uk in the 21st century Flashcards
(90 cards)
Define population density
- Population density is the number of people per unit area
e.g. per km2
Where is population density the highest? Give examples
- Population density is highest in cities
e.g. London, Glasgow, Birmingham
e.g. London: 5500 people per km2
Apart from cities, where else is population density high? Give examples
- Population density is also high in areas around major cities or where there are clusters of cities
e.g. the south-east, Midlands and central Scotland
Where is population density lower? Give examples
- Mountainous regions have low population densities
e.g. North Scotland & Central Wales - Other areas of low population density are North England and West Wales.
e.g. Eden in Cumbria: population density of about 24 people per km2
What problems can a high population density cause?
- There may be a shortage of available housing
e.g. London - up to 60,000 new hoes are needed every year to keep up with population growth - Shortage can drive up the price of houses, so some people can’t afford to live there
- There may be pressure on services such as health care and schools - there can be long waiting lists to see doctors, and children may have to attend a school a long way from home
Explain relief rainfall
- Winds from the southwest bring warm and moist air from the Atlantic Ocean
- The air is forced to rise up and over the mountains
- This leads to cooling, condensation and the formation of rain clouds
- This explains why the mountains receive the highest rainfall totals
- When the air transfers to the east, it is much drier, accounting for the lower rainfall totals in the rain shadow
Where in the UK is the rainfall generally high? Give an example
- The north and west of the UK generally have high rainfall
e.g. Aultbea in northwest Scotland: average annual rainfall of 1470mm
Where in the UK is the rainfall generally low? Give an example
- The south and east of the UK generally have lower rainfall
e.g. London: annual average rainfall of 560mm
Where does rainfall tend to be higher?
- Rainfall tends to be higher in costal areas than inland
- Rainfall is also higher in areas of higher elevation - mountainous areas get more rainfall than low-lying areas
Why is having low rainfall in an area of high population density bad?
- Areas with a high population density use a lot of resources e.g. water
- If the area also has low rainfall, this can cause water stress - there isn’t enough water to meet people’ need.
- London experience severe water stress
Define water stress
- When there is a limited supply of water but a large and growing demand for it
Why is water supply in the UK an issue?
- Most rain falls in the west and north, whereas the greatest demand for water - for domestic use, industry and agriculture is in the south and east
How can we solve the UK’s water stress issues?
- Transfer water from the wetter west to the drier east - could involves rivers, canals, or pipelines
- Construct new reservoirs in the east to capture and store water - would be very expensive
- Focus on water conservation by reducing leaks from pipes and encouraging people to use less water
List some factors affecting population density
- Flat land suitable for building
- Fertile land suitable for farming
- Plentiful supplies of water
- Cities providing opportunities for work
- Moderate climate
- Extreme, hostile climate
- Presence of raw materials for industrial development
- Steep and mountainous landscape
- Thin sols not well suited to farming
- Remote with poor communications
- Lack of natural resources
- Extensive forest and woodlands
Define land use and give examples
- Land use is how land is used, e.g. housing or farming
What is a satellite image?
- An image of the whole or part of the Earth taken from space using satellites
What is digital cartography?
- Where a collection of data is complied into a virtual image
e.g. a digital map with details of roads such as Google maps
What percentage of the UK is agricultural land?
- About 70% of the UK is agricultural land
How is land used in the higher land and the mountains of the UK?
- Tend to have rough pasture or heather moorland
- Harsh climate and poor soils limit the growth of commercial crops
- Sheep grazing is the main form of farming
e.g. Scotland
How is land used in the east and south of the UK?
- Climate is warm, sunny, and relatively dry
- Arable farmland dominates
- Farms specialise in growing cereals such as wheat and barely, vegetables, and root crops
- Horticulture (fruit, salad vegetables, and flowers) also takes place on rich soils
How is land used in the west of the UK?
- Grassland dominates
- Climate is wet and mild - ideal for grass which forms rich pastures for dairying, beef cattle and sheep
How is land used in the northern parts of England, Wales and Scotland in the UK??
- Coniferous woodlands (often large plantations used for timber production) occupy tracts of Northern England, Wales and Scotland.
- Are often on poor acidic soils in relatively mountainous remote areas
In the UK, where is arable farming more common? and where is grazing animals more common?
- Arable farming is more common in the south and east of the country
- Grazing animals is more common in the north and west
What percentage of the UK is built on? and where are most of those buildings concentrated?
- Less than 10% of the UK is built on
- Buildings are concentrated in large urban areas, especially in south-east England, the Midlands and central Scotland.