Section B : Physical landscapes in the UK

Question 1

What are the main components of the UK’s physical landscape?

Answer 1

The UK’s physical landscape consists of upland and lowland areas and river systems.

Question 2

Where are upland areas found in the UK?

Answer 2

Upland areas are found in northern and western UK.

Question 3

What characterizes upland areas in the UK?

Answer 3

Upland areas are characterized by steep relief, harder rock formations, and colder climates.

Question 4

What are examples of upland areas in the UK?

Answer 4

Examples include the Scottish Highlands, Lake District, and Snowdonia.

Question 5

Where are lowland areas located in the UK?

Answer 5

Lowland areas are located in the south and east.

Question 6

What characterizes lowland areas in the UK?

Answer 6

Lowland areas feature gentle relief, softer rocks, and a warmer climate.

Question 7

What are examples of lowland areas in the UK?

Answer 7

Examples include The Fens and The Weald.

Question 8

What are the major river systems in the UK?

Answer 8

Major river systems include the Thames, Severn, Trent, Ouse, and Mersey.

Question 9

What are constructive waves?

Answer 9

Constructive waves have a strong swash and weak backwash, depositing material and forming wide beaches.

Question 10

What are destructive waves?

Answer 10

Destructive waves have a weak swash and strong backwash, eroding the coastline and forming steep cliffs.

Question 11

What is mechanical weathering?

Answer 11

Mechanical weathering, such as freeze-thaw, occurs when water enters cracks, freezes, expands, and weakens rock.

Question 12

What is chemical weathering?

Answer 12

Chemical weathering, like carbonation, occurs when rainwater reacts with calcium carbonate in limestone, causing dissolution.

Question 13

What is sliding in mass movement?

Answer 13

Sliding is the rapid downslope movement of rock or debris.

Question 14

What is slumping in mass movement?

Answer 14

Slumping is the rotational movement of saturated soil over weaker material.

Question 15

What are rock falls?

Answer 15

Rock falls are the sudden collapse of loose rock, common in chalk and limestone cliffs.

Question 16

What is hydraulic action in erosion?

Answer 16

Hydraulic action is when waves force air into cracks, breaking rock apart.

Question 17

What is abrasion in erosion?

Answer 17

Abrasion is when sediment scrapes away the cliff face.

Question 18

What is attrition in erosion?

Answer 18

Attrition is when rocks collide and become smoother.

Question 19

What is longshore drift?

Answer 19

Longshore drift is the process by which waves move sediment along the coast.

Question 20

What is traction in transportation?

Answer 20

Traction is when large rocks are rolled along the seabed.

Question 21

What is saltation in transportation?

Answer 21

Saltation is when smaller pebbles bounce along the seabed.

Question 22

What is suspension in transportation?

Answer 22

Suspension is when tiny particles float in water.

Question 23

What occurs during deposition?

Answer 23

Deposition occurs when waves lose energy, depositing sand or shingle to form beaches, spits, or dunes.

Question 24

What are headlands and bays?

Answer 24

Headlands are hard rock that resists erosion, while bays are soft rock that erodes faster.

Question 25

What are cliffs and wave-cut platforms?

Answer 25

Cliffs are formed when wave erosion undercuts rock, leading to collapse.

Question 26

What are caves, arches, and stacks?

Answer 26

Caves form from erosion, develop into arches, and eventually collapse into stacks.

Question 27

What are beaches?

Answer 27

Beaches are formed by constructive waves depositing sand and pebbles.

Question 28

What are sand dunes?

Answer 28

Sand dunes are formed by wind-blown sand and stabilized by marram grass.

Question 29

What are spits?

Answer 29

Spits are formed when longshore drift extends a stretch of land into the sea.

Question 30

What are bars?

Answer 30

Bars are formed when deposition seals off a bay, creating a lagoon.

Question 31

What are sea walls?

Answer 31

Sea walls are concrete barriers that absorb wave energy to prevent erosion.

Question 32

What is rock armour?

