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GCSE Geography Revision > Unit 2 - Topic 4 - Whole - UK Landscape + Coasts + Rivers > Flashcards

Unit 2 - Topic 4 - Whole - UK Landscape + Coasts + Rivers Flashcards

1
Q

UK landscape
How has past tectonic activity affected UK physical landscape - give 3 main ways

A

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)

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2
Q

UK landscape
How has past glaciation influenced the physical landscape of the UK? (Give at least 2 examples)

A

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

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3
Q

UK landscape
How have physical processes influenced the landscape of the UK?

A

Weathering + mass movement + erosion ->break down rocks

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4
Q

UK landscape
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

A

Erosion involves weathering and transportation of sediment so can only take place in river or at coast

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5
Q

UK landscape
What is the difference between upland and lowland?

A

Up - high above sea level
Low - flat land close to sea level

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6
Q

UK landscape
How does rock type influence relief?

A

Resistant rock (igneous/metamorphic) = high relief (high land height)

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7
Q

UK landscape
What is the divisor between upland and lowland areas?

A

Tees Exe line

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8
Q

UK physical landscape
How have glacial processes affected the upland landscape of the Lake District?

A

U shaped valleys, ribbon lakes

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9
Q

UK physical landscape
How have slope processes affected the Lake District? (2 things)

A

Rock falls,
and landslides are common as it is the wettest region in the UK

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10
Q

UK physical landscape
How has the last ice age affected the lowland landscape of the Weald?

A

water froze in porous chalk during ice age,
Ice then melted in post glacial period
rivers flowed and create river valleys

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11
Q

UK physical landscape
Why are rivers common in vales in the Weald?

A

They are made of impermeable clay

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12
Q

UK physical landscape
How has weathering affected the Weald? Give 2 examples

A

Chemical weathering as chalk is a main rock
Biological weathering (as lots of room for nature to grow)

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13
Q

UK physical landscape
Give 3 ways human activities have affected human landscapes?

A

Agriculture + forestry + settlements

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14
Q

UK physical landscape
How has agriculture created distinctive landscapes in the UK?

A

70% of UK land is farmland
Deforestation to make space for farmland
Walls and hedgerows are built to create field boundaries

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15
Q

UK physical landscape
What are upland and lowland used for in agriculture?

A

Upland areas - sheep farming
Lowland areas - arable land and cattle farming

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16
Q

UK physical landscape
How has forestry influenced the UK landscape?

A

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

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17
Q

UK physical landscape
How does the establishment of settlements create distinctive landscapes in the UK? (3)

A

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)

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18
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
Name 4 erosional processes

A

Hydraulic action + attrition + abrasion + solution

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19
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
Name 4 coastal transportation processes

A

Solution + suspension + saltation + traction

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20
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
What is longshore drift?

A

The transportation/movement of sediment along a coastline

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21
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
How does Longshore drift take place?

A
  1. Prevailing wind hits beach at 45 degrees
  2. Sediment moved up beach by swash
  3. Backwash brings back sediment at 90 degrees due to gravity/slope
  4. Process repeats and sediment moves along coastline in zig zag
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22
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
What is an example of a sub aerial coastal process? (General term)

A

Weathering

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23
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
What is weathering?

A

The breakdown of rocks on land and in situ (where it is)

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24
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
Where does weathering take place on a cliff?

A

On the top

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25
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
What is an example of mechanical weathering on the coast?

A

Freeze thaw weathering

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26
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
How does freeze thaw weathering work?

A

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

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27
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
What is salt weathering?

A

Water evaporates + leaves salt
Salt crystals expand
Pressures rock and flakes break off

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28
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
What is chemical weathering at the coast called?

A

Carbonation

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29
Q

UK physical landscape - coasts
How does carbonation work?

A

Rainwater is acidic (as contains CO2)
Dissolves alkaline rocks (limestone)
Calcium carbonate + acidic rainwater ->calcium bicarbonate
Running water breaks this off

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30
Q

UK physical landscape
Where is carbonation more common?

A

Common in warm and wet climates

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31
Q

UK physical landscape
How does biological weathering happen?

A

Plants (roots widen cracks) and animals (burrowing animals break rock)

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32
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 types of coastal mass movement?

