Unit 1C: Physical Landscapes In The U.k Flashcards
What are the main upland areas of the UK?
Scottish Highlands and northern Wales
These areas are formed of hard, igneous, and metamorphic rocks that resist erosion.
What are the UK’s main lowland areas primarily formed of?
Softer, sedimentary rocks (e.g., chalk and clays)
These rocks erode more easily and are where most cities are located.
Which city is situated on the flood plain of the River Clyde?
Glasgow
The city is located on the flat ground of the Clyde’s floodplain.
What is the highest mountain in the UK?
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is located in the Grampian Mountains.
What type of area is the Lake District?
An upland area with glacial features
It is very popular with tourists.
What is the geological composition of Snowdonia?
Glaciated upland area formed from rock from an extinct volcano
It contains steep mountains and glaciated valleys.
What type of rock primarily makes up the Holderness Coast?
Soft boulder clay
The cliffs are eroding quickly, allowing landforms such as the Spurn Head spit to form.
What are the Fens?
A marshy, flat, low-lying area
Much of the land has been drained for farming.
What types of rock are found in the Dorset Coast?
Bands of hard and soft rock
These lead to landforms such as stacks, arches, and spits.
What is mechanical weathering?
The breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition
An example is freeze-thaw weathering.
Describe freeze-thaw weathering.
Water enters rock cracks, freezes and expands, then thaws and contracts, widening the cracks
This process causes the rock to break up.
What is chemical weathering?
The breakdown of rock by changing its chemical composition
An example is carbonation weathering.
What conditions favor carbonation weathering?
Warm and wet conditions
Rainwater with dissolved carbon dioxide forms weak carbonic acid.
What is mass movement?
The shifting of rocks and loose material down a slope
It occurs when gravity’s force exceeds the supporting force.
What factors increase the likelihood of mass movement?
When the material is full of water
Water acts as a lubricant and increases the weight of the material.
What is a scarp?
A steep ‘cut’ in the side of a slope
It is created when material shifts during mass movement.
What are the three types of mass movement?
- Slides
- Slumps
- Rockfalls
Each type has different mechanisms of movement.
Fill in the blank: Mechanical weathering is the breakdown of rock without changing its _______.
chemical composition
True or False: The Lake District is primarily a lowland area.
False
The Lake District is an upland area.
What is coastal erosion?
Erosion is when rocks are broken down and carried away by something, e.g. seawater.
What role do waves play in coastal processes?
Waves play an important part in coastal erosion, transportation, and deposition.
What are the two types of waves based on their effects?
Destructive waves and Constructive waves.
What creates waves?
When wind blows over the surface of the sea.
What is fetch in relation to wave power?
The distance the wind blows over the sea.
What characterizes destructive waves?
High frequency, high and steep waves.
What is backwash?
Water moving down the beach.
What is swash?
Water moving up the beach.
What is the effect of destructive waves on material?
Their backwash is more powerful than their swash, so material is removed.
What characterizes constructive waves?
Low frequency, low and long waves.
What happens to material during constructive wave action?
Their swash is more powerful than the backwash, so material is deposited.
What are the three processes of erosion caused by waves?
- Hydraulic power
- Abrasion
- Attrition
What is hydraulic power?
Waves crash against rock and compress the air in the cracks, putting pressure on the rock.
What is abrasion in coastal erosion?
Eroded particles in the water scrape and rub against rock, removing small pieces.
What is attrition in coastal erosion?
Eroded particles collide, break into smaller pieces, and become more rounded.
What is longshore drift?
Material is transported along the coast by waves following the direction of the prevailing wind.
How do waves usually hit the coast?
At an oblique angle.
What is the direction of material movement along the coast?
Zigzags along the coast due to swash and backwash.
What is traction in coastal transportation?
Large particles like boulders are pushed along the sea bed by the force of the water.
What is saltation in coastal transportation?
Pebble-sized particles are bounced along the sea bed by the force of the water.
What is suspension in coastal transportation?
Small particles like silt and clay are carried along in the water.
What is solution in coastal transportation?
Soluble materials (e.g. limestone) dissolve in the water and are carried along.
What is deposition?
The dropping of material when water carrying sediment loses energy and slows down.
When does coastal build-up occur?
When the amount of deposition is greater than the amount of erosion.
What increases the amount of material deposited on a coast?
