Weatheirng Flashcards
What is denudation?
Denudation is the process of lowering earths land surface through weathering and erosion reducing elevation and relief
What is relief?
Relief refers to the difference in height of land on the earths surface, and includes mountains,valleys,hills and plains
What is weathering?
Weathering is the break down of rocks, soils and materials through exposure to the weather (rain,frost,ice,snow,wind) and organisms
What are the 3 categories of weathering?
Mechanical (physical) chemical, biological
What are the types of mechanical weathering?
Free thaw action (frost action), exfoliation (onion peeling)
what is free thaw action?
Free thaw action occurs in areas where temperatures regularly change between freezing and thawing. Occurs in areas of high altitude and high latitude
What is latitude?
The distance north and south of the equator
What is altitude?
How high something is above sea level
When does free thaw action occur in Ireland?
It occurs during winter and for much of the year in mountain ranges
What happens by day during free thaw action?
The water seeps through the cracks in the rock
What happens at night during free thaw action?
The temapture drops below freezing point. The water freezes and expands. This makes the cracks bigger and puts strain on the rock
What happens over time during freeze thaw action?
After reapted freezing and thawing of the water over many years the rock splits. Sharp jagged pieces, called scree break off. The roll down the mountainsides and collect in piles at the bottom of the slope
What is exfoliation and where does it happen?
Exfoliation occur where rock layers peel off due to reapted heating and cooling, causing expansion, contraction and eventually cracking. It happens in areas where temperatures are extremely high during the day and very low at night e.g. deserts
What is chemical weathering?
Chemical weathering is when rock is broken down by chemical reactions e.g. carbonation and oxidation
When does carbonation occur?
.Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide weathers rocks like limestone and chalk.
.rainwater mixes with CO2 to create carbonic acid which dissolves calcium carbonate. Limestone can contain up to 95% calcium carbonate.
.the carbonic acid changes calcium carbonate into soluble calcium bicarbonate. This process is slower but more effective in cold water, which holds more CO2
. The steps are CO2+H2O= H2CO3 (carbon dioxide+water=carbonic acid)
.carbonic acid dissolves calcium carbonate into calcium bicarbonate
What is oxidation?
Oxidation is a chemical weathering process. Oxygen changes minerals like iron, forming rust that weakens and breaks down rocks over time
What is lichen?
Lichen is an organism made of a fungus and an algae,it causes biological weathering,growing on rocks and producing chemicals that break down (dissolve) the rocks surface
What is a karst landscape?
A karst landscape is an area of exposed limestone, formed by glaciation. Its features are formed due to carbonation
What is an example of a karst landscape
The Burren Co. Clare and it is formed by carbonation
What are the surface features of a karst landscape?
Limestone pavement,Clint’s,grikes,swallow hole
What are the subsurface features?
Cave,stagtite,stagmite,pillar
What is limestone pavement?
An area of karst landscape
How is limestone pavement formed?
Limestone pavement is forms when rain falls on bare limestone rock and flows into tiny joints on the surface. As it flows, it dissolves the edges of the joints by carbonation. The joints become deeper and wide over time
How is stalictite,stalagmite and pillar formed?
Water with calcium carbonate drip into the cave.
Evaporation of water droplets on the ceiling and cause floor, leave calcite behind
Calcite continues to build over millions of years on the cave ceiling and floor forming stalactites and stalagmites.
When stalactites and stalagmites meet pillar ( coilum) is formed
what are the economic advantages of tourism in the Burren Co Clare?
Many direct and indirect jobs are created in hotels,cafes and eco tourism’s with 800,000 visitors to the Burren in 2024
What are the social advantages of tourism in the Burren?
Out migration for locals is reduced as spin off jobs are created in arts,crafts and wellness industries
What are the environmental advantages of tourism in the Burren?
Strict planning laws within the Geo park prevent over development and protect the natural beauty of the area
What are the economical disadvantages of tourism in the Burren?
Some jobs are seasonal,running from April to September with most tourists visits
What are the social disadvantages of tourism in the Burren?
House prices have been increased as weathly people buy holiday homes, making it to expensive for locals to buy forcing them to move
What are the environmental disadvantages of tourism in the Burren?
Traffic congestion from cars and buses at popular attractions like the Cliffs of Moher is a major issue, with CO2 emissions lowering air quality
Tourism in the Burren in Co Clare is sustainable because:
Visitor management: limits are placed on visitor numbers in sensitive areas to prevent environmental damage
Community collaboration: local businesses tour operators and GOV bodies (e.g. OPW) work together to balance tourism growth with conservation
Eco- tourism practices: emphasis is placed on promoting low impact and activities such as walking tours, and nature education
