at Walton-on-the-Naze made of?

A

Weak London Clay.

44
Q

What type of waves contribute to erosion at Walton-on-the-Naze?

A

Large destructive waves.

44
Q

What is the Crag Walk, and what does it do?

A

A rock armour path that absorbs wave energy, reduces cliff erosion, and catches slumped material.

44
Q

What does the sea wall at Walton-on-the-Naze do?

A

Reflects wave energy to prevent erosion.

45
Q

By how much has erosion slowed since the Crag Walk was completed in 2011?

A

To 20cm per year.

45
Q

What structure on the cliff has been protected by the Crag Walk?

A

The historical Naze Tower.

45
Q

When were the sea walls and groynes built, and what have they protected?

A

In the 1970s, they have protected the town from erosion.

46
Q

What does the long profile of a river show?

A

It shows how the gradient of a river changes along its course.

47
Q

Describe the upper course of a river to me.

A

Steep gradient, V-shaped valleys, narrow and shallow channels.

47
Q

Describe the middle course of a river to me.

A

Medium gradient, gently sloping valley sides, wider and deeper channels.

47
Q

Describe the lower course of a river to me.

A

Gentle gradient, very wide and almost flat valley, very wide and deep channel.

48
Q

What is vertical erosion?

A

Erosion that deepens the river valley and channel, mainly found in the upper course.

49
Q

What is horizontal erosion?

A

Erosion that widens the river channel, mainly found in the middle and lower course.

50
Q

Why does a river deposit material?

A

The volume of water falls.
The amount of eroded material increases.
The water becomes shallower.

51
Q

How does a waterfall form? (SWUPG)

A

Soft rock is eroded, creating a step.
More soft rock is eroded, forming a steep drop called a waterfall.
Hard rock is undercut by erosion, becomes unsupported, and collapses.
Collapsed rock erodes the foot of the waterfall by abrasion, creating a plunge pool.
Continued undercutting and collapsing form a gorge.

52
Q

What are interlocking spurs?

A

When hillsides interlock with each other.

53
Q

What happens at interlocking spurs?

A

Rivers lack the power to erode laterally, so they wind around the spurs.

54
Q

How are meanders created (erosion-wise)?

A

The current is faster on the outside bend (thalweg), causing more erosion.
This forms a river cliff.

54
Q

How are meanders created (deposition-wise)?

A

The current is slower on the inside bend because it is shallower.
More deposition occurs here, forming slip-off slopes.

55
Q

How are oxbow lakes formed?

A

-Erosion makes the bends of a meander closer together.
-Only a small piece of land, called the neck, is left between the bends.
-During a flood, the river breaks through the neck.
-The river flows along the shortest route.
-Deposition cuts off the meander, forming an oxbow lake.

55
Q

What are floodplains?

A

The wide valley floor on either side of a river that occasionally floods.

56
Q

How do floodplains form?

A

When a river floods, it deposits material, building up the floodplain over time.

57
Q

How do levees form?

A

During a flood, eroded material is deposited across the floodplain.
The heaviest material is deposited closest to the river channel.

57
Q

What are estuaries?

A

Tidal areas where the river meets the sea.

58
Q

Tell me about estuaries.

A

-Water is tidal.
-As the tide reaches its highest point, the water slows and deposits material.
-Over time, more mud builds up to form mudflats.
-These mudflats are exposed at low tide.

59
Q

What is the longest river in the UK, and how long is it?

A

The River Severn, 350km long.

59
Q

Where is the source of the River Severn?

A

Plynlimon, the highest point in the Cambrian Mountains, Wales.

60
Q

Where does the River Severn flow into?

A

The Bristol Channel.

61
Q

What major landforms of erosion can be found along the River Severn?

A

Interlocking spurs and waterfalls.

62
Q

Where are interlocking spurs found along the River Severn?

A

In the upper course near the source.

63
Q

What is a named waterfall along the River Severn?

A

Break-its-Neck Waterfall.

64
Q

How was the Break-its-Neck Waterfall formed?

