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Geography GCSE > Distinctive Landscapes > Flashcards

Distinctive Landscapes Flashcards

(54 cards)

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1
Q

How does geology influence geomorphic processes along the River Tees?

A

Softer limestone which is porous near source - little surface water and when saturated, rivulets form
Limestone reacts with rainwater so chemical weathering
More resistant dolerite downstream by High Force waterfall

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2
Q

Falls

A

Quick collapse of cliff often due to weathering weakening rock strength
Must be over 40 degree slope angle
Forms scree at the bottom (pile of fallen material)

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3
Q

Freeze thaw

A

Mechanical weathering
Water enters cracks and freezes in sub 0 degrees conditions
Expands by 9% when turned into ice and widens crack
Repeated cycle causes more cracks
Only in places with temp fluctuating between below and above 0 degrees with non-porous rocks

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4
Q

Solution

A

Erosion - Some rocks can dissolve in water e.g. limestone

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5
Q

Creep

A

During heavy rainfall, weight of soil increases and it slowly slides down gentle slope

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6
Q

Carbonation

A

Chemical weathering
CO2 dissolved in rainwater forms carbonic acid
Acid reacts with limestone and dissolves the rock

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7
Q

Suspension

A

Very fine sediment is carried within water

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8
Q

How is a waterfall formed?

A

A difference in rock hardness results in a vertical drop which becomes more pronounced as there is more hydraulic action in the plunge pool
When rocks fall into the plunge pool, there is hydraulic action causing an undercut under the hard rock
Eventually mass movement as overhang falls down
Repeat resulting in waterfall retreating upstream
Leaves behind gorge - steep sided valley due to retreat of waterfall

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9
Q

Structure of igneous rocks (layers, hardness, crystals, porous, fossils, formation, example)

A

No layers
Hard
Yes
Non-porous
No fossils
Formed by hot molten rock crystalising and solidifiying
Granite - intrusive (cooled before reaching surface)
Basalt - extrusive (cooled after reaching surface)

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10
Q

5 main geomorphic processes

A

Mass movement
Deposition
Weathering
Erosion
Transportation

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11
Q

Heave

A

During cold periods water in soil freezes and soil expands
When ice melts soil slides down slope

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12
Q

How is a tombolo formed?

A

Longshore drift continues beyond headland and links mainland to an island

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13
Q

Hydraulic action

A

Air and water forced into cracks of cliffs or river banks
Weakens structural integrity as cracks widen

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14
Q

Longshore drift

A

Form of transportation
Prevailing wind must approach beach at an angle not head on - not too aggressive waves
Waves push sediment onto beach (swash) before moving down at a right angle to the beach carrying sediment back into ocean
Repeated and material gradually moves in direction of prevailing wind

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15
Q

Biological weathering

A

Mechanical weathering
Growing plant roots expand cracks in rocks
Burrowing animals excavate materials

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16
Q

How is a bar formed?

A

Spit but extends to other side of indent/river mouth and joins up
Unlikely to form bar at river mouth due to water energy preventing deposition

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17
Q

Flood plain definition

A

Relatively flat land from either side of a river to valley walls vulnerable to floods

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18
Q

How is a spit formed?

A

Longshore drift continues beyond headland at either indented coastline or river mouth
Bioconstruction holds sediment in place and makes feature permanent
Sediment is deposited behind spit creating salt marsh and eventually dries up forming land
Spit can curve at end if wind from another direction

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19
Q

How are interlocking spurs formed?

A

Finger-like projections of v-shaped valleys due to river eroding path with softest rock

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20
Q

Structure of metamorphic rocks (layers, hardness, crystals, porous, fossils, formation, example)

A

No layers
Hard
No
Non-porous
No fossils
Formed by sedimentary rocks being metamorphised by extreme heat and pressure under Earth’s surface
Marble (metamorphised limestone)

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21
Q

How are wave cut platforms formed?

A

Hydraulic action and wave pounding erodes bottom of cliff face creating wave cut notch tucked under cliff
As wave cut notch grows larger and water has more sediment from eroded cliff, cliff will collapse via mass movement
Weathering processes weakening rocks higher on cliff make cliffs more vulnerable to collapse
Repeated with even more sediment to erode a new notch
Platform is the remains of original cliff as the rest repeats - exposed during low tide

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22
Q

Attrition

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A

Rocks and pebbles wear away, smoothen and get smaller as they collide with one another

23
Q

How are meanders formed?

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A

Rock in syemmetrical channel pushes water to side
Fastest flow of water is on the outside of the bend
Slowest flow of water is on inside of the bend
Erosion on outside pronouncing bend
Deposition on inside creating slip-off slope

24
Q

How was Durdle Door formed?

