Geography

• Latitude


  The South of the UK is warmer than the North because the South is closer to the Equator. At the Equator the sun is directly overhead and concentrates its heat into a small area. At the Poles, the sun is at a low angle in the sky. The curvature of the Earth at the poles means the sun's energy is spread over a larger area.
• Distance from the sea

  The sea takes longer to heat up in summer than the land, because it is liquid. Once warmed however, the sea retains its heat and cools down more slowly than the land in winter. This is why places by the sea are cooler in the summer but milder in winter.
• Ocean currents


  The North Atlantic Drift is a warm current which originates in the Gulf of Mexico it keeps the West coast of Britain warmer in winter than other places in similar latitudes.
• Altitude


  Temperatures decrease by 1c for every 100metres in height. The air is thinner and cannot hold as much heat. Many parts of the Scottish Highlands are over 1000metres they will be at least 10c cooler than places at lower level. The wind chill makes it even colder and enables snow to lie for longer in winter.
• Aspect


  In the northern hemisphere south facing slopes are warm as they face the sun. North facing slopes are shaded and are therefore cooler.
• Air mass


  A large body of air which has similar temperature, humidity and pressure. When they travel over the UK they bring weather characteristics with them.
• Air masses that affect the UK

  • Tropical Continental
  • Tropical Maritime
  • Polar Maritime
  • Polar Continental
  • Arctic Maritime
• Tropical Continental air mass in summer

  • Problems: hot dry weather can cause droughts, reservoirs run low. Gardeners have problems looking after plants, grass due to hosepipe bans. Farmers lose crops or it costs them more for irrigation. People end up at hospital with heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
  • Benefits: hot, dry sunny weather can increase tourism-campsites make more profit, good for sport/outdoor events-music festivals, ice cream sales increase.
• Arctic Maritime air mass in winter

  • Problems: The snow leads to businesses losing money because deliveries are held up and workers cannot get there. The snow leads to traffic problems with trains, buses and airports close. Schools may have to close and emergency vehicles are held up. Snow causes accidents and puts pressure on hospitals.
  • Benefits: Scotland's ski centres snow-increase in business, profits. Energy companies make more profit because people use more heating. Winter clothing shops make money.
• High pressure system (Anticyclone)

  • Isobars are widely spaced -gentle winds, calm conditions.
  • Wind blow clockwise and along isobars
  • Pressure above 1004mb, pressure increases towards the centre
  • No fronts
  • Dry conditions skies are clear with very little cloud, dry sinking air
  • Temperature in summer-hot, heat wave conditions. In winter - cold, high chance of frost and mist, fog.

  
• Similarities between high pressure in summer and winter

  • Wind speeds are light or calm –isobars are far apart. Winds circulate in a clockwise direction
  • Sunny and clear skies-few clouds
  • Dry because air is sinking /no weather fronts

  
• Differences between high pressure in summer and winter

  • Anticyclones bring hot weather in summer but very cold weather in winter(no clouds to keep in the heat)
  • Winter frosts are common at night and freezing fog occurs in the morning
• Low pressure system (Depression)


  • Isobars(lines of equal pressure) are tightly packed indicating strong winds.
  • Pressure values are less than 1004mb and decrease towards the centre.
  • Winds blow anticlockwise.
  • Cold fronts and Warm fronts- Rising air condenses to form clouds and rain.

  
• Weather pattern Edinburgh will experience in the next 24 hours


  1. Warm front arrives bringing steady rain, nimbostratus cloud, strong winds and mild temperatures

  2. Warm sector arrives bringing lighter winds, rising temperatures, rain decreases to showers and drizzle and clouds clear

  3. Cold front arrives bringing strong gale force winds, heavy rain, thick cumulonimbus cloud and cold temperatures

  4. Cold sector brings calmer, drier but cold conditions
• Corrie


  An overdeepened, hollow with a steep back wall. Snow collects in a small hollow on a mountain, especially on the less sunny north facing slopes. Snow builds up and compacts into glacial ice. The corrie glacier moves out of the hollow due to gravity and by rotational sliding. Maximum erosion occurs at the back wall. There is less erosion at the front of the hollow which forms a raised area called a lip.

  
• Arete


  A narrow, sharp-edged ridge which forms when 2 corries erode back to back. Snow collects in 2 adjacent hollows on a mountain. Snow builds up and compacts into glacial ice by the weight of further snow fall. The 2 corrie glaciers move out of the hollows due to gravity and by rotational sliding. The 2 corries continue to erode back to back leaving a narrow ridge which is steep and rocky.

  
• Pyramidal peak


  If there are 3 or more corries around a mountain, the mountain gets eroded, leaving a jagged pointed summit. Snow collects in 3 small hollows around a mountain. Snow builds up and compacts into glacial ice by the weight of further snow fall. The corrie glaciers moves out of the hollows due to gravity and by rotational sliding. The 3 corries erode back towards each other into the core of the mountain creating a steep peak.
• 1. shaped valley


  Corrie glaciers flow out of mountain hollows and join to form a powerful valley glacier which bulldozes its way down a former 'V' shaped river valley, driven by gravity. The glacier makes the valley deeper and wider by plucking and abrasion. The interlocking spurs that pointed into the river valley are sliced off by the glacier, leaving steep cliff faces called truncated spurs. When the ice melts the valley is 'U' shaped. It has very steep sides and a wide, flat floor.

