UK's Evolving Physical Landscape Flashcards
How are igneous rocks formed?
Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) from the mantle cools down and hardens. The rock forms crystals as it cools. Igneous rocks are usually hard, an example being granite.
What are sedimentary rocks formed from?
Sedimentary rocks are formed from layers of sediment which compact together to make on solid rock, although this makes them not very durable rocks.
Describe how metamorphic rocks are formed
Metamorphic rocks are formed when other rocks (igneous, sedimentary or older metamorphic rocks) are changed by heat and pressure. The new rocks become harder and more compact, e.g: shale becomes slate and, with further pressure and heat, slate becomes schist.
Give two ways in which tectonic activity has shaped the UK landscape.
Mountain ranges found in the UK were formed by plats colliding, causing rocks to be folded and uplifted. The youngest rocks in the UK can be found in Southern England which make up lowland landscapes. They are there because they formed in swamps and shallow seas millions of years ago when the plates were in different locations and we were in the tropics.
Outline the characteristics of slate and schist.
Slate forms in layers creating weak planes in the rock. It is generally very hard and resistant to weathering but is easily split into thin slabs. Schist has bigger crystals than slats and also splits easily into small flakes. Slate and schist are both impermeable and form rugged upland landscapes.
Explain how the UK landscape has been shaped by glacial periods.
Within some past glacial periods, the UK was covered in an ice sheet which covered Scotland, Ireland and Wales. This ice was so powerful that it eroded the landscape, carving out U-shaped valleys in upland areas (e.g: in the Lake District). Glaciers also deposited sediment as they melted (e.g: large parts of Eastern England is made of till (clay, sand and rocks).
Give three physical processes that alter the landscape.
Weathering, erosion and mass movement.
Give an example of a lowland landscape and outline how physical processes have created this landscape.
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How does forestry change the landscape?
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How does settlement alter the landscape?
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How does salt weathering break up rock?
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What are the three types of erosion caused by waves? Explain how they work.
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What is the difference between a discordant and a concordant coastline?
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What are the characteristics of destructive waves?
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Describe how erosion can turn a crack in a cliff into a cave.
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How does longshore drift transport sediment along a coast?
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What are the characteristics of constructive waves?
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Where do spits form?
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What do stacks look like on a map?
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How are cliffs shown on a map?
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On maps, what do speckles on top of yellow shading tell you?
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Explain how agriculture can have a direct effect on the coast.
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How does development affect the coast?
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Give one effect of coastal management on the coastline.
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