Physical Environments

Weather

Factors affecting UK weather (5 marks)

There are 7 factors that can affect the UK weather.

Latitude- as you move further away from the equator the temperature decreases as the sun’s rays must travel further. (1)

Altitude- every 100m above sea level the temperature will drop by 1⁰C (1)

Distance from sea- during summer, coastal areas are cooler as the sea takes longer to heat up; during winter, coastal areas are warmer as the sea takes longer to cool down. (1)

Prevailing winds- winds from the South are warmer than winds from the North as they pass over warm ocean currents. Winds blowing over seas will bring rain. (1)

Ocean currents- warm water is transferred from the equator to the poles, and cold water from poles to the equator. (1)

North Atlantic drift- brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico towards to UK. (1)

Aspect- places that are South facing will be warmer as they receive more sunlight ,whereas North facing places will be colder as they receive cold, northernly wind. (2)

Air Masses and their effects (6 marks)

There are five air masses that affect the UK: Artic maritime, Polar continental, Tropical continental, Tropical maritime, Polar maritime.

maritime -wet, polar continental- dry, tropical- warm

Tropical continental effects

-Dry hot weather can cause droughts which leads to water shortages and potential hosepipe bans. (1)

-Ice cream, cold drinks and sunscreen sales will increase. (1)

-Railway tracks become too hot to safely operate which affects transportation. (1)

-Increased tourism as more people go to the beach. (1)

-Wildfires are more likely to start and spread easier as the land is too hot and dry. (1)

-The amount of solar energy generated will increase. (1)

-Increase in heat related illnesses such as dehydration and heat stroke. (1)

-Grass may dry out and die which affects livestock farmers. (1)

Tropical maritime/Artic maritime/Polar continental/Polar maritime effects

-Flooded roads and railways cause travel disruptions which affects business as workers cannot reach their job. (1)

-More accidents and broken bones due to icy condition which puts a strain on health services. (2)

-More gas and electricity is needed as people turn their heating on. (1)

- Increased usage of gas and electricity result in higher energy bills which some people struggling to afford it. (1)

-Pipes may freeze and burst due to the temperatures and damage buildings. (1)

-Ski resorts and places offering snow activities will open which boosts local economy. (1)

-Colder temperatures and snow increases the sales of hats, gloves and scarves. (1)

Low air pressure is below 1012 millibars whereas high pressure is above 1012 millibars.

Weather in high and low pressure

Low pressure

High pressure

Depression passage (low pressure)

A depression always moves anticlockwise (air is rising).

A depression has 5 stages:

1, Warm front approach

2, Warm front

3, Warm sector

4, Cold front

5, Cold front rear

1, As the depression approaches the air pressure is falling. The warm front approach will bring sunny intervals, cool temperatures with no rain.

2, At the warm front the wind strength and temperature increase. The winds will change from blowing from the south-east to south-west as a depression moves anticlockwise. Low, thick nimbostratus clouds bring heavy and constant rain.

3, At the warm sector temperatures rise and become warmer as wind speeds fall and become steady. Clouds are thin and many break, causing rain drizzles.

4, At the cold front the temperature drops as cold air replaces warm air. Heavy, thick cumulonimbus clouds bring heavy rainfall and potential thunderstorms.

5, After the cold front there are less clouds allowing for dry, sunny intervals.

Anticyclones (high pressure)

An anticyclone always moves clockwise (air is sinking),

Summer anticyclones

Weather characteristics:

-Clear skies as there are no weather fronts to form clouds

-No rain as there are no clouds

-Lots of sunshine as there are no clouds to block it

-Hot temperatures because air heats as it sinks and increase in sunshine

-Warm nights as no clouds can trap heat in

-Warm temperatures can cause potential thunderstorms and flash floods as air warms and rises quickly

Issues:

-Dry hot weather can cause droughts which leads to water shortages and potential hosepipe bans. (1)

-Ice cream, cold drinks and sunscreen sales will increase. (1)

-Wildfires are more likely to start and spread easier as the land is too hot and dry. (1)

-Increase in heat related illnesses such as dehydration and heat stroke. This causes more people to be admitted to hospital causing strain on resources (2)

-Droughts will reduce a farmer’s crop yield. (1)
-Thunderstorms and flash floods can occur. (1)