- Lots of erosion elsewhere on the coast
- Lots of material transported into the area.
What type of waves drop more material than they remove?
Constructive waves.
True or False: Destructive waves create beaches.
False
True or False: Constructive waves are associated with more deposition than erosion.
True
What is coastal erosion?
Erosion is when rocks are broken down and carried away by something, e.g. seawater.
What role do waves play in coastal processes?
Waves play an important part in coastal erosion, transportation, and deposition.
What are the two types of waves based on their effects?
Destructive waves and Constructive waves.
What creates waves?
When wind blows over the surface of the sea.
What is fetch in relation to wave power?
The distance the wind blows over the sea.
What characterizes destructive waves?
High frequency, high and steep waves.
What is backwash?
Water moving down the beach.
What is swash?
Water moving up the beach.
What is the effect of destructive waves on material?
Their backwash is more powerful than their swash, so material is removed.
What characterizes constructive waves?
Low frequency, low and long waves.
What happens to material during constructive wave action?
Their swash is more powerful than the backwash, so material is deposited.
What are the three processes of erosion caused by waves?
- Hydraulic power
- Abrasion
- Attrition
What is hydraulic power?
Waves crash against rock and compress the air in the cracks, putting pressure on the rock.
What is abrasion in coastal erosion?
Eroded particles in the water scrape and rub against rock, removing small pieces.
What is attrition in coastal erosion?
Eroded particles collide, break into smaller pieces, and become more rounded.
What is longshore drift?
Material is transported along the coast by waves following the direction of the prevailing wind.
How do waves usually hit the coast?
At an oblique angle.
What is the direction of material movement along the coast?
Zigzags along the coast due to swash and backwash.
What is traction in coastal transportation?
Large particles like boulders are pushed along the sea bed by the force of the water.
What is saltation in coastal transportation?
Pebble-sized particles are bounced along the sea bed by the force of the water.
What is suspension in coastal transportation?
Small particles like silt and clay are carried along in the water.
What is solution in coastal transportation?
Soluble materials (e.g. limestone) dissolve in the water and are carried along.
What is deposition?
The dropping of material when water carrying sediment loses energy and slows down.
When does coastal build-up occur?
When the amount of deposition is greater than the amount of erosion.
What increases the amount of material deposited on a coast?
- Lots of erosion elsewhere on the coast
- Lots of material transported into the area.
What type of waves drop more material than they remove?
Constructive waves.
True or False: Destructive waves create beaches.
False
True or False: Constructive waves are associated with more deposition than erosion.
True
What influences the erosional landforms that develop on a coastline?
Rock type and ecological structure
These factors determine how different areas of the coastline will erode over time.
What are the two types of coastlines?
Concordant and Discordant
These terms describe the arrangement of rock types along the coastline.
How do rocks with lots of joints and faults behave during erosion?
They erode faster
Cracks and weaknesses in the rock increase susceptibility to erosion.
Describe a Discordant coastline.
Made up of alternating bands of hard and soft rock at right angles to the coast
This arrangement leads to varied erosion rates.
Describe a Concordant coastline.
Alternating bands of hard and soft rock are parallel to the coast
This type of coastline tends to erode more uniformly.
Which type of rock erodes more quickly: hard rocks or soft rocks?
Soft rocks
For example, sandstone erodes faster than granite.
What geological features form along Discordant coastlines?
Headlands and bays
The interaction between resistant and less resistant rock creates these features.
What happens to less resistant rock along a coastline?
It erodes faster, forming a bay with a gentle slope
This contrasts with the more resistant rock that forms headlands.
What is a headland?
A section of resistant rock that juts out into the sea
It has steep sides due to slower erosion rates.
What process leads to the formation of caves, arches, and stacks on headlands?
Erosion of cracks in the resistant rock
Waves enlarge cracks through hydraulic power and abrasion.
What forms first when waves erode a headland?
A cave
This occurs as waves repeatedly erode the cracks in the rock.
What is Durdle Door an example of?
An arch
It is formed when a cave breaks through a headland.
What occurs after an arch collapses?
A stack is formed
An isolated rock remains after the supporting rock of the arch erodes away.
What is a wave-cut platform?
A flat area formed at the base of a cliff due to erosion
It results from the repeated collapse of unstable rock above a wave-cut notch.
Where are beaches typically found?