A

Slumping + rockfalls + landslides

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33
Q

UK physical landscape
How does slumping work?

A

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

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34
Q

UK physical landscape
How do rockfalls work?

A

Freeze thaw happens
Rocks break off and cause scree slope

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35
Q

UK physical landscape
What type of rocks/cuffs are more prone to rockfalls?

A

Lots of cracks/joints
Hard rock
Vertical and steep cliffs

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36
Q

UK physical landscape
What is formed after a rockfall?

A

Scree slope

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37
Q

UK physical landscape
How do landslides work and where do they occur?

A

Steep slopes with soil
After heavy rain, soil mixes with water and flows downhill

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38
Q

UK physical landscape
What 3 things cause waves? (And what affects their strength)

A

Wind speed
Wind duration
Fetch

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39
Q

UK physical landscape
What is fetch

A

Distance wind has blown over seas for

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40
Q

UK physical landscape
In what area are constructive waves found in particular?

A

Bays

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41
Q

UK physical landscape
What do constructive waves do to beaches?

A

Build up beaches

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42
Q

UK physical landscape
When do constructive waves tend to be found?

A

Summer

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43
Q

UK physical landscape
What kind of beaches do constructive waves create in terms of sediment? Why?

A

Sandy beaches - they only have the strength to carry smaller sediment

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44
Q

UK physical landscape
Why are constructive waves found in bays?

A

Bays shelter from the wind and so waves only have limited energy

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45
Q

UK physical landscape
What are the characteristics of constructive waves (5 things)?

A

Strong swash
Weak backwash
Short wavelength
Low wave height
Less frequent

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46
Q

UK physical landscape
What do destructive waves do to beaches?

A

Destroys beaches

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47
Q

UK physical landscape
When do destructive waves happen mostly?

A

Winter

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48
Q

UK physical landscape
What kind of sediment is found on beaches with destructive waves?

A

Pebbles

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49
Q

UK physical landscape
What are the 5 characteristics of destructive waves?

A

Weak swash + strong backwash + long wavelength + high wave height + more frequent

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50
Q

UK physical landscape
How do headlands and bays form? On what coastline?

A

Discordant coastline
Hydraulic action + abrasion erode soft rock faster
Had rock doesn’t retreat as quickly as more resistant
Leaves protruding rock of headlands and retreated bays

51
Q

UK physical landscape
What is a discordant coastline?

A

Alternate strata of hard and soft rock running along coastline

52
Q

UK physical landscape
What acronym shows the stages of stump creation?

A

CCASS - crack cave arch stack stump

53
Q

UK physical landscape
Describe the process of stump creation?

A

Headlands eroded by hydraulic action and abrasion on 2 sides - creates cracks
Cracks become larger due to those processes and make - caves
Caves erode through headland to make - arch
Roof of arch collapsed due to freeze thaw at roof and H.A. At base - makes isolated pillar of rock - stack
Stack eroded at base forming - wave cut notch
Collapses forming a - stump

54
Q

UK physical landscape
What can you write instead of hydraulic action? And what for longshore drift?

A

H.A. + L.S.D

55
Q

UK physical landscape
How is a wave cut platform formed?

A

Base of cliff is eroded by HA + abrasion creating wave cut notch
Subaerial processes such as freeze thaw weaken cliff top
Cliff is undercut by wave cut notch + unstable so collapses
Forms wave cut platform
Process repeats and cliff retreats forming larger + wider wave cut platform

56
Q

UK physical landscape
Give 5 coastal depositional landforms

A

Sand beaches, pebble beaches, spits, bars, tombolos

57
Q

UK physical landscape
How are sand beaches formed?

A

Constructive waves transport material to beach using strong swash
Weak backwash leaves pebbles at top of beach and sand to bottom
Almost no erosion from beach due to weak backwash

58
Q

UK physical landscape
How were pebble beaches formed?

A

Destructive waves with weak swash transport material to beach
Strong backwash puts heavy pebbles at top and smaller at bottom
Sand is removed from beach due to strong backwash

59
Q

UK physical landscape
How are spits formed?

A

LSD
Prevailing wind determines swash direction
Backwash occurs at 90 degrees due to gravity and slope of beach
Material moves laterally in a zig zag
Change in direction of coastline - deposition continues to takes place
Sand builds up on end and forms spit
Behind spit wave energy is reduced as sheltered and deposition takes place creating salt marsh
Change in wind direction leads to recurved spit

60
Q

UK physical landscape
What forms behind a spit?

A

Salt marsh

61
Q

UK physical landscape
How is a bar formed from a spit?

A

When a spit joins 2 headlands together

62
Q

UK physical landscape
When is a tombolo formed?

A

When spits join to an island

63
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 aspects of human development along coastlines?

A

Housing + offices + tourism

64
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of development along coastline?

A

Economic growth + coastal management + job creation

65
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of development along coastline?

A

Increase flood risk + disruption of local ecosystems/deforestation + house price increasing

66
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 2 advantages of coastal agriculture

A

Increases food supply + creates jobs

67
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of agriculture on coast?

A

Deforestation + flood risk increase + disrupts local ecosystems

68
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 2 advantages of industry?

A

Stimulates economic growth + creates jobs

69
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of industry?

A

Deforestation/disrupts local ecosystems + water/air pollution + water intensive

70
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 4 impacts of climate change on the coast?

A

Sea levels rising + thermal expansion + glaciers/ice sheets melt + increase in storm surges

71
Q

UK physical landscape
Why are sea levels rising?

A

Humans burn fossil fuels
Greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse effect
Global warming
Thermal expansion
Glacial melt
Sea levels rise

72
Q

UK physical landscape
What is thermal expansion

A

When water is heated it expands

73
Q

UK physical landscape
How are more storm surges caused by climate change?

A

Increase in evaporation
More moisture in atmosphere
Low pressure systems
Increase in stormy weather and storm surges

74
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 4 ways coasts can be vulnerable to coastal erosion?

A

Soft, less resistant rock
No coastal management
Low lying coasts
Coastlines with destructive waves

75
Q

UK physical landscape
What is an example of a soft rock coastline

A

Holderness

76
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 6 hard engineering strategies

A

Groynes
Sea wall
Rock armour
Gabions
Revetments
Breakwater

77
Q

UK physical landscape
What are groynes?

A

Timber/rock structures at right angles to the coast
Prevent LSD by trapping sediment
Build wider beaches which absorb more wave energy
Less vulnerable to erosion

78
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of groynes?

A

Relatively cheap (£5000)+benefit to local economy as attracts tourist through wide sandy beach + easily maintained

79
Q

UK physical landscape
How much do groynes cost?

A

£1000 to £4000 per metre

80
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of groynes?

A

Can starve beaches further down (increases erosion there)
Unattractive/decreases tourists as acts as barrier
Ineffective during stormy conditions

81
Q

UK physical landscape
What is a sea wall?

A

Curved concrete barrier at back of beach to reflect wave energy back to sea

82
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of sea walls?

A

Reduces flooding + increase tourism (path to walk on) + doesn’t disrupt LSD

83
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of a sea wall?

A

Very expensive (£5000-10 000 per metre) / need lots of maintenance
Reduce biodiversity (construction destroying habitats)
Coastal flooding can still occur with very large waves

84
Q

UK physical landscape
How much do sea walls cost per metre?

A

£5 000 to £10 000

85
Q

UK physical landscape
What is rock armour?

A

Large boulders piled up at back of beach
Absorbs wave energy
Leads to reduced erosion and increases deposition

86
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of rock armour?

A

Cheap (£1 000 to £3 000) + can last for a long time + doesn’t impact LSD

87
Q

UK physical landscape
Can rock armour increase tourism?

A

Yes - and doesn’t stop beach access

88
Q

UK physical landscape
If rock armour is placed in front of what thing the lifespan of that thing will be extended

A

A sea wall

89
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of rock armour?

A

Environmental damage to get rock in quarries + higher price when taken from abroad + looks unnatural (tourism damage)

90
Q

UK physical landscape
What are gabions?

A

Open wire cages filled with rocks placed at cliff base
absorb wave energy

91
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of gabions?

A

Cheap and quick to build
Can last 20-25 years
Can blend into environment when sand is blown over them

92
Q

UK physical landscape
How long can gabions last?

