Physical Landscapes- UK Paper 1

Question 1

Mass Movement Definition

Answer 1

The downhill movement of weathered material under the force of gravity. The speed can vary
considerably.

Question 2

Types of Mass Movement

Answer 2

• Rock Fall: Fragments of Rock break away from a cliff face, often resulting from freeze thaw weathering, and forming scree at the bottom.
• Landslide: Large blocks of rock slide downhill
• Mud Flow: Saturated soil flows down a slope
• Rotational Slip: Saturated soil slumps down a curved surface.

Question 3

Biological Weathering

Answer 3

As a plant grows in a crack, the roots push open the cracks and makes them wider.
Eventually, pieces of rock may fall away

Question 4

Chemical Weathering

Answer 4

Rain is naturally slightly acidic and rocks may react with the rainwater causing the rock to be weathered. Chemical Weathering can make caves form and cliffs fall away

Question 5

Physical (Mechanical) Weathering

Answer 5

Freeze thaw:
When water freezes it gets bigger. If water gets into a crack in a rock and then freezes, it gets bigger and pushes the crack further apart. This can continue until the crack becomes so big that a piece of rock falls off.

Question 6

What is drainage density?

Answer 6

The measure of the total length of all the streams and rivers in a given area divided by the area of that region

It indicates how well a landscape is drained.

Question 7

Define saturated ground.

Answer 7

Ground that is full of water and cannot hold any more

This condition occurs after heavy rainfall or flooding.

Question 8

What does it mean to infiltrate?

Answer 8

Water can soak into the ground

Question 9

What is impermeable rock?

Answer 9

Hard rock which does not let water through

Question 10

What is permeable rock?

Answer 10

Rock which has ‘spaces’ to allow water to go through

Question 11

Define urban.

Answer 11

A city area with roads, buildings, and concrete

Question 12

What is interception in hydrology?

Answer 12

Stopping water from reaching the ground, e.g., leaves on trees

Question 13

What is surface runoff?

Answer 13

Water travels over the ground straight to the river and does not soak into the ground

Question 14

What is the role of tree roots in water absorption?

Answer 14

Tree roots take in water from the soil

Question 15

What does discharge refer to in the context of rivers?

Answer 15

The amount of water in a river

Question 16

What is a river channel?

Answer 16

The area where the river flows

Question 17

Define relief in geography.

Answer 17

The height and shape of the land

Question 18

What effect does heavy rainfall have on the ground?

Answer 18

Heavy rainfall causes the ground to become saturated. No more water can infiltrate into the ground, so the water runs off the surface into the river and floods its floodplain.

Question 19

How do steep slopes contribute to flooding?

Answer 19

Steep slopes mean that water is forced downhill by gravity and doesn’t have time to infiltrate into the ground, leading to increased surface runoff.

Question 20

What role does urbanization play in flooding?

Answer 20

Urban areas have lots of impermeable surfaces (such as concrete), leading to less infiltration and more surface runoff. Drains and sewers also divert water quickly into river channels.

Question 21

How does deforestation cause flooding?

Answer 21

Deforestation removes trees that intercept water, which normally prevents all of it from reaching the ground.
Trees also use up water through their roots.
Both factors means that rainwater falls directly to the ground and can quickly be transferred to river channels leading to flooding.

Question 22

What is the impact of impermeable rock on flooding?

Answer 22

Impermeable rock does not allow infiltration because there are no gaps between the sediment, resulting in more surface runoff and greater flood risk.

Question 23

What happens when snow melts in mountainous areas?

Answer 23

When snow melts, it cannot infiltrate into the ground because the ground is frozen just a few inches below the snow, causing rapid runoff into the river channel.

Question 24

Fill in the blank: Urban areas have lots of ______ surfaces, leading to more surface runoff.

Answer 24

impermeable

Question 25

True or False: Deforestation increases infiltration into the soil.

Answer 25

False

Question 26

List the main factors that cause flooding.

Answer 26

* Heavy rainfall * Steep slopes * Urbanization * Deforestation * Geology (rock type) * Snow melt in mountainous areas

Question 27

Embankments Definition ## Footnote Rivers

Answer 27

Raised banks constructed along the river; they effectively make the river deeper so it can hold more water. They are expensive and do not look natural, but they do protect the land around them.

Question 28

Dam and Reservoir ## Footnote Rivers

Answer 28

A barrier (made on earth, concrete or stone) built across a valley to interrupt river flow and create a human-made lake (reservoir) which stores water and controls the discharge of the river. These have multiple uses such as: •Flood Prevention •Irrigation •Water Supply •Hydroelectric power generation •Recreation

Question 29

Hard Engineering ## Footnote River

Answer 29

Involves the building of entirely artificial structures using various materials such as rock, concrete and steel to reduce, disrupt or stop the impact of river processes.

Question 30

Soft Engineering ## Footnote Rivers

Answer 30

Involves the use of the natural environment surrounding a river, using schemes that work with the river's natural processes. Soft engineering is usually much cheaper and offers a more sustainable option as it does not interfere directly with the river’s flow.

Question 31

Benefits of Dams and Reservoirs ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 31

* Effective in regulation water flow, avoiding large discharge and flooding. It can be released when water is low * Is multi-purpose: flood prevention, hydro-electric power generation, irrigation, water suply and recreation.

Question 32

Costs of Dams and Reservoirs ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 32

* Very expensive. * Dams trap sediment which means the reservoir can hold less water. * Habitats are flooded often leading to rotting vegetation. This releases methane which is a greenhouse gas. * Land is flooded behind the dam, and settlements are destroyed leading to the displacement of people. In developing countries locals are not always consulted and have little say in where they are relocated.

Question 33

Embankments Benefits ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 33

* The high banks allows flood water to be contained within the river. * When covered with vegetaion they can look like natural levées.

Question 34

Costs of embankments ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 34

* May Reduce Biodiversity * Constructing destroys natural habitats * The water is focused increasing its speed increasing flood risk downstream * If levées fail, rapid flooding will occur. * Costly

Question 35

Channel Straightening Definition ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 35

Cutting through meanders to create a straight channel.

Question 36

Channel Straightening Benefits ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 36

* Speeds up flow of water along the river * Reduces flood risk in this area * When lined with concrete, the smooth surface speeds up water flow, preventing the collapse of river banks downstream (which can reduce the capacity of the river channel)

Question 37

Costs of Channel Straightening ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 37

* Increased water flow increases flood risk downstream (shifts problem not fixed). * Expensive * Increased flow also reduces the range of aquatic habitats, reducing biodiversity. * Visual Pollution

Question 38

Flood Relief Channels Definition ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 38

Building new artificial channels which are used when a river is close to maximum discharge. They take the pressure off the main channels when floods are likely, therefore reducing flood risk. They are constructed to bypass an urban area.

Question 39

Flood Relief Channels Advantages ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 39

* Sluice gates can open to allow excess water to flow into the flood relief channel, reducing discharge along main river. * Reduces flood risk to valuable property and land. * Support biodiverse aquatic ecosystems and provide leisure and recreation opportunities.

Question 40

Disadvantages of Flood Relief Channels ## Footnote Hard engineering

Answer 40

* Land-use change- If roads and footpaths have to be closed or re-directed it can affect local community access. * Farmers may lose land when the new channel is constructed.

Question 41

Flood Warning Defintion ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 41

Providing reliable advance information about possible flooding. Flood warning systems give people time to remove possessions and evacuate areas.

Question 42

Flood Warning Types ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 42

**Flood Watch**: flooding of low-lying land and roads is expected- people should be prepared and watch river levels **Flood Warning**: threat to homes and businesses. People should move items of value to upper floors and to turn off electricity and water. **Sever flood warnings**: extreme danger to life and property is expected. People should stay in an upper level of their home or leave the property.

Question 43

Flood Warning Benefits ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 43

* Gives people time to prepare for example moving valuable properties upstairs * Effective if public percieves them as accurate and appropriate to the risks involved. * People downstream has time to evacuate in the case of danger.

Question 44

Flood Warning Disadvantages ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 44

* Doesn't actually prevent the flooding * Areas mapped as 'at risk' can reduce property values and increase insurance premiums

Question 45

Afforestation Definition ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 45

Planting Trees

Question 46

Afforestation benefits ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 46

* Trees intercept rainfall, preventing the ground from becoming saturated, slowing transfer of water to the river channels. * Low cost * Looks Natural * Increases Biodiversity

Question 47

Afforestation Disadvantages ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 47

* Trees take up space so land cannot be used for anything else * Method doesn't prevent serious floods * Takes long for trees to grow

Question 48

River Restoration ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 48

When the course of a river has been artificially changed, natural processes help to return the river to its natural course

Question 49

River Restoration Benefits ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 49

* Uses natural processes and features e.g. meanders, river-bank vegetation and wetlands to slow down river flow. * Rduces likelihood of flooding downstream * Relatively Cheap * Long-term environmental benefits * New habitats increases biodiversity.

Question 50

River Restoration Disadvantages ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 50

* Increase flood risk in local areas * Reduce land available for use.

Question 51

Floodplain Zoning Definition ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 51

This attempts to organise the flood defences in such a way that land that is near the river and often floods is not built on. This could be used for pastoral farming, playing fields etc. The areas that rarely get flooded would therefore be used for houses, transport and industry.

Question 52

Floodplain Zoning Advantages ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 52

* Cost-effective at reducing vulnerability and exposure to flooding * High value land uses are not built in floodplains- parkland, pasture or playing fields

Question 53

Floodplain Zoning costs ## Footnote Soft Engineering

Answer 53

* Hard to apply to urban areas that have developed close to rivers. * This may blight certain areas causing land and property prices to fall.