On coasts between the high and low water marks
They are formed by the deposition of materials by waves.
What type of waves create sand beaches?
Low energy waves
These waves allow for the formation of flat and wide sand beaches.
What characterizes shingle beaches?
Created by high energy waves, steep and narrow
Larger shingle particles remain while smaller sand particles wash away.
Fill in the blank: Beaches are formed by _______.
Deposition
This process involves the accumulation of materials by waves.
What forms at sharp bends in the coastline?
Spits
Spits are formed by longshore drift transporting sand and shingle past the bend and depositing it in the sea.
What is the effect of strong winds and waves on a spit?
They can curve the end of the spit, forming a recurved end.
What type of area is sheltered behind a spit?
A sheltered area where material accumulates and plants can grow.
What can a sheltered area behind a spit eventually become?
A mud flat or a salt marsh.
How is a bar formed?
When a spit joins two headlands together.
What happens to the bay between headlands when a bar forms?
It gets cut off from the sea.
What can form behind a bar?
A lagoon.
What are offshore bars, and how do they form?
They form if the coast has a gentle slope, causing waves to slow down and deposit sediment offshore.
How are sand dunes formed?
When sand deposited by longshore drift is moved up the beach by the wind.
What role do obstacles like driftwood play in dune formation?
They decrease wind speed, allowing sand to be deposited and form small embryo dunes.
What plants typically colonize embryo dunes?
Marram grass.
What is the purpose of the roots of vegetation in dune formation?
To stabilize the sand and encourage more accumulation.
What can form in hollows between dunes?
Dune slacks (small pools).
What is the difference between bars and spits?
Bars are spits that join two headlands together.
How are cliffs represented on a map?
As little black lines.
What do wave-cut platforms look like on a map?
Bumpy edges along the coast.
How can you identify sand beaches on a map?
They are shown in pale yellow.
What color are shingle beaches represented in on maps?
White or yellow with speckles.
How can you identify a spit on a map?
By a beach that carries out to sea but is still attached to the land at one end.
True or False: Caves and arches can be seen on a map.
False.
What is a revision tip for identifying landforms on maps?
Make sure you can identify each landform on a map.
What are the main coastal landforms found along the Dorset coast?
Headlands, bays, arches, stacks, coves, tombolos, lagoons
These landforms are created by the erosion of different types of rock.
What types of rock are found along the Dorset coast?
Hard rock (limestone, chalk), soft rock (clay)
The different erosion rates of these rocks lead to diverse landforms.
What is Durdle Door?
An arch formed on a concordant coastline after limestone erosion
Durdle Door is a prominent example of coastal erosion.
What is Lulworth Cove?
A small bay formed after a band of limestone was eroded
The cove’s formation is due to the erosion of softer rock behind the limestone.
What is Chesil Beach?
A tombolo formed by longshore drift connecting the Isle of Portland to the mainland
Behind Chesil Beach lies The Fleet Lagoon.
What distinguishes discordant coastlines from concordant coastlines?
Discordant coastlines have alternating bands of hard and soft rock, while concordant coastlines have a uniform rock type
This affects the formation of bays and headlands.
What is the Foreland?
A headland made from a band of harder rock (chalk) between two bays of softer rock
The Foreland features eroded formations like Old Harry and Old Harry’s Wife.
What is the primary aim of coastal management?
To protect people and the environment from erosion and flooding
Limited funding affects the feasibility of managing all coastal areas.
What is hard engineering in coastal management?
Man-made structures built to control sea flow and reduce flooding and erosion
Examples include sea walls and rock armours.
What are sea walls?
Walls made of hard materials like concrete that reflect waves back to the sea
They prevent erosion and flooding but can create strong backwash.
What are gabions?
Wire cages filled with rocks built at the foot of cliffs to prevent erosion
They absorb wave energy and are cost-effective.
What is beach nourishment?
The process of adding sand or shingle to beaches to absorb wave energy
It creates wider beaches that help protect against flooding.
What is dune regeneration?
Creating or restoring sand dunes to absorb wave energy and prevent flooding
It can involve adding sand or planting vegetation.
What is managed retreat in coastal management?
Removing current defences and allowing the sea to flood the land behind
This can create marshland that protects inland areas from flooding.
True or False: Managed retreat is a costly and maintenance-heavy coastal management strategy.