A

20-25 years

93
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of gabions?

A

Cages can rust/break - dangerous for people and birds to walk on + unnatural + intrusive

94
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of revetments?

A

Wooden slatted barriers builds on back of beach to protect base of cliff by dissipating wave energy

95
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of revetments?

A

Cheaper + less intrusive than sea wall + don’t stop tourists walking on beach

96
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of revetments?

A

Could be considered expensive or inexpensive (£2000 per metre)
Unsuitable where wave energy is high
Short lifespan if wooden

97
Q

UK physical landscape
How costly are revetments?

A

£ 2000 per metre

98
Q

UK physical landscape
What is breakwater

A

Partly submerged rock barrier offshore to absorb wave energy

99
Q

UK physical landscape
What is one advantage of breakwater?

A

Don’t disrupt natural beach look

100
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 4 advantages of breakwater?

A

Potential navigation hazard + difficult to maintain + doesn’t reduce cliff or beach erosion + expensive or inexpensive (£1000 to 3000 per metre)

101
Q

UK physical landscape
What is beach nourishment?

A

Sand is dredged from sea bed and sprayed by boat onto beach then levelled by tractor

102
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of beach nourishment?

A

Cheap (£20 per cubic metre) + looks natural + more tourists due to bigger beach (economic benefit)

103
Q

UK physical landscape
How expensive is beach nourishment

A

£20 per cubic metre

104
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of beach nourishment?

A

People can’t use beach using maintenance + needs constant maintenance + dredging increases erosion in other areas

105
Q

UK physical landscape
What is cliff regrading?

A

Reduces angle of cliff to help stabilise + drainage removes water to prevent mass movement (landslides and slumping)

106
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of cliff regrading?

A

Cost effective + can be done to minimise impact to tourists at low tourist times of year + effective on clay or loose rock

107
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of cliff regrading?

A

Causes cliff retreat + constant maintenance + if drained cliffs dry out = rock falls

108
Q

UK physical landscape
What is dune stabilisation?

A

Marram grass stabilises dunes when planted + areas fenced off to stabilise dunes/grazing stopped there + reduces footpath erosion

109
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of dune stabilisation?

A

Maintains natural environment/wildlife habitats + cheap and sustainable (£2 - £20 per 1m)

110
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of dune stabilisation?

A

Time consuming to plant and grow + fencing reduces beach access/less tourists + can be destroyed in storms

111
Q

UK physical landscape
What is beach re profiling?

A

Redistributing sediment from lower to upper beach to absorb wave energy

112
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 advantages of beach reprofiling?

A

Cheap + simple + increased tourism

113
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 disadvantages of beach reprofiling?

A

Only effective where wave energy low + beach has to be closed during reprofiling (impacts economy of area) + needs to be repeated continuously

114
Q

UK physical landscape
What is hold the line coastal management?

A

Use sea defence to stop further erosion/recession

115
Q

UK physical landscape
Give 5 examples of hold the line coastal management?

A

Sea walls
Rock armour
Gabions
Revetments
Dune regeneration/planting vegetation

116
Q

UK physical landscape
What is advance the line coastal management?

A

Sea defences move coast further to sea

117
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 4 examples of advance the line coastal management?

A

Groynes + offshore breakwaters + beach nourishment + beach re profiling

118
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 reasons for doing nothing about coastline?

A

Value of land lower than management costs
Building defences could cause erosion elsewhere on important land
Could create marshes and be good for local ecosystems if not inhabited

119
Q

UK physical landscape
What is managed retreat/coastal realignment?

A

Allowing coastal flooding of low value land
Financial compensation for people when homes lost

120
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 benefits of managed retreat?

A

Creates new intertidal habitat - increases biodiversity + cheaper in long term compared to hard engineering + reduces flooding elsewhere on coast as less available

121
Q

UK physical landscape
What are 3 costs of managed retreat?

A

Compensation costs for people + farmers for loss of agricultural land and earnings

122
Q

UK physical landscape
What is ICZM?

A

Integrated coastal zone management - considers needs of groups of people in society + economic costs/benefits + local environment with different approaches

123
Q

UK physical landscape
What is SMP?

A

Shoreline management plan - sets out how coast as a whole will be managed

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