Topic 1 Landscapes of the UK OCR

• What is the elevation of upland areas in the UK?

  Over 200 metres
• Where are upland areas generally located in the UK?

  In the north and west of the UK
• Name one upland area in Scotland.

  Northwest Highlands
• What type of areas are generally found in the south and east of England?

  Lowland areas
• What characterizes glaciated areas in the UK?

  Areas under an ice sheet during the last ice age
• What geological materials are upland areas often made of?

  Hard rock like granite and basalt
• How does the geology of lowland areas differ from upland areas?

  Lowland areas have softer geological materials
• What type of rock is commonly found in the Pennines?

  Sandstone and Limestone
• Why are upland areas wetter than lowland areas?

  Due to relief rainfall caused by hills
• What happens to temperature as you climb in upland areas?

  It decreases by 1 degree per 100m
• What is freeze-thaw weathering?

  Water freezes in rock cracks, causing breakdown
• What type of soils are found in upland areas?

  Thin and acidic soils
• Why are lowland areas suitable for agriculture?

  They have deep, fertile soils
• What is a peat bog?

  Wet spongy soil unsuitable for crops
• What is the role of reservoirs in upland areas?

  They store water from rainfall and streams
• What are the characteristics of upland, lowland, and glaciated landscapes?

  • Upland: Hard rock, wetter climate, thin soils
  • Lowland: Soft rock, drier climate, fertile soils
  • Glaciated: Evidence of past ice sheets, U-shaped valleys
• What is mechanical weathering?

  Weakening of rocks by physical actions
• How does freeze-thaw weathering occur?

  Water freezes and thaws in rock cracks
• What is chemical weathering?

  Weakening of rocks by chemical reactions
• What is biological weathering?

  Weakening of rocks by living organisms
• What is mass movement?

  Downward movement of material due to gravity
• What causes slumping?

  Water creates a slippery layer in soil
• What is erosion?

  Wearing away of material by a moving force
• What is attrition in erosion?

  Rocks crash against each other, becoming smaller
• What is hydraulic action?

  Water forces its way into rock cracks
• What is traction in transportation?

  Large boulders are rolled along the river bed
• What is deposition?

  Material is dropped due to decreased energy
• Where is the source of the River Tees?

  North Pennines, near Cross Fell
• What characterizes the upper course of the River Tees?

  Steep land with V-shaped valleys
• How are V-shaped valleys formed?

  Through vertical erosion and weathering
• What creates a waterfall in the River Tees?

  Hard rock over soft rock creates a step
• What happens to the overhang of a waterfall?

  It collapses due to undercutting
• Where are meanders found in the River Tees?

  Around the town of Yarm
• How do meanders migrate over time?

  By lateral erosion on the outside bends
• What is an oxbow lake?

  A lake formed when meander bends join
• How is an oxbow lake formed?

  Through lateral erosion and deposition during floods
• What are the processes of erosion and their definitions?

  • Attrition: Rocks collide and become smaller
  • Abrasion: Rocks crash against surfaces, smoothing them
  • Solution: Rocks dissolve in water
  • Hydraulic Action: Water pressure widens cracks in rocks
• What is the role of levees in floodplains?

  They are raised banks formed by deposition
• How are levees formed?

  By deposition of heavier materials during floods
• What is the impact of channelization on the River Tees?

  It reduces erosion and changes river flow