A

-In the upper course, vertical erosion occurs due to the steep gradient.
-The river flows over hard rock then soft rock, forming a ledge as the soft rock erodes more easily.
-A plunge pool forms below the ledge due to hydraulic action.
-The hard rock overhang collapses, and the waterfall retreats upstream to form a gorge.

65
Q

What causes deposition in the River Severn estuary?

A

Sea water and marine silt are pushed up the river at high tide, meeting freshwater traveling downstream.
The reduced velocity causes deposition.

66
Q

What vegetation grows on the mudflats over time?

A

Salt-marsh vegetation like cordgrass.

67
Q

What is peak discharge?

A

The highest discharge in a river.

68
Q

What is lag time?

A

The delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge.

69
Q

What is the rising limb?

A

The increase in river discharge as water flows into the river.

70
Q

What is the falling limb?

A

The decrease in river discharge after peak discharge.

71
Q

What are some human factors that affect flood risk?

A

-Land use: Buildings made from impermeable materials increase runoff.
-Deforestation: Fewer trees to intercept rainfall.

72
Q

What are some physical factors that affect flood risk?

A

Prolonged rainfall: Soil becomes saturated and cannot absorb more rain.
Geology: Impermeable rocks increase surface runoff.

73
Q

What are two methods of hard engineering?

A

Dams and reservoirs, embankments.

74
Q

How do dams reduce flooding?

A

Barriers built across rivers (usually in the upper course) create reservoirs to store water.

75
Q

What are the positives and negatives of dams and reservoirs?

A

Positives: Can be used for hydroelectric power.
Negatives: Expensive to build.

76
Q

How do embankments prevent flooding?

A

Raised walls along riverbanks allow the river to hold more water.

77
Q

What are the positives and negatives of embankments?

A

Positives: Increases water capacity, reducing flood risk
Negatives: Expensive, and failure can cause severe flooding.

78
Q

What are two examples of soft engineering?

A

Floodplain zoning, planting trees.

79
Q

How does floodplain zoning prevent flooding?

A

Restrictions prevent building on certain parts of the floodplain.

80
Q

What are the positives and negatives of floodplain zoning?

A

Positives: Reduces impermeable surfaces.
Negatives: Cannot help areas with existing buildings.

81
Q

. How does planting trees prevent flooding?

A

Trees intercept rainfall and reduce runoff.

82
Q

What are the positives and negatives of planting trees to prevent flooding?

A

Positives: Provides habitats for wildlife.
Negatives: Reduces land available for farming.

83
Q

Why was the Boscastle flood management scheme required?

A

In August 2004, Boscastle flooded due to intense rainfall, steep valleys with impermeable rock, and its location at the confluence of three rivers.

84
Q

What damage occurred during the Boscastle flood?

A

Over 50 cars washed away.
Bridges were blocked by debris, worsening the flood.
58 buildings were flooded, costing £2 million in damages.

85
Q

What was the total cost of the Boscastle flood management scheme?

A

£4 million.

86
Q

What flood management strategies were implemented?

A

-Channelisation: The River Valency channel was deepened (0.75m) and widened (5m to 10m) to increase capacity.
-Dredging: Granite smoothed the river bed, reducing friction and increasing water flow.
-Floodplain zoning: The car park was moved 100m away from the river, raised 1m, and made with a permeable surface.

87
Q

What are the social benefits of the flood management scheme?

A

Reduced flood risk, making Boscastle safer.
Increased community spirit through collaboration with the government.

88
Q

What are the social issues with the scheme?

A

Construction disrupted local lives for several years.
The new bridge design is unpopular with some residents as it is out of character.

89
Q

What are the economic benefits of the scheme?

A

Reduced flood risk lowers property and business damage.
Tourism increased due to ‘disaster tourism.’

90
Q

What are the economic issues with the scheme?

A

The scheme cost over £4 million.

91
Q

What are the environmental benefits of the scheme?

A

Dead trees were removed, and afforestation was encouraged

92
Q

What are the environmental issues with the scheme?

A

The engineered river looks natural but is not entirely natural.

Geography (7 decks)

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