False
Managed retreat is considered cheap and easy, requiring no maintenance.
What is the impact of managed retreat at Alkborough Flats?
It created a habitat for bird and fish species while protecting 400,000 homes from floods
A breach in the flood wall allowed water to flow inland.
What are the disadvantages of gabions?
Can corrode over time and are considered unattractive
They also require maintenance to ensure effectiveness.
Fill in the blank: Soft engineering schemes use knowledge of the sea and its processes to reduce the effects of _______.
flooding and erosion
This approach contrasts with hard engineering, which relies on physical structures.
What is Lyme Regis?
A historic town in Dorset, southwest England.
What natural phenomenon threatens the cliffs of Lyme Regis?
Powerful waves from the southwest erode the sea cliffs.
What significant event occurred in May 2008 at Lyme Regis?
About 400m of cliff slipped between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
How many people live in Lyme Regis?
Over 3600 people.
How many tourists visit Lyme Regis each year?
Around 500,000 tourists.
What economic impact does coastal erosion have on Lyme Regis?
It threatens the historic town center and the tourism industry.
What is the estimated annual tourist spending in Lyme Regis as of 2015?
About £42 million.
What kind of engineering strategies are used to manage the coastline at Lyme Regis?
Hard engineering strategies.
What road is at risk of being lost due to erosion in Lyme Regis?
The A3052 road.
Fill in the blank: Phase I of the coastal management scheme was completed in _______.
1995.
What was a key component of Phase II of the coastal management scheme?
Replenishing and stabilizing sand and shingle beaches.
What cost was associated with Phase II of the coastal management scheme?
£26 million.
What was the purpose of Phase III of the coastal management scheme?
To prevent landslides to the west of Lyme Regis.
Was Phase III of the coastal management scheme ever carried out?
No, it wasn’t worth the high cost.
What was the cost of Phase IV of the coastal management scheme?
£19.5 million.
What type of structures were included in Phase IV?
390 m of sea walls and rock armour.
True or False: The coastal management scheme has only had positive effects.
False.
What positive effect has improved beaches had on trade in Lyme Regis?
Increased trade by up to 20% in some parts of the town.
What conflict arose from the increase in tourists due to coastal management?
More traffic, litter, and noise pollution.
What do some residents think about the cost of the coastal defences?
They think it was very expensive for a relatively short-term solution.
Fill in the blank: The coastal management strategies for Lyme Regis are examples of _______.
Coastal management.
What is one reason why coastal management strategies rarely please everyone?
They may lead to conflicts between different stakeholders.
What is the path of a river as it flows downhill called?
Course
The river’s course includes its upper, middle, and lower sections.
What are the three courses of a river?
- Upper course
- Middle course
- Lower course
What does the long profile of a river show?
How the gradient changes along the river
It illustrates the steepness from source to mouth.
What is the cross profile of a river?
A cross-section of the river
It provides a visual of the river’s shape at a specific point.
What shape does a river valley have in the upper course?
V-shaped valley with steep sides
This is due to vertical erosion.
What characterizes the middle course of a river?
- Gently sloping valley sides
- Wider, deeper channel
What is the dominant type of erosion in the upper course of a river?
Vertical erosion
This type deepens the valley and channel.
What is lateral erosion and where is it dominant?
It widens the river valley and channel; dominant in the middle and lower courses
It is associated with the formation of meanders.
What are the four processes of erosion?
- Hydraulic action
- Abrasion
- Attrition
- Solution
What is hydraulic action?
The force of river water colliding with rocks breaks rock particles away from the river channel.
What is abrasion?
Eroded rocks scrape and rub against the channel, wearing it away.
What is attrition?
Eroded rocks collide with each other, breaking into smaller fragments and rounding their edges.
What is solution in the context of river processes?
River water dissolves some types of rock, such as chalk and limestone.
What are the four methods of transportation in rivers?
- Traction
- Saltation
- Suspension
- Solution
What is traction?
Large particles like boulders are pushed along the river bed by the force of the water.
What is saltation?
Pebble-sized particles are bounced along the river bed by the force of the water.
What is suspension in river transport?
Small particles like silt and clay are carried along by the water.
What is deposition in the context of river processes?
When a river drops the material it’s transporting.
What causes a river to deposit material?
