landscapes of the uk

state the distribution of upland areas in the uk

• north west of the tees-exe line

• most commonly found in wales and scotland

• not found in coastal areas

state where the largest upland area is in the uk

scotland

state the distribution of lowland areas in the uk

• south east of tees-exe line

• most commonly found in england

• found in coastal areas

state the distribution of glaciated areas in the uk

• uneven distribution

• north west of tees-exe line

• mostly found in scotland

describe the geology of upland areas in the uk

• older rocks

• such as igneous

• and metamorphic rock types

state the climate of upland areas in the uk

• lower temperatures

• high rainfall

• windy

describe human activity in upland areas in the uk

• cattle farming

• tourism

• water management

describe the geology of lowland areas in the uk

sedimentary rock

state the climate of lowland areas in the uk

• lower temperatures

• low rainfall

describe human activity in lowland areas in the uk

• arable farming

• urban development

describe the geology of glaciated areas in the uk

• thin soils

• exposed bedrock

state the climate of glaciated areas in the uk

• very low temperatures

• windy

describe human activity in glaciated areas

• forestry

• pastoral farming

• quarrying

• tourism

state the general characteristics of upland areas in the uk

• area of elevated land

• contains hills and mountains

• often over 600m higher than sea level

state the general characteristics of lowland areas in the uk

• commonly coastal areas

• often under 200m above sea level

• landscape is flat and rolling

state the general characteristics of glaciated areas in the uk

• areas where glaciers used to be

• landscape filled with eroded ridges and peaks

• steep relief

• high altitudes

state the definition of mechanical weathering

• breaking down of rocks

• where they are located

• by physical changes

state the definition of chemical weathering

• breaking down of rocks

• by acid

• in water

state the definition of biological weathering

• the weakening or breaking down of rocks

• by plants, animals or microorganisms

state the definition of sliding

• the downhill movement

• of large volumes

• of sediment

state the definition of slumping

• when the saturation of permeable rocks

• leads to the movement of material down a concave cliff face

• causing the rock to rotate backwards into the cliff face

• as it slips down

state the definition of abrasion

• when pebbles grind against a non-moving rock surface

• creating a sandpaper effect

state the definition of hydraulic action

• the sheer power of the water

• compressing air into lines of weakness in surfaces

• causing an explosive force

state the definition of attrition

• when rocks carried by water collide with each other

• causing the rocks to become smaller and weaker

state the definition of solution

when water dissolves soluble rock types

state the definition of traction

when large, heavy pebbles are rolled along the river bed

state where traction is most common

near the source of a river

state the definition of saltation

when pebbles are bounced along the river bed

state where saltation is most common

near the source of a river

state the definition of suspension

when lighter sediment is suspended within the water

state where suspension is most common

near the mouth of a river

state the definition of deposition

• when a body of water loses energy

• causing it to drop any material it has been carrying

state what is needed for the formation of waterfalls

waterfall forms when there are horizontal bands of resistant rock positioned over less-resistant rock

describe the formation of waterfalls

1. the soft rock is eroded quicker than the hard rock which creates a step

2. as erosion continues, the hard rock is undercut forming and overhang

3. abrasion and hydraulic action erode the rock to create a plunge pool

4. over time the overhang increases until the hard rock can no longer be supported and collapses due to gravity

5. this process continues and the waterfall retreats upstream

describe the formation of a gorge

1. after a waterfall has retreated upstream, it leaves a steep-sided valley

2. this is a gorge

describe the formation of a v-shaped valley

1. in the upper course, there is more vertical erosion

2. due to the steeper relief found in these areas

3. the river cuts down into the valley

4. forming a v-shaped valley

describe the formation of a floodplain

1. floodplains are areas of land flooded with water when rivers burst their banks

2. erosion of river meanders removes any interlocking spurs

3. this creates a wide flat area on both sides of the river

4. during a flood, material being carried by the river is deposited

5. which increases the height of the floodplain over time

describe the formation of a levee

1. levees occur in the lower course due to an increase in river discharge which flows downstream causing flooding

2. when the river floods, the sediment the water is carrying spreads out across the floodplain

3. when a flood occurs, the river loses energy

4. after many floods, the sediment builds up to increase the height of the river banks

5. this means that the channel size can increase, increasing discharge

describe the formation of a meander

1. in the middle course of a river, as river discharge and velocity is higher

2. lateral erosion begins to widen the river

3. as the river flows over flatter land, it can develop meanders

4. due to the thalweg

5. the meanders are eroded further on the outside of the bend

6. and experience deposition on the inside of the bend

describe the formation of an ox-bow lake

1. due to the erosion of the outside of a meander

2. and the deposition of the inside

3. the shape of the meander will change over time

4. erosion narrows the neck of the land within the meander

5. as this process continues, the meander necks moves closer together

6. when there is a high discharge of water, the river cuts across the neck taking a straighter, shorter route

7. deposition will occur to cut off the original meander

8. creating a horse shoe-shaped oxbow lake

describe the formation of a headland

1. headlands form on a discordant coastline due to the alternating bands of more and less-resistant rock perpendicular to the coastline

2. differential erosion causes the less-resistant rock to erode quicker than the other rock types

3. this forms a headland that sticks out of the coastline

describe the formation of a bay

1. headlands form on a discordant coastline due to the alternating bands of more and less-resistant rock perpendicular to the coastline

2. differential erosion causes the less-resistant rock to erode quicker than the other rock types

3. this forms an inlet of the sea where the land curves inwards, usually with a beach

4. this forms a bay that goes into the coastline

describe the formation of a cave

1. cracks in the headland are eroded away through hydraulic action and abrasion

2. causing an opening in the headland which is the cave

describe the formation of an arch

1. through hydraulic action and abrasion, the cave eventually becomes larger and breaks through the headland

2. this forms an arch

describe the formation of a stack

1. as erosion of the sides of the arch increases over time, the base of the arch becomes wider

2. eventually the roof becomes too heavy for the arch to hold, causing it to collapse into the sea

3. this leaves a stack

describe the formation of a stump

1. the stack is undercut at the base due to hydraulic action and abrasion

2. this causes the stack to collapse to form a stump

describe the formation of a beach

1. beaches consist of eroded material that has been transported and deposited by the sea

2. for this to occur, constructive waves with limited energy are needed

describe the formation of a spit

1. spits occur when there is a change in the direction of a coastline or there is a river mouth

2. it forms when sediment is carried by longshore drift

3. and deposited when there is a change in the direction of the coastline

4. a long, thin ridge of material is deposited, forming a spit