Distinctive Landscapes - Key Words

• Geology


  The study of rocks
• Upland


  Includes mountains and found mainly in the north and west of the UK, particularly Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Lowland


  Includes flat and rolling land and is found mainly in Southern England
• Includes flat and rolling land and is found mainly in Southern England


  When rocks are slowly worn down in situ
• Physical Weathering


  The breakdown of rock caused by changes in temperature especially in upland areas e.g. freeze thaw weathering
• Chemical Weathering


  The breakdown of material caused by the action of rainwater in rock
• Biological Weathering


  Breaking up of rock caused by plants and animals
• Erosion


  Wears away the land and removes broken fragments of rock
• Transportation


  Carries away the eroded material
• Deposition


  Leaves transported material behind, building up new land
• Hydraulic Action


  Water hits cliffs or river banks forcing air into cracks and breaking up the rock
• Attrition


  Pebbles picked up by the water, bash into each other, wearing down into smaller, rounder particles
• Pebbles picked up by the water, bash into each other, wearing down into smaller, rounder particles


  Rocks e.g. limestone slowly dissolve in water
• Abrasion


  Water picks up rocks from the sea or river bed and smash them into cliffs or the river bank, wearing them away
• Traction


  When boulders or large stones are dragged and rolled along the river/sea bed
• Saltation


  Pebbles and small stones are picked up and dropped by the water moving them along the bed of the sea/river
• Suspension


  Tiny particles of sand and silt are carried in suspension by the water
• Solution (transportation)


  Some particles dissolve and are carried in solution by the water, invisible to the eye