Unit 1C: Physical Landscapes In The U.k Flashcards
(358 cards)
What are the main upland areas of the UK?
Scottish Highlands and northern Wales
These areas are formed of hard, igneous, and metamorphic rocks that resist erosion.
What are the UK’s main lowland areas primarily formed of?
Softer, sedimentary rocks (e.g., chalk and clays)
These rocks erode more easily and are where most cities are located.
Which city is situated on the flood plain of the River Clyde?
Glasgow
The city is located on the flat ground of the Clyde’s floodplain.
What is the highest mountain in the UK?
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is located in the Grampian Mountains.
What type of area is the Lake District?
An upland area with glacial features
It is very popular with tourists.
What is the geological composition of Snowdonia?
Glaciated upland area formed from rock from an extinct volcano
It contains steep mountains and glaciated valleys.
What type of rock primarily makes up the Holderness Coast?
Soft boulder clay
The cliffs are eroding quickly, allowing landforms such as the Spurn Head spit to form.
What are the Fens?
A marshy, flat, low-lying area
Much of the land has been drained for farming.
What types of rock are found in the Dorset Coast?
Bands of hard and soft rock
These lead to landforms such as stacks, arches, and spits.
What is mechanical weathering?
The breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition
An example is freeze-thaw weathering.
Describe freeze-thaw weathering.
Water enters rock cracks, freezes and expands, then thaws and contracts, widening the cracks
This process causes the rock to break up.
What is chemical weathering?
The breakdown of rock by changing its chemical composition
An example is carbonation weathering.
What conditions favor carbonation weathering?
Warm and wet conditions
Rainwater with dissolved carbon dioxide forms weak carbonic acid.
What is mass movement?
The shifting of rocks and loose material down a slope
It occurs when gravity’s force exceeds the supporting force.
What factors increase the likelihood of mass movement?
When the material is full of water
Water acts as a lubricant and increases the weight of the material.
What is a scarp?
A steep ‘cut’ in the side of a slope
It is created when material shifts during mass movement.
What are the three types of mass movement?
- Slides
- Slumps
- Rockfalls
Each type has different mechanisms of movement.
Fill in the blank: Mechanical weathering is the breakdown of rock without changing its _______.
chemical composition
True or False: The Lake District is primarily a lowland area.
False
The Lake District is an upland area.
What is coastal erosion?
Erosion is when rocks are broken down and carried away by something, e.g. seawater.
What role do waves play in coastal processes?
Waves play an important part in coastal erosion, transportation, and deposition.
What are the two types of waves based on their effects?
Destructive waves and Constructive waves.
What creates waves?
When wind blows over the surface of the sea.