Explain how the geology of the UK gives rise to distinctive landscapes (6)

In Cuillin Hills in the Isle of Sky there is granite. Granite is impermeable so water cant go through it causing it to be waterlogged. This makes it not very fertile so the land is used for pastoral farming instead of for growing crops - in this case for sheep. Also, granite is very hard so erodes slowly causing there to be upland areas.

In the South Downs there is chalk. Chalk is permeable so water can go through it helping the soil be well drained. This is good for growing crops so it is used for arable farming. Also, chalk is soft so erodes quickly causing there to be lowland areas.

How does the climate of the UK influence weathering (6)

On the Isle of Sky in January there is high rainfall of an average of roughly 150mm and there are low temperatures of an average of 5c during the day and below 0c at night. This causes mechanical weathering as rainwater gets in cracks of granite and freezes during the night, expanding them by 10%. When it thaws during the day, the crack has been widened, so this repeats throughout the month causing the granite to crack more until eventually splits.

However, in Sussex in July there are high temperatures between 15-20c on average during the day and consistent rainfall with an average of 50mm, which are ideal conditions for plants to grow. As plants grow, their roots often force their way into rocks such as chalk which is soft, splitting them apart. This is a type of biological weathering.

For a coastal area you have studied explain how geomorphic processes have affected the coastline (6)

In Swanage there are clay cliffs which mean there will be rotational slumping. The clay cliffs are made of Wheldon Beds and Greensand which is impermeable so when it rains, water sits on top of the clay. Also, the sun dries out the exposed clay cliff creating cracks and some of the rainwater goes inside the cracks reducing friction. A combination of this and the weight of the water on top causes part of the cliff to slump into the sea.

In Swanage there is a chalk headland and a stack called Old Harry Rocks. This stack used to be attached to the chalk headland through an arch. However, due to biological weathering causing roots to grow into the rock weakening the top of the arch and the weight of the water on top of it when it rains, the top of the arch collapses leaving the freestanding pillar of rock - Old Harry Rocks.

For a coastal area you have studied explain how the geology has affected the geomorphic processes (6)

In Swanage there are clay cliffs which mean there will be rotational slumping. The clay cliffs are made of Wheldon Beds and Greensand which is impermeable so when it rains, water sits on top of the clay. Also, the sun dries out the exposed clay cliff creating cracks and some of the rainwater goes inside the cracks reducing friction. A combination of this and the weight of the water on top causes part of the cliff to slump into the sea.

In Swanage there are chalk cliffs which are hard and impermeable. Due to this they will erode much more slowly than clay cliffs which are softer creating a headland. Erosion of this headland also creates a stack called Old Harry Rocks.

For a coastal area you have studied explain how the climate has affected the geomorphic processes (6)

In Swanage UK in May, biological weathering will occur on the chalk. The temperature is around 12c and increasing, and there is 53mm on average of rainfall. This temperature and rainfall is enough so grass can grow and the roots can grow into the natural cracks in the chalk, weakening it and breaking off parts. When the rocks break off, they fall into the sea which can also cause the headland to be eroded through erosion.

In September in Swanage, rotational slumping will occur on the clay. The temperature is high around 14c on average and the rainfall is also high around 70mm. The high temperature will allow the clay to dry out and the high rainfall causes water to go into the cracks in the clay reducing the friction. A combination of the weight on top of the clay and the reduced friction from the water in the cracks causes part of the clay to slump.

For a coastal area you have studied explain how human activity has affected the landscape (6)

Swanage bay has been impacted by human activity through beach replenishment, as in 2009, 90,000m3 of sand was deposited on the beach. This is a form of soft engineering which widened the beach to 14m wide, allowing more room for tourists as more can fit on the beach.

Also, in 2005, 18 timber groynes were added to Swanage bay. This is a form of hard engineering and impacts the landscape visually as they are very close to and perpendicular to the sea, so stand out against the sand and are very obvious, making the are look more managed and less natural. The groynes have a greater impact on the landscape than the beach replenishment as lots of long wooden groynes look much more out of place on a beach than extra sand, so have a more distinct visual impact.

For a coastal area you have studied explain how human activity has affected the geomorphic processes (6)

In the south of Swanage bay, the clay cliffs are protected by an increase in the width of the beach because of the sea wall, groynes and beach replenishment. The cliffs are eroding at 0.5 meters per year because the beach is 14m wide so there is more friction between the beach and the waves from the sand. This causes the waves to slow down meaning they have less energy so the rate of erosion on the cliffs in reduced.