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A

Arch formed on hard limestone headland
Formed via process of crack to cave to arch
In future will form stack then stump

25
Saltation
Small particles bounce along sea or river bed
26
What landforms are found in middle course of a river?
Meanders Ox-bow lakes
27
Definition of erosion
Wearing down or removal of material from a landscape via a moving force
28
How are v-shaped valleys formed?
Downwards erosion only as river does not have enough energy to erode sides Valley sides broken down and rocks fall into river channel causing more abrasion Valley sides steepen as river erodes deeper
29
Rotational slump
Same as a slide but it loses its structural integrity Rotates over and and loose material tumbles down slope
30
Traction
Large stones rolled along sea or river bed
31
Solution
Rocks dissolved by corrosion is carried within water
32
Abrasion
Rocks and pebbles held within water scour cliffs or river banks
33
Definition of weathering
Breaking down of rocks in situ (stationary rocks) to form regolith (broken down rock)
34
How was Swanage Bay formed?
Discordant coastline - soft clay in bays and harder limestone and chalk on headlands mixed in with vegetation stabilising them Parts of cliff without vegetation, during wet weather, slump after weathering weakening them (carbonation and freeze thaw), providing sea with sediment to deposit in bay via longshore drift
35
How are ox-bow lakes formed?
As meanders become more pronounced, the bends move closer together until eventually they erode through the land, connect, and form a single channel of fast flowing water The previous meander fills with sediment deposited from very slow moving water cutting off the meander - forms ox-bow lake Due to evaporation and bioconstruction, it will dry out - ox-bow scar
36
Salt crystal growth
Mechanical weathering Saline solution seeps into cracks and evaporates leaving salt crystals behind Crystals expand as heated up creating wider cracks Must be porous rock and usually in coastal regions
37
How was Chesil Beach formed?
Tombolo connecting Isle of Portland to mainland Created by longshore drift extending beyond end of mainland until reaching Isle of Portland
38
Structure of sedimentary rocks (layers, hardness, crystals, porous, fossils, formation, example)
Has layers Soft No crystals Porous Can contain fossils Formed from deposition of sediment grains Limestone
39
Wave pounding
Only on coasts when impact of waves generates shock waves
40
What landforms are found in upper course of a river?
V-shaped valleys Interlocking spurs
41
How does climate influence geomorphic processes near the source of River Tees?
2000 millimetres of rainfall a year - wetter parts of year increase river levels and more erosion and flooding downstream Cold enough and fluctuates enough for freeze-thaw weathering on steep valley sides - eroded rock falls into river and more abrasion
42
Definition of mass movement
Downwards movement of rocks due to gravity
43
How are levees formed?
Raised bank of river deposits flanking the river Floodplains flood due to slow moving river and flat land Material is deposited due to low energy of water and sorted - finer material ends up nearer valley walls but larger material is deposited on river banks raising their height, creating a levee
44
How are headland and bays formed?
Discordant coastline and softer rock erodes faster crating bays Wave refraction focuses wave energy onto headlands so eventually coastline straightens out again and repeat Beaches formed in bays due to low energy waves depositing sediment
45
What are the 3 processes that create river landforms?
Erosion, transportation, deposition
46
Stages of formation of caves, arches, stacks and stumps
Wave pounding + hydraulic action + abrasion create cracks Crack widens creating cave Crack breaks through headland forming arch Weathered rocks above arch undergo mass movement - stack Stack eroded, weathered, shrinks - stump
47
Example of waterfall/gorge on River Tees
High Force waterfall
48
Wetting and drying
Mechanical weathering Rain enters cracks in rocks which expand as they absorb the water As rock dries it contracts Repeated cycle results in more cracks and disintegration Mostly in coastal areas with permeable rocks
49
What coastal landforms are created on concordant coastlines?
Coves - soft rock behind hard rock erodes after breach in hard rock Steep cliffs Wave cut platforms
50
What landforms are found in lower course of a river?
Levees Floodplains
51
Example of meander location?
Yarm (in neck of meander) and Barnard Castle
52
How were Old Harry's rocks formed?
At end of chalk of headland on Isle of Purbeck is collapsed arch forming stack and a stump further out Chemical weathering (chalk gradually dissolved) Hydraulic action - wave energy focuses on headlands Biological weathering as vegetation grows weakens rock
53
Describe landscape across the UK and what causes upland and lowland areas?
Glaciers in North leaving glacial landforms behind. Upland in North with harder, metamorphic or igneous (less common) rocks Lowlands in South with softer sedimentary rocks e.g. clay
54
Slides
Material moves as one chunk Impermeable rock underneath and permeable rock above - water seeps through permeable rock and sits on impermeable rock acting as a lubricant (reducing friction)

Geography GCSE (9 decks)

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