UK Geographical Issues terminology

Geology

Study of rocks' structure and substance

Tectonic Processes

Past volcanic eruptions and uplift

Plucking

Freezing onto surface, removing sediment

Abrasion

Scouring valley floor with embedded sediment

Freeze-Thaw

Water freezing, splitting rock apart

Deposition

Sediment put down as glacier retreats

Sedimentary Rocks

Eroded particles forming rock layers

Igneous Rocks

Formed by cooling magma, e.g., granite

Metamorphic Rocks

Formed from existing rock changing shape

Upland Landscapes

Shaped by glacial and weathering processes

Lowland Landscapes

Shaped by weathering and diverse ecosystems

Concordant Coastlines

Harder outer layer protecting softer rock

Discordant Coastlines

Alternating rock types eroding at different rates

Headlands

Areas of harder rock into the sea

Bays

Areas of softer rock eroded by the sea

Wave Cut Notch

Cliff foot eroded between high and low water marks

Wave Cut Platform

Flat rocky area left after cliff retreats

Seasonality

Different climates in different seasons

Storm Frequency

Frequency and intensity of storms

Prevailing Winds

Dominant wind direction affecting wave action

Destructive Waves

High, frequent waves eroding coastlines

Mass Movement

Large-scale sediment movement downslope

Rock Falls

Weathered areas collapsing from cliffs

Slumping

Saturated rock slipping along a curved surface

Sliding

Movement of material along a flat surface

Mechanical Weathering

Physical processes breaking rocks

Chemical Weathering

Chemical processes breaking rocks

Biological Weathering

Plants and animals weakening cliff faces

Longshore drift

Transport of sediment along beach due to prevailing winds and wave action

Swash

Pushes sediment up the beach at an angle

Backwash

Drags sediment back down the beach at a right angle

Spit

Sediment build-up forming a narrow landform extending into the sea

Bar

Sediment build-up forming a submerged or exposed ridge parallel to the shoreline

Tombolo

Sediment build-up connecting an island to the mainland

Constructive waves

Greater swash than backwash, building up wide, gently sloping beaches

Beach profile

Cross-section of beach from sea to land, showing morphology

Destructive waves

Erosive waves causing steeply sloping beaches

Coastal management

Efforts to control coastal processes and reduce retreat

Hard engineering

Creating barriers like sea walls to deflect or absorb energy

Soft engineering

Working with natural processes, e.g., beach replenishment

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)

Considering costs and benefits to protect coastlines sustainably

Sediment analysis

Examining size and location to assess management effectiveness

Cost-benefit analysis

Evaluating economic, social, and environmental impacts against protection benefits

Groyne measurements

Measuring sediment height to assess trapping effectiveness

River source

Starting point often in hilly/mountainous areas with high precipitation

Vertical erosion

Downward erosion creating V-shaped valleys in the upper course of a river

Interlocking spurs

Overlapping ridges in river valleys due to river re-routing around resistant areas

Waterfalls

Formed when softer rock is eroded beneath harder rock, creating a plunge pool

Meanders

Bends in a river caused by erosion on the outside and deposition on the inside

Oxbow lake

Horseshoe-shaped lake formed when a meander is cut off from the main river

Hydraulic action

Forcing air into rock gaps to split them apart over time

Attrition

Rocks breaking into smaller pieces as they collide

Traction

Transport of larger stones rolling along the riverbed

Saltation

Transport of smaller stones bouncing along in the river

Suspension

Carrying small particles in the river's flow

Oxbow Lake

Horseshoe-shaped lake formed by deposition at a river's neck

Floodplain

Flatland beside a river formed by lateral erosion and deposition

Levees

Natural banks formed by repeated flooding and deposition

Point Bar

Deposited material on the inside of a river bend

Delta

D-shaped area of deposition at a river's mouth

Distributaries

Smaller channels formed when a river splits due to sediment build-up

Hydrograph

Graph showing river response to rainfall events

Discharge

Volume of water passing a specific point in a river per unit of time

Lag Time

Time between peak rainfall and peak discharge in a river

Flashy Hydrograph

Hydrograph with steep rising limb and short lag time

Less Flashy Hydrograph

Hydrograph with low rising limb and long lag time

Antecedent Conditions

Previous weather conditions affecting current hydrograph shape

River Severn

River with settlements prone to flooding due to high rainfall

Catchment

Area where water is collected by the river

Confluence

Point where two rivers meet

Hard Engineering

Structures like flood walls and embankments to manage floods

Soft Engineering

Methods like floodplain retention to manage floods sustainably

Flood Walls

Artificial barriers to raise riverbanks and prevent flooding

Embankments

High banks near riverbanks to increase river capacity

Flood Barriers

Temporary structures to block floodwater when needed

Floodplain Retention

Strategies to maintain a river's natural floodplain

River Restoration

Strategies to restore a river's original course and meanders

Enterprise Zones

Areas offering tax breaks and support to companies to reduce rural-urban differences

Migration

Movement of people within or between countries

Freedom of Movement

EU policy allowing citizens to move freely between member countries

Retirement Migration

Movement of retirees to areas with favorable conditions

Rural-urban migration

Movement of young adults from countryside to cities for education and jobs

Studentification

Phenomenon of growing urban areas due to influx of students

Urban sprawl

Outward expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural areas

Counter-urbanisation

Movement of people from urban areas to rural areas

EU Accession of 8, 2004

Entry of 8 Eastern European countries into the EU, leading to migration

Deindustrialisation

Decline of primary and secondary sectors, shift to services and research

Tertiary sector

Economic sector focused on services rather than goods production

Quaternary sector

Economic sector involving research and development

Globalisation

Increasing interconnectedness of the world, affecting economies

Free trade

International trade without restrictions like tariffs

Foreign direct investment

Capital flow from one country to another for business operations

Transnational corporations

Large companies with operations in multiple countries

CBD

Central Business District with high-rise buildings and commerce

Inner city areas

Redeveloped areas with some derelict factories

Suburbs

Outer areas of the city with varying affluence levels

Greenbelt

Protected area around cities to prevent urban sprawl