In the north of Swanage bay, the land owned by the national trust is not being protected. The clay cliffs are eroding at 1 meter per year because the beach is only 7m wide so there is less friction between the beach and the waves from the sand. This causes the waves to hit the cliffs with lots of energy because they are not slowed down enough by friction, so those clay cliffs erode more.

For a river you have studied explain how geomorphic processes have created the landforms (6)

In the lower course of the River Wye are formed below Hereford. When the river floods because the river channel can’t hold all the water, the water flows over the floodplain. This causes the water to slow down and energy is lost so the water drops heavier, coarser material on the bank and finer material further away. After repeated floods, the river banks form levees.

In the upper course of the River Wye there is a waterfall in Cleddon falls. It is formed because there are two layers of rock with the hard rock on top and soft rock underneath. The soft rock is less resistant to erosion so erodes faster through hydraulic action which leaves the hard rock overhanging and unsupported so it eventually falls down due to gravity and the fallen hard rock is used as an abrasive erosion tool continually widening and deepening the plunge pool so the soft rock is continually eroded and the process continually repeats as the waterfall retreats upstream.

For a river you have studied explain how human activity has affected the geomorphic processes (6)

In the River Monnow a tributary of the River Wye a weir was removed to make the river look more natural which means the water moves faster. This also means the water has more energy leading to increased rates of erosion at 1.5 meters per annum. This has resulted in there being more sediment in the water leading to more deposition further down the river on the floodplains in Ross on Wye. However to combat this willow was planted on the bank to stabilise the soil and cause more friction on the water so the water moves slower and has less energy decreasing the rate of erosion.

In Plynlimon Hills since WWII trees have been planted there in the upper course of the river. When it rains, water is taken up by the roots of the trees meaning there is less water going into the river. Less water in the river means there is more friction so it moves slower with less energy which reduces erosion by hydraulic action. Alsp the roots of the trees stabilise the soil meaning there is less mass movement of landsliding. This further leads to there being less rocks fallen in the river reducing the amount of abrasive erosion.

For a river you have studied explain hoe geology has affected geomorphic processes (6)

In Cleddon Falls there is a waterfall in the upper course of the River Wye. There is Sandstone above Limestone and as limestone is softer than sandstone, it is more resistant to erosion so it erodes faster due to hydraulic action from the water in the plunge pool. This leaves the sandstone overhanging because it is harder and more resistant to erosion so erodes slower. However it is unsupported so eventually falls due to gravity causing the waterfall to retreat and the fallen rock is used as an abrasive erosion tool to widen and deepen the plunge pool. Over time the waterfall continually retreats leaving a gorge.

In Plynlimon in the upper course of the river Wye the Cambrian mountains are made of Shales and Gritstone which are hard impermeable rock. When it rains this causes water to flow over the surface of the rock down into the river giving the water more energy leading to the river eroding vertically more, through hydraulic action. This also means that the rocks either side will be steeper and have less support underneath causing landslides and these fallen rocks in the river will be used as abrasive erosion tools so the river further erodes vertically.

For a river you have studied explain how climate has influenced geomorphic processes

The source of the River Wye is in Plynlimon which is 762 meters high and the height of the land causes relief rainfall to take place with 1400mm falling per year. January is the wettest month with 157mm of rainfall. The runoff causes water to be concentrated at the base of the valley which causes the water to be eroded vertically through hydraulic action. This further deepens the v shaped valley. It also means that the rocks either side will be steeper and have less support underneath causing landslides and these fallen rocks in the river will be used as abrasive erosion tools so the river further erodes vertically.

The coldest temperatures occur in February with an average daytime temperature of 3c. At night the temperatures may fall below freezing which will cause any water trapped in the shales and gritstone to freeze and expand by 10%. This will cause some of the rock to break off through mechanical freeze-thaw weathering. They may fall into the river channel below and cause erosion of the river bed through abrasion.

For a river you have studied explain how human activity has impacted the landscape (6)

In the upper course of the River Wye in Plynlimon trees have been planted since WWII on the steeper slopes next to the river to return it to how it was before the trees were chopped down on those slopes. This is a physical change to the landscape from grass to trees which impacts the landscape by making it look more natural.

In Hereford to reduce the amount of flooding Letton Lake has been changed by humans to store more water by widening and deepening the ox bow lake. Although this is a human change to the landscape, during the wetter months of the year such as January and February when there is more flooding, it is less obvious than the replanting of trees because it looks like less of a change. However in the hotter months of the year such as July when the water has evaporated it is more obvious than the replanting of trees because it looks like more of a human feature.