UK Physical Landscape

Question 1

Weathering

Answer 1

The physical, biological, or chemical breakdown of solid rock by the action of weather or plants

Question 2

Biological weathering

Answer 2

When the living things (Animals and plants) erode rocks

Question 3

Chemical weathering

Answer 3

Minerals in rocks react with chemicals in the rain

Question 4

Physical weathering

Answer 4

The change of rocks over time as a result of natural reactions. e.g. Freeze thaw

Question 5

Slope processes

Answer 5

The types of mass movement

Question 6

Fetch

Answer 6

The distance over which the waves travel

Question 7

Prevailing wind

Answer 7

The dominant wind direction

Question 8

Swash

Answer 8

The movement of water up the beach

Question 9

Backwash

Answer 9

Water drawing back into the sea

Question 10

Beach profile

Answer 10

The shape of the beach, which is influenced by the type of wave

Question 11

Constructive waves

Answer 11

Usually comes during the summer months, calm and builds up beach material

Question 12

Destructive waves

Answer 12

Usually comes during the winter, strong backwash and removes beach material

Question 13

The coastal zone

Answer 13

The changing boundary between land and sea. e.g. Estuary, beach or cliff

Question 14

Wave-cut platform

Answer 14

An area of smooth rock that is left where the cliff line once was. Caused by erosion

Question 15

Hydraulic action

Answer 15

Is the force of water along the coast, or within a stream or river

Question 16

Abrasion

Answer 16

The scratching and scraping of a river bed and banks by the stones and sand in the river

Question 17

Attrition

Answer 17

The wearing away of particles of debris by the action of other particles, such as river or beach pebbles

Question 18

Discordant

Answer 18

Alternates between bands of hard rocks and soft rocks, so the rock strata is at right angles to the coast

Question 19

Concordant

Answer 19

Follows the ridges and valleys of the land, so the rock strata is parallel to the coastline

Question 20

Strata

Answer 20

Distinctive layers of rock

Question 21

Joints

Answer 21

Small, usually vertical cracks found in many rocks

Question 22

Faults

Answer 22

Large cracks caused by past tectonic movements, where rocks have moved

Question 23

Longshore drift

Answer 23

Waves approach the beach at an angle and move the sediment along the beach

Question 24

Storm surge

Answer 24

Arise in sea level beneath a severe storm (low pressure system).

Heightened waves driven onshore by strong winds (wind drift)

Question 25

Geology

Answer 25

Different rock types

Question 26

Hard engineering

Answer 26

A technique involving the construction of significant man-made structures to manage the coastline. Usually very expensive and only covers part of the coastline, the other parts of the coastline that aren’t protected by hard engineering erode heavily as a result of this

Question 27

Soft engineering

Answer 27

A technique involving the construction of more environmentally friendly, less damaging and arguably more sustainable management solutions. Usually more affordable.

Question 28

Cost-benefit analysis

Answer 28

The decision to use a method depends on this. It mean that’s the costs (environmental as well as economic) versus the benefits of what is saved.

Question 29

Terminal groyne syndrome

Answer 29

There is accelerated erosion when the groynes are finished as there is too much sediment being carried by longshore drift to that area.

Question 30

Integrated costal zone management (ICZM)

Answer 30

This involves making different choices about a little stretch of coast

Question 31

Shoreline management plan (SMP)

Answer 31

This is an approach that’s builds on the knowledge of the coastal environment and takes into account the wide range of public interest to protect the coast.

Question 32

Suspension

Answer 32

Fine light material is carried along in the water

Question 33

Traction

Answer 33

Large boulders and rocks are rolled along the river bed .

Question 34

Saltation

Answer 34

Small pebbles and stones are bounced along the river bed

Question 35

Solution

Answer 35

Minerals are dissolved in the water and carried along in solution. This typically occurs in areas where the underlying bedrock is limestone