Chapter 6

Question 1

Weathering

Answer 1

Is the breakdown of rock, usually done by the forces of weather.

Question 2

Erosion

Answer 2

Is the wearing down of rock, the transportation and its deposition.

Question 3

Mechanical weathering

Answer 3

Occurs when rocks are broken apart by physical force applied by frost and plants. It does not involve chemical change in the rock.

Question 4

Freeze-thaw action

Answer 4

Occurs in cold climates. It must have rainfall. The temperature rises and falls below 0°, the water fills the cracks in the rock during daytime, at night it freezes and expands the crack in the rock, it melts again during the day and this puts pressure on the rock which causes it to break off into sharp pieces called scree. An example is the great sugar loaf, Wicklow.

Question 5

Exfoliation

Answer 5

Occurs in hot climates, for example deserts as there is a big temperature difference between night and day. It is also known as onion weather as the outer layer comes off. The rock is heated during the day and expands, it contracts during the cold night and this puts pressure on the rock which causes it to break off.

Question 6

Karst landscape

Answer 6

Has features such as clints, grikes, swallow holes, stalactites, stalagmites and pillars. An example is the aillwee cave, Clare.

Question 7

Clints, grikes and limestone pavement

Answer 7

Are the clints which are the blocks of limestone which form the limestone pavement, the grikes are the gaps in between the clints as a result of carbonation.

Question 8

Swallow holes

Answer 8

Are opening through which the rivers go underground as a result of carbonation.

Question 9

Stalactites

Answer 9

Are formed when water containing limestone drips from the ceiling and the water evaporates, leaving the limestone.

Question 10

Stalagmites

Answer 10

Are formed when water containing limestone drips to the floor and the water evaporates leaving the limestone.

Question 11

The Burren

Answer 11

Is in Clare and is known for its unusual landscape, flora and historic monuments. It attracts many tourists.

Question 12

The Mullaghmore centre conflict

Answer 12

Happened when there was a proposal to build a visitor centre with a restaurant and carpark in Mullaghmore, in the middle. There was support and opposition, but it wasn’t built.

Question 13

The centre should be build

Answer 13

Because there would be jobs to work there. More money for the locality as people would buy local monuments or crafts. The centre would make it more interesting. It would be in an unused quarry.

Question 14

The centre shouldn’t be built

Answer 14

Because visitors would damage the flora and limestone when they walk over it. Pollution from traffic would damage the flora and roads would destroy the landscape. The Poulnabrone dolmen could be damaged. They could have it in the town.

Question 15

Denudation

Answer 15

Is the wearing down of the surface of the earth. It is usually caused by weathering and erosion.