- Loss of velocity
- Increased amount of eroded material
- Shallower water
- Reaching its mouth
In which course of the river is deposition dominant?
Lower course
How does particle size affect deposition in a river?
Smaller particles are transported further and deposited closer to the river’s mouth.
What is the path of a river as it flows downhill called?
Course
The river’s course includes its upper, middle, and lower sections.
What are the three courses of a river?
- Upper course
- Middle course
- Lower course
What does the long profile of a river show?
How the gradient changes along the river
It illustrates the steepness from source to mouth.
What is the cross profile of a river?
A cross-section of the river
It provides a visual of the river’s shape at a specific point.
What shape does a river valley have in the upper course?
V-shaped valley with steep sides
This is due to vertical erosion.
What characterizes the middle course of a river?
- Gently sloping valley sides
- Wider, deeper channel
What is the dominant type of erosion in the upper course of a river?
Vertical erosion
This type deepens the valley and channel.
What is lateral erosion and where is it dominant?
It widens the river valley and channel; dominant in the middle and lower courses
It is associated with the formation of meanders.
What are the four processes of erosion?
- Hydraulic action
- Abrasion
- Attrition
- Solution
What is hydraulic action?
The force of river water colliding with rocks breaks rock particles away from the river channel.
What is abrasion?
Eroded rocks scrape and rub against the channel, wearing it away.
What is attrition?
Eroded rocks collide with each other, breaking into smaller fragments and rounding their edges.
What is solution in the context of river processes?
River water dissolves some types of rock, such as chalk and limestone.
What are the four methods of transportation in rivers?
- Traction
- Saltation
- Suspension
- Solution
What is traction?
Large particles like boulders are pushed along the river bed by the force of the water.
What is saltation?
Pebble-sized particles are bounced along the river bed by the force of the water.
What is suspension in river transport?
Small particles like silt and clay are carried along by the water.
What is deposition in the context of river processes?
When a river drops the material it’s transporting.
What causes a river to deposit material?
- Loss of velocity
- Increased amount of eroded material
- Shallower water
- Reaching its mouth
In which course of the river is deposition dominant?
Lower course
How does particle size affect deposition in a river?
Smaller particles are transported further and deposited closer to the river’s mouth.
What are flood plains?
Flat areas of land that flood, located on either side of a river.
How do flood plains build up?
Through the deposition of material when rivers slow down and lose energy.
What happens to meanders as they migrate?
They widen as they move laterally across floodplains and migrate downstream.
What are levees?
Natural embankments along the edges of a river channel.
During a flood, where is the heaviest material deposited?
Closest to the river channel.
What are estuaries?
Tidal areas where the river meets the sea.
What happens to the water level in estuaries?
It rises and falls each day due to tides.
What is formed when the tide is at its highest point in an estuary?
Sediment is deposited as the water moves slowly.
What are mudflats?
Large areas of mud that build up over time in estuaries.
In which course of a river is deposition most common?
The lower course.
What do contour lines on a map indicate?
The height of the land and the steepness of the slope.
What does a V-shape formed by contour lines indicate?
The direction a river flows, pointing uphill to where the river came from.
What evidence indicates an upper-course river on a map?
High nearby land, close contour lines, waterfalls, and narrow river.
What evidence indicates a lower-course river on a map?
Low nearby land, wide river, large meanders, and absence of contour lines.
Fill in the blank: Flood plains are built up by the deposition of _______.
[material transported by the river]
True or False: Levees form from repeated flooding and deposition of material.
True
What is the length of the River Clyde?
About 160 km long.
Where is the source of the River Clyde located?
In the Southern Uplands of Scotland.
Through which cities does the River Clyde flow?
Motherwell and Glasgow.
What type of landform is found at the mouth of the River Clyde?
An estuary.
How wide is the River Clyde’s estuary?
About 3 km wide.
What is the elevation of the flood plain of the River Clyde?
About 5 m above sea level.
What geographical feature is formed by waterfalls retreating along the River Clyde?
A gorge.
What is the height of the highest waterfall, Corra Linn, on the River Clyde?
About 27 m high.
What are interlocking spurs and where are they found along the River Clyde?
They are landforms between 300 and 500 m high found at Crawford.
What is a potential future landform that could form in the New Lanark area of the River Clyde?
An ox-bow lake.
What does river discharge measure?
The volume of river water flowing per second.
