Physical Landscapes in the UK Flashcards
(14 cards)
The shape of river valleys changes as rivers flow downstream.
Fluvial processes:
erosion – hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, solution,
transportation – traction, saltation, suspension and solution
deposition – why rivers deposit sediment.
landforms result from different physical processes.
landforms resulting from:
-erosion – interlocking spurs, waterfalls and gorges.
- erosion and deposition – meanders and ox-bow lakes.
-deposition – levées, flood plains and estuaries.
e.g. River Tees (river valley)
management strategies can be used to protect river landscapes from the effects of flooding.
hard engineering – dams and reservoirs, straightening, embankments, flood relief channels
soft engineering – flood warnings and preparation, flood plain zoning, planting trees and river restoration e.g. jubilee river scheme
Glacial processes
erosion – corries, arêtes, pyramidal peaks, truncated spurs, glacial troughs, ribbon lakes and hanging valleys.
transportation and deposition – erratics, drumlins, types of moraine.
Tourism
Attractions for Tourists:
Scenic glacial landscapes – U-shaped valleys (e.g. Borrowdale), lakes (e.g. Windermere)
Outdoor activities – Walking, hiking, climbing, boating.
Wildlife and nature – National Park status attracts nature lovers.
Social impacts
Congestion in towns and on narrow roads.
Rising house prices due to second homes.
Pressure on local services in peak season.
Economic
Jobs and income from tourism-related businesses.
Seasonal employment, often low-paid.
Environmental
Erosion of footpaths
Litter and pollution in lakes.
Traffic congestion increases carbon emissions.
Management Strategies
Fix the Fells – Maintains and repairs eroded footpaths.
Park-and-ride schemes – Reduce traffic (e.g. in Ambleside).
Zoning and visitor centres – Guide tourists to less sensitive areas.
Education campaigns – Promote responsible tourism.
Formation of a Corrie
Armchair-shaped hollow with a steep back wall.
Formed by glacial erosion and freeze-thaw weathering.
Snow accumulates, turns to ice, and plucks rock from the back wall.
formation of arete
Narrow, knife-edge ridge between two corries.
Formed when two corries erode back-to-back.
formation of Glacial Trough (U-shaped Valley)
Steep sides, flat bottom.
Carved by a glacier moving through a V-shaped river valley.
formation of hanging valley
Smaller valley left ‘hanging’ above the main U-shaped valley.
Often forms waterfalls, river flows through.
Caused by smaller glaciers eroding less deeply.
formation of a glacier
more snow falls than melts. Over time, layers of snow compress into firn and then into solid ice. When thick enough, the ice moves downhill due to gravity
