UK landscapes

Question 1

What is the distribution of rock types in the UK?

Answer 1

1. Tees-Exe line splits the UK into upland and lowland landscapes

Question 2

What are upland landscapes?

Answer 2

Landscapes made from more resistant rock e.g. granite/basalt

Question 3

What are lowland landscapes?

Answer 3

Landscapes made from less resistant rock e.g. chalk/limestone

Question 4

How were the UK upland landscapes formed?

Answer 4

520 million years ago converging plate boundaries forced the land upwards

Question 5

How were the UK lowland landscapes formed?

Answer 5

50-60 million years ago when diverging plate boundaries caused the ocean to open

Question 6

Give an example of an upland landscape.

Answer 6

Cairngorms (Scotland) and Snowdonia (North Wales)

Question 7

What are the characteristics of metamorphic rocks? (3)

Answer 7

1. formed in layers of crystals
2. more resistant
3. impermeable

Question 8

What are the characteristics of sedimentary rocks? (4)

Answer 8

1. permeable
2. less resistant
3. contains fossils
4. formed in layers

Question 9

What are the characteristics of igneous rocks?

Answer 9

1. made of crystals
2. more resistant
3. impermeable

Question 10

How are igneous rocks formed?

Answer 10

from the cooling and solidification of magma from volcanic activity

Question 11

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

Answer 11

small particles are deposited in layers and are compressed to form a new rock

Question 12

How are metamorphic rocks formed?

Answer 12

formed when sedimentary rocks are eventually pushed so far towards the earth’s crust that they undergo heat and pressure to form a new metamorphic rock

Question 13

Give an example of an igneous rock.

Answer 13

Granite/basalt

Question 14

Give an example of a sedimentary rock.

Answer 14

Chalk/limestone

Question 15

Give an example of a metamorphic rock.

Answer 15

Marble/slate

Question 16

What are the positives of farming on the South Downs National Park? (2)

Answer 16

1. generates income - supporting local community

2. hedgerows provide habitats for skylarks and wildlife corridors for bats

Question 17

What are the negative impacts of farming on the South Downs National Park? (2)

Answer 17

1. reduction in chalk grassland from chemicals in fertilisers
2. fewer sheep leads to shrub encroachment
3. arable plants reduced due to some practices (leads to habitat loss)

Question 18

What are the advantages of forestry on the South Downs? (2)

Answer 18

1. harvested timber provides income and fuel

2. creates space for development

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of forestry on the South Downs?

Answer 19

1. removal of woodland for developments threatens ancient woodland and biodiversity e.g. lime/hazel trees

Question 20

How have settlements on the South Downs been impacted by population growth?

Answer 20

• wooden signs replaced by metal
• loss of community facilities e.g. post office, pubs
• loss of local distinctiveness as recent developments aren’t sticking to traditional styles

Question 21

Which human activities have altered the landscape at the South Downs National Park?

Answer 21

1. Settlements
2. Forestry
3. Agriculture

Question 22

What are the characteristics of settlements in the South Downs?

Answer 22

• spring-line and built along the south slopes (providing shelter)
• most populated national park with 120,000
• market towns e.g. Petersfield located here

Question 23

What are the characteristics of forestry in the South Downs?

Answer 23

• deciduous and coniferous woodland covers 24% of the park

- more heavily wooded in the west

Question 24

What are the characteristics of agriculture in the South Downs?

Answer 24

• 1,100 farms - 85% of the land
• underlying geology in the North is chalk so soil is rich and well drained - grass is short ideal for grazing sheep and horse racing
• the South has deeper soils suitable for arable farming and clay grassland with longer grass for cows

Question 25

How has geology and tectonic processes formed the North and South Downs?

Answer 25

1. 75 million years ago the UK was covered in tropical seas (cretaceous period) - lots of marine deposits formed on the seabed at this time
2. 30 million years ago large earth movement caused this seabed to fold upwards - creating a large chalk-covered dome
3. overtime water eroded this dome - revealing older sandstones and clays which eroded at different rates to create escarpments; dip slopes and scarp slopes

Question 26

What distinctive landscapes are found at Dartmoor?

Answer 26

tors

Question 27

Give an example of a tor

Answer 27

bowman’s nose, dartmoor, devon

Question 28

How have tectonic processes and physical processes formed distinctive landscapes at Dartmoor (tors)?

Answer 28

1. 290 million years ago a massive dome of magma (batholith) developed underground
2. the batholith cooled and contracted to form granite with cooling joints
3. chemical weathering widened the cooling joints in the granite
4. physical weathering caused the joints to expand and crumble apart
5. more granite became exposed to the air and processes like wind removed the broken rock until only the largest blocks remained

Question 29

How have physical processes worked together to form distinctive landscapes in the Yorkshire Dales?

Answer 29

1. the structure of the carboniferous limestone is made up of blocks divided by horizontal and vertical joints
2. rainwater passes through the joints - solution widens and deepens the cracks (called grykes)
3. the blocks of limestone (clints) become exposed and create a pavement
   e. g. at Malham Cove

Question 30

Where is an example of a limestone pavement?

Answer 30

Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales