Living in the UK

Upland Areas

Regions like the Scottish Highlands characterized by high mountains and glacial features.

Lowland Areas

Areas like The Fens in Eastern England with extensive drainage systems.

Glaciated Landscapes

Landforms like the Lake District with U-shaped valleys and ribbon lakes.

Mechanical Weathering

Breakdown of rock through physical processes like freeze-thaw.

Chemical Weathering

Decomposition of rocks through chemical reactions like acid rain.

Biological Weathering

Breakdown of rocks by living organisms, such as roots growing into cracks in rocks.

Mass Movement

Processes like sliding and slumping causing rock or soil movement.

Sliding

Downward movement of rock or soil along a slope.

Slumping

Rotational movement of rock or soil along a curved surface.

Erosion

Actions like abrasion and hydraulic action shaping landscapes.

Abrasion

Rocks and particles carried by wind, water, or ice scrape against surfaces.

Hydraulic Action

Force of water hitting rock surfaces, causing them to break apart.

Attrition

Rocks and particles collide and break into smaller pieces.

Solution

Dissolution of rock minerals by water.

Traction

Large particles rolled along the riverbed.

Saltation

Medium-sized particles bounced along the riverbed.

Suspension

Fine particles carried within the water.

Solution

Dissolved materials transported by water.

Deposition

The laying down of sediment carried by wind, water, or ice.

River Landforms

Features like waterfalls, meanders, and floodplains.

Waterfall

A steep drop in the river course where water falls vertically.

Gorge

A narrow, steep-sided valley formed by river erosion.

V-shaped Valley

A valley with a characteristic V-shape formed by river erosion in its upper course.

Floodplain

The flat area around a river that gets flooded when the river overflows.

Levee

Raised banks along the sides of a river, formed by deposition during floods.

Meander

A winding curve or bend in a river.

Ox-bow Lake

A curved lake formed from a meander that has been cut off from the main river channel.

Coastal Landforms

Formations like headlands, caves, and spits.

Headland

A point of high land jutting into the sea.

Bay

A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward.

Cave

A hollow area in the earth, often found in coastal cliffs.

Arch

A natural arch-shaped rock formation formed by erosion.

Stack

A pillar of rock isolated from the land by wave erosion.

Beach

A pebbly or sandy shore.

Spit

A narrow point of land projecting into the sea, formed by deposition.

Urban Trends

Movements like suburbanisation and counter-urbanisation in cities.

Suburbanisation

Movement from city centers to suburbs due to better living conditions and transport links.

Counter-urbanisation

Movement from urban areas to rural areas driven by the desire for a better quality of life.

Re-urbanisation

Movement back to urban areas due to regeneration projects and improved living conditions.

London

A major city with global influence facing challenges like housing availability.

Polar Maritime (mP)

Originates from the North Atlantic and brings cold, moist air, resulting in cool, wet weather.

Tropical Maritime (mT)

Comes from the Azores and brings warm, moist air, leading to mild, wet weather.

Polar Continental (cP)

From Eastern Europe and Russia, it brings cold, dry air in winter, causing severe frosts and snow.

Tropical Continental (cT)

Hot, dry air mass from North Africa causing summer heatwaves.

Arctic Maritime (mA)

Cold, wet air mass from the Arctic leading to winter snow.

North Atlantic Drift

Warm ocean current affecting the UK's climate, raising temperatures.

Continentality

UK's maritime climate due to Atlantic Ocean proximity, with milder temperatures compared to continental climates.

Heavy Rainfall

Intense and prolonged rain can overwhelm drainage systems and rivers, leading to floods.

Storm Surges

High winds and low pressure can raise sea levels, causing coastal flooding.

Snowmelt:

Rapid melting of snow due to sudden temperature increases can lead to river floods.

Urbanization

Increased impermeable surfaces (e.g., concrete) reduce natural drainage, exacerbating flood risks.

Short-term Responses

Emergency services deployment, sandbagging, temporary shelters, and evacuations.

Long-term Strategies

Building flood defenses (e.g., Thames Barrier), improving drainage systems, floodplain zoning, and promoting sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).

Renewable Energy Sources

Solar Power, Wind Power, Hydropower, Biomass

Non-renewable Energy Sources

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power

Changing energy patterns

Transition from coal to natural gas and renewables, strategies for sustainable energy use, and grid modernization.