What is the unit of measurement for river discharge?
Cubic metres per second (m³/s).
What does a hydrograph show?
How the discharge at a certain point in a river changes over time in relation to rainfall.
What is peak discharge?
The highest discharge in the period of time you’re looking at.
What is lag time in relation to river discharge?
The delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge.
What causes rising limb in a hydrograph?
The increase in river discharge as rainwater flows into the river.
What causes falling limb in a hydrograph?
The decrease in river discharge as the river returns to its normal level.
What leads to flooding in a river?
When a river’s level rises so much that it spills over its banks.
What effect does heavy rainfall have on flood risk?
It increases surface runoff, leading to higher discharge.
What type of soils and rocks increase runoff due to their impermeability?
Clay soils, granite, and shale.
How does prolonged rainfall affect soil and flood risk?
It can saturate the soil, preventing further infiltration and increasing runoff.
How does relief or changes in land height affect river discharge?
In steep-sided valleys, water reaches the river channel quicker.
What impact does land use change have on flood risk?
It can increase flood risk by increasing surface runoff.
How do buildings and roads contribute to flood risk?
They are often made from impermeable materials, increasing surface runoff.
How do trees affect the volume of water entering river channels?
Trees intercept rainwater and take up water from the ground.
Why does lag time occur?
Because rainwater doesn’t land directly in the river channel.
What is the significance of hydrographs in understanding river discharge?
They show changes in river discharge during storms or heavy rainfall.
What is Hard Engineering?
Man-made structures built to control the flow of rivers and reduce flooding.
What is a dam?
A barrier built across rivers, usually in the upper course, that creates a reservoir behind it.
What is the purpose of a reservoir?
To store water, control water flow, and prevent floods downstream.
What is one benefit of reservoirs?
They can be used to generate hydroelectric power (HEP).
What is a disadvantage of building dams?
They are very expensive to build and can flood existing settlements.
What happens to farmland downstream when material is deposited in a reservoir?
Farmland downstream can become less fertile.
What is the effect of building straighter, artificial channels?
Water leaves the area more quickly, lowering the flood risk.
What is the purpose of raised embankments along river banks?
To allow the river to hold more water, reducing the frequency of floods.
What is a potential downside of raised embankments?
Flooding may happen downstream instead.
What is the function of gates on channels built to divert water?
To control the release of water and reduce flood risk.
What is Soft Engineering?
Schemes set up using knowledge of a river and its processes to reduce the effects of flooding.
What is one method of Soft Engineering for flood prevention?
Flood warnings and preparation.
What are flood warnings?
Notifications issued by the Environment Agency through various media to alert people of potential floods.
What is a disadvantage of flood warnings?
They do not prevent floods and some people may not have access to them.
What is flood plain zoning?
Restrictions that prevent building on parts of a flood plain likely to be affected by floods.
What is one benefit of flood plain zoning?
It reduces flood risk by creating fewer impermeable surfaces.
What is the impact of planting trees in river valleys?
It increases interception of rainwater, decreases discharge, and reduces flood risk.
What is river restoration?
Making the river more natural by removing man-made levees to allow the flood plain to flood naturally.
What is a disadvantage of river restoration?
Local flood risk can increase, especially if nothing is done to prevent major flooding.
Fill in the blank: Hard engineering strategies are often ______ compared to soft engineering strategies.
more expensive
True or False: Soft engineering strategies typically require more maintenance than hard engineering strategies.
False
What is one environmental benefit of soft engineering strategies?
They work with the river’s natural processes.
What is a common drawback of soft engineering strategies?
They may not be effective in areas with existing buildings.
Where is Oxford located in relation to the River Thames and the River Cherwell?
At the confluence of the River Thames (to the west) and the River Cherwell (to the east)
The Cherwell is a tributary of the Thames, joining just south of the city centre.
What event in 2007 highlighted the need for flood defences in Oxford?
Severe flooding that caused over 250 homes to be evacuated and flooded the A420 road for about 100 metres
This flooding was due to rapid increases in river discharge.
What were the impacts of the floods in Oxford in 2007 and January 2014?
Restricted access to work and services, damage to the local economy, and cancellation of train services
The floods prevented tourists from visiting Oxford’s historic centre.
What is the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme?
A flood management scheme planned to span 5 km, incorporating hard and soft engineering strategies
It aims to divert water away from densely populated areas and protect the city centre.
