Unit 2 - Topic 4 - Whole - UK Landscape + Coasts + Rivers Flashcards
UK landscape
How has past tectonic activity affected UK physical landscape - give 3 main ways
Igneous rock clusters + named areas (highlands Scotland + Lake District NW England)
520 million years ago closer to plate boundaries -> cone shaped active volcanoes + names area (Scotland + Lake District)
Plate collisions (at these boundaries 520 million years ago) -> mountain ranges + named areas (as above)
UK landscape
How has past glaciation influenced the physical landscape of the UK? (Give at least 2 examples)
Ice sheet covering area NW of Tees Exe (+ named areas)
Eroded landscape creating U shaped valleys / scree slopes /glacial till deposition / corries / hanging valley / arête / ribbon lake / erratic / pyramidal peak
UK landscape
How have physical processes influenced the landscape of the UK?
Weathering + mass movement + erosion ->break down rocks
UK landscape
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Erosion involves weathering and transportation of sediment so can only take place in river or at coast
UK landscape
What is the difference between upland and lowland?
Up - high above sea level
Low - flat land close to sea level
UK landscape
How does rock type influence relief?
Resistant rock (igneous/metamorphic) = high relief (high land height)
UK landscape
What is the divisor between upland and lowland areas?
Tees Exe line
UK physical landscape
How have glacial processes affected the upland landscape of the Lake District?
U shaped valleys, ribbon lakes
UK physical landscape
How have slope processes affected the Lake District? (2 things)
Rock falls,
and landslides are common as it is the wettest region in the UK
UK physical landscape
How has the last ice age affected the lowland landscape of the Weald?
water froze in porous chalk during ice age,
Ice then melted in post glacial period
rivers flowed and create river valleys
UK physical landscape
Why are rivers common in vales in the Weald?
They are made of impermeable clay
UK physical landscape
How has weathering affected the Weald? Give 2 examples
Chemical weathering as chalk is a main rock
Biological weathering (as lots of room for nature to grow)
UK physical landscape
Give 3 ways human activities have affected human landscapes?
Agriculture + forestry + settlements
UK physical landscape
How has agriculture created distinctive landscapes in the UK?
70% of UK land is farmland
Deforestation to make space for farmland
Walls and hedgerows are built to create field boundaries
UK physical landscape
What are upland and lowland used for in agriculture?
Upland areas - sheep farming
Lowland areas - arable land and cattle farming
UK physical landscape
How has forestry influenced the UK landscape?
Areas are deforested for timber - reduces natural deciduous woodland
used for recreation, are conservation area
Coniferous (evergreen) forests have been replanted for timber in straight lines (unnatural) - some deciduous woodland is being replanted to return to natural state
UK physical landscape
How does the establishment of settlements create distinctive landscapes in the UK? (3)
As urban areas grow - land is deforested to create roads/buildings
This leads to more impermeable rock
Which leads to more surface runoff and flooding
Humans modify rivers (channel straightening/embankments) to prevent flooding
Ports are built in major UK cities (eg London and Liverpool)
UK physical landscape - coasts
Name 4 erosional processes
Hydraulic action + attrition + abrasion + solution
UK physical landscape - coasts
Name 4 coastal transportation processes
Solution + suspension + saltation + traction
UK physical landscape - coasts
What is longshore drift?
The transportation/movement of sediment along a coastline
UK physical landscape - coasts
How does Longshore drift take place?
- Prevailing wind hits beach at 45 degrees
- Sediment moved up beach by swash
- Backwash brings back sediment at 90 degrees due to gravity/slope
- Process repeats and sediment moves along coastline in zig zag
UK physical landscape - coasts
What is an example of a sub aerial coastal process? (General term)
Weathering
UK physical landscape - coasts
What is weathering?
The breakdown of rocks on land and in situ (where it is)
UK physical landscape - coasts
Where does weathering take place on a cliff?
On the top
UK physical landscape - coasts
What is an example of mechanical weathering on the coast?
Freeze thaw weathering
UK physical landscape - coasts
How does freeze thaw weathering work?
Water collects in rock pores
At night this freezes and expands, breaking rock apart and making cracks larger
Water seeps deeper into rock and this repeats
Scree can break off and fall to the foot of the cliff
UK physical landscape - coasts
What is salt weathering?
Water evaporates + leaves salt
Salt crystals expand
Pressures rock and flakes break off
UK physical landscape - coasts
What is chemical weathering at the coast called?
Carbonation
UK physical landscape - coasts
How does carbonation work?
Rainwater is acidic (as contains CO2)
Dissolves alkaline rocks (limestone)
Calcium carbonate + acidic rainwater ->calcium bicarbonate
Running water breaks this off
UK physical landscape
Where is carbonation more common?
Common in warm and wet climates
UK physical landscape
How does biological weathering happen?
Plants (roots widen cracks) and animals (burrowing animals break rock)
UK physical landscape
What are 3 types of coastal mass movement?
Slumping + rockfalls + landslides
UK physical landscape
How does slumping work?
Rain infiltrates into cracks of sand/clay leading it to be saturated
Cliff gets heavy + unstable
Collapses in CURVED way
Scree left or washed away
UK physical landscape
How do rockfalls work?
Freeze thaw happens
Rocks break off and cause scree slope
UK physical landscape
What type of rocks/cuffs are more prone to rockfalls?
Lots of cracks/joints
Hard rock
Vertical and steep cliffs
UK physical landscape
What is formed after a rockfall?
Scree slope
UK physical landscape
How do landslides work and where do they occur?
Steep slopes with soil
After heavy rain, soil mixes with water and flows downhill
UK physical landscape
What 3 things cause waves? (And what affects their strength)
Wind speed
Wind duration
Fetch
UK physical landscape
What is fetch
Distance wind has blown over seas for
UK physical landscape
In what area are constructive waves found in particular?
Bays
UK physical landscape
What do constructive waves do to beaches?
Build up beaches
UK physical landscape
When do constructive waves tend to be found?
Summer
UK physical landscape
What kind of beaches do constructive waves create in terms of sediment? Why?
Sandy beaches - they only have the strength to carry smaller sediment
UK physical landscape
Why are constructive waves found in bays?
Bays shelter from the wind and so waves only have limited energy
UK physical landscape
What are the characteristics of constructive waves (5 things)?
Strong swash
Weak backwash
Short wavelength
Low wave height
Less frequent
UK physical landscape
What do destructive waves do to beaches?
Destroys beaches
UK physical landscape
When do destructive waves happen mostly?
Winter
UK physical landscape
What kind of sediment is found on beaches with destructive waves?
Pebbles
UK physical landscape
What are the 5 characteristics of destructive waves?
Weak swash + strong backwash + long wavelength + high wave height + more frequent