Winter anticyclones

Weather characteristics:

-Clear skies as there are no weather fronts to form clouds

-No rain as there are no clouds

-Early morning frost as water vapour condenses and freezes

-Calm, light winds as isobars are spread out

-Fog as water vapour condenses on dust, usually in valley bottoms

Issues:

Flooded roads and railways cause travel disruptions which affects business as workers cannot reach their job. (1)

-More accidents and broken bones due to icy condition which puts a strain on health services. (2)

-More gas and electricity is needed as people turn their heating on. (1)

- Increased usage of gas and electricity result in higher energy bills which some people struggling to afford it. (1)

-Pipes may freeze and burst due to the temperatures and damage buildings. (1)

-Ski resorts and places offering snow activities will open which boosts local economy. (1)

-Colder temperatures and snow increases the sales of hats, gloves and scarves. (1)

Glaciated uplands

Definitions

Erosion processes

Plucking- when ice freezes onto rocks and as the glacier moves it will rip the rock out creating jagged and steep sides.

Abrasion- when rocks trapped in between the rock and ice scrape against the surface like sandpaper which deepens and smoothes the bottom of the valley.

Freeze-thaw weathering- when water freezes inside the cracks of rocks which forces the rock to become expand. Overtime the rocks become too big and chunks of it are broken off.

Corrie, Arête and Pyramidal Peak formation (4 marks)

-Snow gathers on a north facing mountain hollow and eventually compacts into ice, forming a glacier. (1)

-The force of gravity pushes the glacier downhill which erodes the base. (1)

-Plucking is when ice freezes on to the outside of rocks and as the glacier moves it will pull them out which creates steep, jagged sides. (1)

-Freeze-thaw weathering is when ice freezes inside the cracks of rocks which force the rock to expand. Overtime the rocks become too big and chunks will break/fall off. (1)

-When the glacier melts the hollow is U shaped and there may be a tarn left behind, (Corrie) (1)

-The arête is the narrow, knife edged ridge formed when two corries form back to back or side to side. (arête) (1)

-The pyramidal peak is the steep peak formed at the top when three or more corries form back to back or side to side. (1)

U-shaped valley formation (4 marks)

-Snow gather on a north facing mountain hollow and eventually compacts into ice, forming a glacier. (1)

-The force of gravity forces the glacier downhill through a former river valley which erodes the base of the glacier. (1)

-Plucking is when ice freezes on to the outside of rocks and as the glacier moves it will pull them out which creates steep, jagged sides. (1)

-Freeze-thaw weathering is when ice freezes inside the cracks of rocks which force the rock to expand; overtime the rocks become too big and chunks will break/fall off which creates the U shape. (1)

-The sheer force of the glacier moving will cut off interlocking spurs and turn them into truncated spurs. (1)

-When the glacier melts there may be a ribbon lake or misfit stream left behind. (1)

Land use (6 marks)

Tourism- snow can be collected in corries which allows winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding to happen. (1) Ribbon lakes provide opportunities for water sports such as kayaking and canoeing. (1) Mountains that have steep slopes and crags provide opportunities for rock climbing and hill walking. (1) Mountains, valleys and lochs attract visitors to see the scenery. (1)

Farming- hill sheep farming is common as they can survive the cold and steep terrain because they are sure-footed and have thick wool. (1)

Renewable energy- wind turbines are located on mountains as they have strong and steady winds. (1) Hydro electric power is generated through damming hanging valleys to generate electricity. (1)

Commercial forestry- trees are hardy and can grow on steep land and thin soils. (1)

Land use conflicts (6 marks)

Case study- Loch Lomond

Tourists vs farmers

-Tourists leave litter lying about which livestock may eat and become seriously ill. Farmers then have to spend money on vet bills which reduces their income. (2)

-Tourists may leave gates open which allows animals to escape. Farmers then have to waste time looking for them. (2)

-Popular walking routes may experience footpath erosion which damages the soil and affects how easily crops can be grown. (1)

-Dogs let off their leash can chase and scare sheep which can cause them to have a miscarriage during breeding seasons. (1)

-Tourists will park their cars on the sides of roads. When in narrow roads, tractors and other machinery are unable to access the roads for work. (1)

-Tourists may become stuck behind farmer’s machinery which causes traffic congestion and tourists to be late for events. (1)