What are some strategies included in the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme?
- Building flood walls and embankments
- Planting 20,000 trees and shrubs
- Increasing water storage in the floodplain
- Creating a bypass channel
These strategies aim to slow runoff and decrease peak discharge.
When is the work on the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme expected to start and finish?
Start in 2019 and finish by 2023
Completion is necessary to evaluate the scheme’s success.
What social issues are associated with the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme?
- Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for land
- Disruption to residents’ lives
- Improved public footpaths for recreation
Some landowners may not want to sell their land.
What economic issues are related to the flood management scheme?
- Total cost expected to exceed £120 million
- Over 1000 homes and businesses better protected
This reduces risks of expensive property damage and rising insurance costs.
What environmental issues arise from the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme?
- Removal of over 2000 trees and 2 hectares of rare grassland
- Creation of over 20 hectares of new riverside habitats
Vegetation growth may take time after replanting.
True or False: The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme has secured all of its funding.
False
Not all funding has been secured yet.
Fill in the blank: The floods in _______ and 2014 showed the need for management in Oxford.
2007
What is a flash flood?
A flood that occurs quickly, often due to heavy rain
Flash floods can result in significant and rapid flooding.
What are glaciers?
Masses of ice that fill valleys and hollows.
How do glaciers shape the landscape?
Through erosion, transportation, and deposition of material.
What causes glaciers to move downhill?
The weight of the ice.
What is basal sliding?
A process where a thin layer of meltwater beneath the ice acts as a lubricant.
What are the two main ways glaciers erode the landscape?
- Abrasion
- Plucking
What is abrasion in glacial processes?
Bits of rock stuck in the ice grind against the rock below the glacier.
What is plucking in glacial processes?
Meltwater freezes onto rock and pulls out pieces of rock as the glacier moves.
What is rotational slip?
A circular motion of ice at the top end of the glacier that erodes hollows.
What is freeze-thaw weathering?
Water enters cracks in rocks, freezes, expands, and then thaws, weakening the rock.
How do glaciers transport material?
By carrying it frozen in the glacier, on its surface, or pushing it ahead.
What is till?
An unsorted mixture of material transported by glaciers.
What is bulldozing in glacial processes?
When glaciers push loose material ahead of them.
What happens when a glacier is overloaded with material?
The material is deposited on the valley floor, forming landforms.
What types of landforms can glaciers create?
- Moraines
- Drumlins
Are most glacial deposits sorted by size and weight?
No, they are usually unsorted.
What is outwash?
Layers of sorted material deposited by meltwater streams.
True or False: Glaciers only erode the landscape through abrasion.
False
Fill in the blank: Glacial landscapes are shaped by ______, transportation, and deposition.
[erosion]
What are glacial landforms?
Landforms created by glacial erosion and deposition.
How many glacial periods have there been over the last 2.6 million years?
Numerous glacial periods.
What was covered by ice during some glacial periods in the UK?
Parts of the UK, including Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
What is an arête?
A narrow, steep-sided ridge formed when two glaciers flow in parallel valleys.
Give an example of an arête.
Striding Edge, Lake District.
What is a pyramidal peak?
A pointed mountain peak formed when three or more back-to-back glaciers erode a mountain.
Give an example of a pyramidal peak.
Snowdon, Snowdonia.
What are corries also called?
Cirques.
What shape do corries evolve into due to rotational slip?
A steep-sided, armchair shape with a lip at the bottom.
What is a tarn?
A small circular lake left by melted ice in a corrie.
Give an example of a tarn.
Red Tarn, Lake District.
What are truncated spurs?
Cliff-like edges on the valley side formed when ridges (spurs) are cut off by a glacier.
What are hanging valleys?
Valleys formed by small tributary glaciers that flow into a main glacier.
What are ribbon lakes?
Long, thin lakes that form in hollows after a glacier retreats.
Give an example of a ribbon lake.
Windermere, Lake District.
What are glacial troughs?
Steep-sided valleys with flat floors formed from V-shaped river valleys eroded into U-shapes by glaciers.
Give an example of a glacial trough.
Nant Ffrancon, Snowdonia.
What are moraines?
Landforms made out of till deposited by a melting glacier.
What is lateral moraine?
A long mound of material deposited at the side of a glacier.
What is medial moraine?
