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Geography > UK Physical Landscape > Flashcards

UK Physical Landscape Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the features of igneous rocks (how were they formed,age,resistance

A
  • Igneous rock is formed when magma cools and hardens
  • It is the oldest kind of rock and was formed 4.6 billion years ago
  • It is very resistant as it is made out of hardened magma
  • Examples:Granite,basalt,obsidian
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2
Q

What are the features of sedimentary rock (how is it formed, age,resistance)

A
  • Sedimentary rock is formed when layers of sediment are compressed together
  • It was formed about 100 million years ago
  • It is resistant
  • Examples:sandstone,limestone,clay
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3
Q

What are features of metamorphic rocks(how is it formed,age,resistance,examples)

A
  • Metamorphic rocks are formed when other rocks are changed by heat and pressure
  • They are the youngest type of rock as they are formed out of sedimentary , igneous and older metamorphic rocks
  • Very resistant
  • Examples:Shale,schist and marble
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4
Q

What are examples of processes changing the UK

A
  • Glaciation-River valleys made deeper and wider to form U-shaped troughs and glaciers melting and left waterfalls
  • Geology-tropical fish skeletons were crushed together to form limestone.Layers of (mud,sand)other rock were laid on top(strata)of this rock (250-300 million years ago)
  • Tectonic process-300 million years ago, the plates under the UK shifted. The convection currents below the plates uplifted rock from beneath the sea , becoming land.
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5
Q

What are differences between the upland and lowland in terms of ( highest point,geology,Tectonic processes and the effect of the ice age )

A

Highest point in uplands:scafell pike (978m)
Highest point in lowlands:Crowborough beacon (225m)
Geology in Uplands:igneous rock (basalt,granite) and sedimentary rock (sandstone ,mud )
Geology in Lowlands:sedimentary rock (chalk)
Tectonic processes in Uplands: volcanoes erupting caused mountain building 300-400 million years ago
Tectonic processes in Lowlands:None
Effect of Ice age in Uplands: Corries and U shaped valleys formed
Effect of Ice age in Lowlands:Dry valleys

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6
Q

What are the differences between uplands and lowlands in terms of : shape of landscape and formation,weathering,post glacial river processes , slope processes

A

~Upland shape of landscape and formation: Wide U shape valleys; tall , angular mountains with scree on the sides .
~Lowland shape of landscape and formation: undulating hills , dry valleys
~Upland weathering processes: mechanical weathering ( hydraulic action)
~Lowland weathering processes: chemical and biological weathering
~Upland post glacial river processes: misfit rivers
~Lowland post glacial river process:Dry valleys , flooding
~Upland slope processes-Rocks and pebbles fall off side of mountain because mountain can no longer support it
~Lowland slope processes: soil creep

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7
Q

What are the differences between highlands and lowland in terms of: Settlements,farming, field boundaries,building materials and economic activities

A

Upland settlements: Isolated farms, dispersed settlements, barns for storing hay
Lowland settlements:highly populated, surrounded by major urban areas. 120,000 people live in the south downs . Chalk escarpments make for good shelters
Upland building materials: limestone , boulders
Lowland building materials: chalk
Upland farming:sheep farming
Lowland farming:chalky grassland is great for grazing , arable farming takes place
Upland field boundaries:Sheep penned in by stone walls
Lowland field boundaries: Ditches, hedges and low lying wet areas
Upland economic activity: sheep farming
Lowland economic activity:1100 farm businesses

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8
Q

What are joints and faults

A

Joints are small usually vertical cracks in rocks

Faults are larger cracks caused by past tectonic movements

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9
Q

What are the differences between a discordant and concordant coastline in terms of: rock alignment,erosional processes and landforms

A

Concordant rock alignment: parallel bands of alternating rock
Discordant rock alignement:perpendicular bands of alternating rock
Concordant landforms:erosional
Discordant landforms:erosional,depositional
Concordant features:can be featureless
Discordant features: headlands and bays , arch ,stacks and stumps