Land use solutions (1)

Case study- Loch Lomond

-Install kissing gates so that animals are unable to escape. (1)

-Begin issuing fines for people that are caught littering. (1)

-Use durable materials for footpaths and install stonewalls to prevent trespassing as people will know where to walk. (1)

-Add signs around the area to warn tourists that animals will be scared by loud noises and encourage them to keep their dogs on leads. (1)

-Improve public transport to the area which reduces traffic congestion. (1)

-Farmers can sacrifice one of their fields for additional parking and can charge money for it which increases their profit. (2)

-Widen roads and create bypass lanes to reduce traffic congestion. (1)

Coastal landscapes

Erosion processes

Hydraulic action- the force of waves hitting a cliff or sea wall will compress water and air into cracks and joints. This increase in pressure eventually leads to cracks widening and pieces of rocks braking off.

Corrasion- rock fragments are picked up by large waves and thrown against the cliff with great force which wears the cliff away, This is most effective at the base of the cliff as the softer beds are weaker.

Attrition- waves move it causes rocks and pebbles to collide with each other and overtime they break up into smoother, rounder fragments.

Solution- the salts and chemicals within the seawater can react with the minerals in certain rocks, causing them to dissolve.

Headlands and Bays formation (4 marks)

Headland- alternating bands of soft and hard rocks at right angles to the coast.

-Headlands and bays are found in areas of alternating bands of soft and hard rock which meet the coast at right angles. (2)

-Destructive waves will erode the soft rock quicker by the processes of abrasion, solution, hydraulic action. (1)

-The softer rock will turn into a curved inlet forming a bay whereas the harder rock will remain sticking out forming a headland. (1)

-The differing rate of erosion is called “differential erosion”. (1)

Wave-cut platform formation (4 marks)

-Waves crashing against the cliff compresses the air in cracks and forces them open. Cracks become so wide that pieces break off. (1)

-Rock is also eroded by hydraulic action (above), abrasion, solution, and attrition. (1)

-The base of the cliff is attacked the most and wears away the fastest, forming a wave-cut notch and an overhang. (1)

-Overtime, the overhang becomes unsupported and collapses into the sea due to gravity which causes the cliff to retreat. (1)

-This processes repeats many times and leaves a gently sloping area of rock called a wave-cut platform. (1)

Caves, Arches, Stacks and Stumps (4 marks)

-Waves erode lines of weaknesses (faults) in a cliff by hydraulic action, abrasion, and solution. The fault lines are widened and forms a cave. (3)

-An arch is formed when two caves erode back to back, or if a cave erodes all the way through a headland. (1)

-Further erosion widens the base of the arch until the roof collapses which creates a stack. (1)

-The stack is undercut by the waves overtime. Eventually it will collapse and leave a stump. (2)

Sand spit, bar and tombolo (4 marks)

Longshore drift- the transport of material by waves moving at an agle up the beach, and is pulled back at right angles due to gravity.

-Longshore drift transports sand and deposits it in a sheltered area. (1)

-Longshore drift is when waves, driven by the prevailing wind, pushes material up the beach which is known as swash. (1)

-The returning backswash is dragged back down to the beach at right angles due to gravity. (1)

-Overtime, the deposited sand builds up until it is above sea level, forming a sand spit. (1)

-Sand spits may develop a hooked or curved pu due to a change in prevailing wind direction. (1)

-A sand bar is formed when a sand spit grows to connect two headlands. (1)

-Water trapped behind a sand bar can become a saltwater lagoon. (1)

-A tombolo is a sand spit connected to an island. (1)

Coastal land use (6 marks)

Tourism- beaches can be used for water sports or volleyball. (1) Beautiful scenery of stacks, sand dunes and headlands will attract visitors. (1) Headlands provide opportunities for visitors to do coastal walks. (1)

Renewable energy- winds are strong and consistent near the coast which allows off shore wind farms to generate electricity. (1) Underwater turbines capture the kinetic energy of waves rising and falling to generate electricity in tidal power plants. (1)

Industry- coasts allow for commercial fishing such as aquaculture or fish farming. (1) Coasts can be used as transportation hubs for shipping industries to import and export goods. (1) People can repair ships and boats if the coast has a shipyard. (1)