A long ridge of material deposited along the center of a valley floor.
What is terminal moraine?
Material that builds up at the snout of a glacier, marking the furthest point reached by the ice.
What is ground moraine?
Eroded material deposited over a wide area on the valley floor when the ice melts.
What are drumlins?
Elongated hills formed by overloaded or melting glaciers.
How are drumlins shaped?
They are round and blunt at the upstream end, and tapered and pointed at the downstream end.
What are erratics?
Rocks that have been carried by a glacier and dropped in an area with a different rock type.
What do erratics often look like?
They often look out of place, such as a large boulder on its own.
What is a common type of farming in upland glacial areas?
Sheep farming
The steep slopes and poor soils make these areas unsuitable for most other farming.
What type of forests are often planted in upland glacial areas?
Coniferous (evergreen) forests
These trees cope well with cold weather and high rainfall.
What materials are commonly quarried in glacial landscapes?
Slate, granite, and limestone
These materials are used for construction.
Name two activities that attract tourists to glaciated areas.
- Hiking
- Skiing
Other activities include climbing, boating, and cycling.
True or False: Land use in glacial areas does not lead to conflicts between different groups.
False
Different groups, such as farmers and tourists, often come into conflict over land use.
What is one negative impact of tourism on farming in glacial landscapes?
Tourists can damage property and scare sheep
This includes leaving gates open and trampling crops.
What economic benefit do glacial landscapes provide to the UK?
Tourism and farming provide many jobs and contribute significantly to the economy
For example, Wales’ three national parks made £500 million from tourism in 2018.
What do conservationists argue about developments like hydroelectric power stations in glacial areas?
They argue that developments destroy habitats and deter tourists
Example: opposition to the Glyn Rhonwy hydroelectric power station.
Fill in the blank: The Lake District National Park attracts almost ______ visitors a year.
19.2 million
This high number of visitors brings both benefits and challenges.
What is one environmental impact of tourism in the Lake District?
Severe erosion on popular walking paths
For example, the main footpath on Catbells has been affected.
How much did tourism contribute to the local economy in the Lake District in 2017?
Almost £1.5 billion
This supports local businesses but often results in seasonal and low-paid work.
What percentage of properties in the Lake District National Park are second homes or holiday homes?
Almost 25%
This affects the local population and services.
What is a social impact of tourism-related traffic in the Lake District?
Heavy traffic on roads linking the National Park with the motorway
This is especially problematic at the end of the day when day trippers head home.
What is one challenge faced by local residents in the Lake District due to tourism?
High prices of everyday goods
Many locals travel to Kendal for more affordable shopping.
What management strategy encourages the use of alternative transport in the Lake District?
Providing discounts for bikes, buses, boats, and trains
Encourages tourists to reduce car usage
How has public transport been improved during the tourist season in the Lake District?
Increased number of buses running
Aimed at accommodating higher tourist numbers
What improvement has been made to road networks in the Lake District?
Better on-street parking to ease traffic flow
Example: Ambleside’s Controlled Parking Zones
What is one example of a traffic management strategy in Ambleside?
Controlled Parking Zones allowing free parking for 1 hour
Encourages high turnover of parking spaces
What materials are used for resurfacing paths to reduce footpath erosion?
Hard-wearing materials like rocks, plastic mesh, or stone slabs
Designed to withstand heavy foot traffic
How are visitors encouraged to use alternative routes in the Lake District?
Signposts and fencing
Aims to minimize impact on heavily used paths
What method can reduce the visual impact of footpath erosion?
Reseeding vegetation
Helps restore natural appearance and ecosystem
What strategies are employed to combat littering in the Lake District?
Signs, covered bins, community volunteer efforts
Example: Great Cumbrian Litter Pick initiative
What is the purpose of speed limits and zoning schemes in the Lake District?
To cope with noise, erosion, and pollution from water sports
Example: Windermere’s 10 knot speed limit
What affordable housing strategy is used in the Lake District?
Local occupancy schemes requiring buyers to meet certain criteria
Helps locals stay in the area and prevents second home purchases
What was the purpose of the £10 million project approved in 2016?
To develop affordable housing at the Backbarrow Ironworks site
Includes plans for five affordable houses
Fill in the blank: The Lake District is a _______ landscape that is very popular with tourists.
glacial
Attracts visitors for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities