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10
Q

How are headlands and bays formed

A

Headland and bays are formed along coasts with alternating bands of resistant and less resistant rock. The less resistant rock is eroded first ( bay) leaving the more resistant rock jutting out (headland)

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11
Q

How are arch ,stacks and stumps formed

A

Hydraulic power causes cracks in headlands to widen. Constant hydraulic action on cracks causes a cave to form . Erosion then causes this cave to break through , forming an arch. More erosion causes the support for the arch to collapse , creating a stack . This stack in then eroded to become a stump

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12
Q

How does a wave cut platform form

A
  • Repeated erosion at the foot of a cliff causes a wave cut notch to form
  • Rock above wave cut notch becomes unstable and collapses
  • Collapsed material is worn away
  • New wave cut notch begins to form
  • Repeated collapsing causes cliff retreat and leaves behind a wave cut platform
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13
Q

What are some examples of climatic processes affecting the Uk coast

A
  • Seasonality~Storms(more frequent in winter) lead to more destructive waves
  • Storm frequency~More frequent storms means waves have more energy which leads to more erosion
  • Prevailing wind ~ stronger prevailing wind and fetch means waves are more destructive as they hit the coast and cause more erosion
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14
Q

What are some examples of sub-Ariel processes affecting the Uk coast

A
  • Rotational slumping~water accumulates at boundaries between the clay and the sand in cliffs . The sand is permeable so lets water in. The sand then becomes saturated and slumps
  • Rock slides-Small fragments of rock fall down the side of the cliff due to freeze thaw weathering
  • Weathering~The breakdown of rocks. Can be mechanical, biological or chemical
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15
Q

What are some examples of erosional processes affecting the UK coast

A
  • Abrasion~Small eroded rock particles rub and crash against the side of cliff causing small bits to break off.
  • Hydraulic action-Waves push air into cracks in cliff, increasing pressure in cracks and causing them to enlarge
  • Attrition~small eroded rock particles crash and rub together and break down into even smaller ,smooth fragments
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16
Q

What are the features of a constructive wave

A

Constructive waves have a low frequency, they are very long , they deposit more than they erode and their swash is stronger than their backwash

17
Q

What are the features of a destructive wave

A

Destructive waves have a high frequency , they are steep , they erode more than they deposit and their backwash is strong than their swash

18
Q

How does Long shore drift happen

A
  • Waves follow the direction of the prevailing wind and hit the coast at an angle
  • The waves’ swash carries material(in wave and on beach)at an angle up the beach
  • The waves’ backwash carries the material straight down the beach
  • This causes a zigzag movement for the material and ultimately causes the movement of material
19
Q

What is deposition

A

Deposition is when material carried by seawater is dropped on the beach

20
Q

What are the methods of sediment transport

A

Traction-large Pebbles being rolled along the seabed
Saltation-The hopping or bouncing motion of material too heavy to be suspended
Suspension-small material carried in seawater
Solution-Dissolved chemicals being carried in the water (limestone, chalk)

21
Q

How does a spit form

A
  • A spit occurs at a sharp change in the shape of the coastline
  • LSD continues past this change and sand and shingle is deposited into the sea
  • The heaviest material is deposited at the start of the spit
  • Gradually the smaller sediment is deposited
  • Waves dont reach the area behind the spit so the water is calmer and salt marsh ecosystems can form here
  • A spit wont reach the whole way across because of deep water and strong currents

-A recurved spit occurs if there is a secondary wind and LSD direction

22
Q

How is a bar formed

A

-A bar is formed when a spit joins two headlands together. The bar cuts off the bay and a lagoon forms behind the bar

23
Q

How do humans impact the coast

A

Industry-Increases noise,water and air pollution; increases rotational slumping because of weight of factory on cliff; increases how destructive waves are because of sand dredging

Agriculture- increases rotational slumping as ploughing exposes soil to rain

Boats- Increase pollution ; building of harbours can decrease slope stability

24
Q

Why are sea levels rising and what is the effect of it happening

A

Sea levels are rising because of :