Answer 32

Rock armour consists of large boulders that break wave energy.

Question 33

What are gabions?

Answer 33

Gabions are wire cages filled with rocks that absorb wave force.

Question 34

What are groynes?

Answer 34

Groynes are wooden structures that trap sediment to prevent longshore drift.

Question 35

What is beach nourishment?

Answer 35

Beach nourishment involves adding sand to replenish eroded beaches.

Question 36

What is dune regeneration?

Answer 36

Dune regeneration involves planting grass to stabilize dunes.

Question 37

What is managed retreat?

Answer 37

Managed retreat allows natural erosion while relocating settlements.

Question 38

Why is the Holderness Coast significant?

Answer 38

The Holderness Coast is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe, eroding at 1.8m/year.

Question 39

What strategies are used for coastal management at Holderness Coast?

Answer 39

Strategies include sea walls, rock groynes, and beach nourishment.

Question 40

What are the effects of coastal management in Holderness?

Answer 40

Coastal management has reduced erosion in managed areas but increased erosion elsewhere.

Question 41

What are the main fluvial processes?

Answer 41

The main fluvial processes include erosion, transportation, and deposition.

Question 42

What is hydraulic action in fluvial erosion?

Answer 42

Hydraulic action is when water pressure forces air into cracks, breaking rock.

Question 43

What is abrasion in fluvial erosion?

Answer 43

Abrasion is when sediment scrapes the riverbed and banks.

Question 44

What is attrition in fluvial erosion?

Answer 44

Attrition is when rocks collide, becoming smaller and rounded.

Question 45

What is solution in fluvial erosion?

Answer 45

Solution is the dissolving of minerals, common in limestone rivers.

Question 46

What is traction in fluvial transportation?

Answer 46

Traction is when large boulders are rolled along the riverbed.

Question 47

What is saltation in fluvial transportation?

Answer 47

Saltation is when small pebbles bounce in water.

Question 48

What is suspension in fluvial transportation?

Answer 48

Suspension is when fine particles are carried in the flow.

Question 49

What is solution in fluvial transportation?

Answer 49

Solution is when dissolved minerals are transported invisibly.

Question 50

What happens during deposition in rivers?

Answer 50

Deposition occurs when the velocity of the river decreases, dropping sediments.

Question 51

What are interlocking spurs?

Answer 51

Interlocking spurs are V-shaped valleys where the river winds between resistant rock.

Question 52

What are waterfalls and gorges?

Answer 52

Waterfalls form where hard rock resists erosion, with soft rock beneath eroding. Example: High Force, River Tees.

Question 53

What are meanders?

Answer 53

Meanders are curved bends in a river formed by lateral erosion.

Question 54

What are ox-bow lakes?

Answer 54

Ox-bow lakes are formed when a meander is cut off by erosion and deposition.

Question 55

What are levées?

Answer 55

Levées are raised banks formed by flood sediment accumulation.

Question 56

What are floodplains?

Answer 56

Floodplains are low-lying areas prone to flooding.

Question 57

What are estuaries?

Answer 57

Estuaries are where the river meets the sea, depositing silt and mudflats.

Question 58

What are natural flood risk factors?

Answer 58

Natural flood risk factors include heavy precipitation, steep slopes, and impermeable geology.

Question 59

What are human flood risk factors?

Answer 59

Human flood risk factors include urbanization, deforestation, and agriculture.

Question 60

What are hard engineering flood management strategies?

Answer 60

Hard engineering strategies include dams, straightening rivers, and embankments.

Question 61

What are soft engineering flood management strategies?

Answer 61

Soft engineering strategies include flood warnings, zoning, and afforestation.

Question 62

Why is the River Thames Barrier needed?

Answer 62

The River Thames Barrier protects London from tidal surges.

Question 63

What management strategies are used at the River Thames Barrier?

Answer 63

Management includes movable flood barriers and 10 gates controlling flow.

Question 64

What are the issues with the River Thames Barrier?

Answer 64

Issues include high costs (£1.6 billion) and required maintenance.