  
• Glacial features on the map

  • U-Shaped Valley
  • Corrie with a tarn
  • Ribbon Lake
  • Pyramidal Peak
  • Arete

  
• Other land use on the map and why it is found in upland glaciated landscapes
• If the glacier passes over softer rock as it moves down the valley


  1. It can overdeepen a section of the U-shaped valley

  2. This is later filled with meltwater-creating a ribbon lake
• Corrie/tarn


  Glacial erosional landform

  
• Arete


  Glacial erosional landform

  
• Truncated spurs


  Glacial erosional landform

  
• Why sheep farming is suited to glaciated landscapes

  • Glaciation creates steep upland areas
  • The soil is thin and infertile because it has been scrapped bare by the action of glaciers so very few crops can grow
  • Sheep have wool coats to adapt to live in the cold, wet and exposed windy environments
  • It is too cold to grow crops, the growing season is too short and the slopes are too steep for machinery
  • It is also too remote from markets
  • The rough grazing land provides ideal grazing and sheep have feet adapted to steep slopes
• Forestry


  • Trees can grow on the thin, poor quality soil
  • Trees can also grow on steep slopes unlike crops
  • Coniferous tree(pines,fir) are adapted with waxy needles to survive in cold, wet conditions
  • There are large areas of cheap land to plant the trees for logging
  • It is remote enough it will not disturb people
  • The bottom of U-shaped valleys provide transport routes for the logs
• Hydroelectricity and reservoirs


  • High rainfall due to upland area keeps the reservoirs full of water
  • Low temperatures reduce evaporation loss from reservoirs
  • U-shaped valleys with ribbon lakes provide natural reservoirs ideal for the construction of dams
  • The steep sides and waterfalls of hanging valleys provide potential energy required to turn the turbines
• Tourism


  • Scenery-with corries, waterfalls from hanging valleys and aretes-sightseeing, photography, wildlife viewing
  • Activities such as hill walking- along aretes and up pyramidal peaks(Ben Nevis)
  • Cycling along the bottom of U-Shaped valleys
  • Skiing in corries in the winter months
  • Water sports -canoeing, sailing, boat trips, water skiing and fishing can take place using the ribbon lakes
• Conflicts between tourists and forestry

  • Commercial forestry causes conflicts with tourists when paths are rerouted or closed
  • Scenery is ruined by the uniform rectangular plantations
  • Wildlife habitats are destroyed
  • Logging causes noise, scares birds
  • The heavy logging trucks cause congestion and are dangerous
  • Tourist traffic can also hold up logging trucks
  • The logging scars the landscape when trees are removed the soil is exposed to erosion
• Solutions for conflicts between tourists and forestry

  • Planning laws on size/location of new forestry plantations to prevent visual erosion, helps protect natural trees/habitats
  • Better forestry practices- continuous cover of trees rather than clearing large areas this reduces soil erosion
  • Tree Planting of Native natural trees -Loch Katrine will be established by 2027 to protect animal habitats
  • Setting up nature reserves to protect wildlife
  • Restricted times for logging-reduces noise, information boards, signposts to warn tourists to keep out of some areas/alternative routes
• Solutions for conflicts between tourists and farmers

  • Farmers display keep gates closed signs, use signposts, stiles, swing shut gates to stop tourists damaging stone walls and animals escaping
  • Information boards educate on the importance of the area
  • Countrycode/Scottish Access code leaflets
  • Park rangers patrol areas to reduce antisocial behaviour, work with volunteers pick up litter
  • Take guided walks and talks to teach about the importance of the wildlife/landscapes in the area
  • Camping bye Laws now set wild camping areas March-October East side Loch Lomond people have to apply for a permit-reduces litter, noise, fires
  • Designated picnic and parking areas (also farmers fields used) around the loch to minimise impact of litter and congestion
• Conflicts between tourists and water supply/renewable energy


  • More active water sports –jet skiing, speed boats can come into conflict with waterboard who own the reservoir
  • Use of boats erodes the loch shores
  • Noise and pollution of the water from the boat engines/oil spills
  • Pollution damages habitats
  • Windfarms cause visual pollution, noise and shadows from blades scare birds
• Solutions for conflicts between tourists and water supply/renewable energy

  • Bye-laws were introduced on wild camping to prevent litter and pollution around the lochs
  • People apply for a permit East side of Loch Lomond
  • Zoning of users to certain areas of the loch to make it safer and reduce pollution
  • Speed limits for water sports to reduce erosion of the shoreline and noise
  • SEPA Scottish Environmental Protection Agency monitor water quality
  • Hydroelectric powerplants/pipes are screened with trees to blend in with landscape
• Increased car numbers, many households have 2 cars
• The Gorbals is an inner city area of Glasgow
• Shanty towns (favelas) in Rio de Janeiro are basic, makeshift houses made of plastic sheeting, corrugated sheets, some with brick walls and tin roofs, very overcrowded, often illegally on waste land, next to factories or along roads and railways
• Developed country


  Has advanced education systems, advanced health care, technology and many industries
• Developing country


  Only has basic schooling, few doctors and many working in farming
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)


  Total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year, higher GDP means more developed
• Gross National Product (GNP)


  Measures the total economic output of a country, including earnings from foreign investments