  • thermal expansion ( increasing temperatures are leading to sea expansion)
  • Ice sheets melting
  • Glaciers and icebergs to melt

Effects of sea levels rising

  • Biodiversity lost
  • Increased flooding
  • Risk of losing houses
25
Q

How is climate change affecting the coast

A

Climate change is causing sea levels to rise and increasing the frequency and severity of storms

26
Q

Why is storm frequency and severity increasing and what are the effects of it

A

Storm frequency is increasing because of a warmer atmosphere - this is also increasing severity of storms as there is an increase in energy

Effects of increase in storm frequency and severity

  • More cliff erosion
  • More flooding
27
Q

Describe the features of groynes(how they prevent erosion,pros,cons and engineering type)

A

Groynes prevent LSD, prevent the movement of sediment down the beach and absorb wave energy.

Pros
-They are cheap(100k per km)

Cons

  • they make erosion worse further down the coastline
  • ugly

They are a hard engineering technique

28
Q

Describe the features of sea walls( how they prevent erosion , pros ,cons and engineering type)

A 
Sea walls reflect waves back to sea. 
Pos
-They provide a long term solution to erosion
-Provide a promenade to walk on 
Cons 
-expensive(5m per km)
-ugly
- make it hard to get down to the beach

Sea walls are a hard engineering technique

29
Q

Describe the features of beach nourishment

A

Beach nourishment involves building up the height to the beach so that more wave energy can be absorbed and less erosion occurs at the foot of the cliff.

Pros

  • It doesn’t have any effects further down the coastline
  • it looks natural
  • it is relatively cheap
  • it attracts visitors

Cons

  • it is high maintenance
  • added material can be blown away by a storm

It is a soft engineering technique

30
Q

Describe the features of slope stabilisation

A

Slope stabilisation involves planting vegetation by either laying geo marshes or planting shrubs and grasses . The roots of the vegetation stabilises the cliff

Slope stabilisation can also involve implementing a drainage pipe into the cliff which reduces water pressure and soil saturation
Pros
Slope stabilisation doesnt interfere with coastal processes
-it reduces water pressure
-it increases slope stabilisation
-it prevents rotational slumping
-it ensures the safety of beachgoers

Cons

  • It can be ugly
  • It is expensive
  • It is difficult to implement and the beach may be closed for some time

It is a soft engineering technique

31
Q

What are the four different type of strategy for sea defense

A

Hold the line: build sea defences so the coastline stays where it is
Advance the line:build defences seawards
Strategic retreat:Let low value areas erode in order to protect high value areas
No active intervention-do nothing

32
Q

Where is an example of a place where coastal erosion is happening and why is it happening

A

Holderness is an example of a place that is being eroded -1.8m of land is being lost to the sea each year. This is because :

  • Holderness has narrow beaches that do not protect the cliffs from erosion
  • Holderness has cliffs made out of boulder clay which is easily eroded (susceptible to slumping)
  • Holderness faces the prevailing wind direction which means that the waves that hit the coast are very destructive
  • The constant LSD means that there is little material to protect the cliffs
33
Q

What are the sea defences at Holderness

A

11km of Holderness coastline id protected by hard engineering
-This is because there is important infrastructure there like b roads , there are towns and villages (Hornsea,Mappleton, Withernsea) and there is a gas works at Easington that supplies 25% of the Uk’s gas

There are also groynes at Hornsea , Mappleton and Withernsea

34
Q

What are the problems formed by these defences

A

-Groynes are leading to narrow beaches further down the coast which means there is more erosion there e.g at Great Cowden farms and caravan parks are now at risk of erosion

  • The lack of material further down the coast because of the groynes at holderness is also causing
    • Coastal retreat down the Lincolnshire coast
    • An increase risk of flooding in the humber estuary as there is no material to slow the floodwater down

Geography (8 decks)

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