Distinctive Landscapes

• What is a landscape?

  An area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.
• What is a built landscape?

  A built landscape is represented by those features and patterns reflecting human occupation and use of natural resources.

  In simple terms, a landscape with more visible human features.
• What is a natural landscape?

  The original landscape that exists before it is acted upon by human culture.

  In simple terms, a landscape with more physical features.
• What are the main elements of all landscapes?

  Physical (mountains or valleys).

  Water (rivers or lakes)

  Living (trees or grass)

  Transitory (weather or seasons)

  Human (buildings and other land uses)
• What can the UK's natural landscape be split into?

  Upland, Lowland and Glaciated.
• Where are the upland areas in the UK?

  The North and West of the UK. (e.g. Grampians, Pennines, and Snowdonia).
• Where are the lowland areas in the UK?

  The South and East of the UK.
• What are upland areas formed from?

  They are generally formed of harder rocks which resist erosion, e.g. Slate, Granite and some Limestones. (Igneous and Metamorphic)
• What are lowland areas formed from?

  They are generally formed from softer rocks, e.g. Slate, Granite, and some Limestones. (Sedimentary Rocks).
• Describe Upland areas:

  Many are glaciated landscapes.

  The gradient of the land is often steep.

  Rocky, hilly grassy and mountainous.

  The climate tends to be cooler and wetter (relief rainfall).

  The harsh climate and thin soils allow rough vegetation to thrive, and some upland areas are used for forestry.
• What are Upland areas used for?

  Sheep farming, quarrying and tourism.
• Describe Lowland areas:

  The landscape is flatter with gently rolling hills.

  The climate tends to be warmer and drier.

  Vegetation grows easily in more fertile soils and includes grassy meadows and deciduous forests.
• What are Lowland areas used for?

  Quarrying, Tourism, as well as dairy and arable farming.

  Urban areas and industries are located in lowland areas.
• How did glaciation change the the UK landscape?

  Glaciation changed upland landscapes by:

  Forming mountain peaks and ridges.

  Carving deep U-shaped valleys.

  
  

  Glaciation also changed lowland areas by:

  Freezing the ground and creating river valleys.

  Leaving behind dry valleys when the ice melted.
• What is geology?

  Study of the Earth and the rocks of which it is made.
• What are the 3 types of rock?

  igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
• What is igneous rock?

  Rock formed from melting rock turning into magma then cooling.
• What is a sedimentary rock?

  Rock formed by weathering, erosion, deposition, and cementation and compaction.
• What is a metamorphic rock?

  Rock that has been changed by heat and pressure
• Explain how human activity over time results in distinctive landscapes.

  As humans settle in certain areas, they alter the landscapes by building houses, and growing crops for food. As houses may require wood they may get cut down and so the number of trees in the area is significantly lower than in other landscapes, helping to distinguish an area from others. As well as this, the naming of certain areas and the construction of landmarks also helps to distinguish areas. Certain crops only grow in certain areas, and activities such as rock climbing can wear away the rock over time, altering it's features.
• What is weathering?

  Weathering is the breakup of rocks, often due to the weather.
• What is mechanical weathering?

  It is the breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition. The main type of mechanical weathering that affects landscapes in the UK is freeze thaw weathering.
• What is freeze thaw weathering?

  It happens when the temperature alternates above and below 0 C. Water gets into rock that has cracks, e.g. granite. When the water freezes, it expands, putting pressure on the rock. When the water thaws, it contracts, which releases the pressure on the rock. This repeats, widening cracks and causing the rock to break up.
• What is chemical weathering?

  It is the breakdown of rock by changing its chemical composition. Carbonation weathering is a type of chemical weathering that happens in warm and wet conditions.
• What is carbonation weathering?

  Rainwater has carbon dioxide dissolved in it, which makes it a weak carbonic acid. Carbonic acid reacts with rock that contains calcium carbonate, so the rocks are dissolved by the rainwater.
• What is Biological weathering?

  The breakdown of rocks by living things, e.g. plant roots break down rocks by growing into cracks on their surfaces and pushing them apart.
• What is mass movement?

  Mass movement is the shifting of rocks and loose material down a slope, e.g. a cliff or valley side. It happens when the force of gravity acting on the slope is greater than the force supporting it. Mass movements cause coasts to retreat slowly and are more likely to happen when the material is full of water, as it acts as a lubricant and makes the material heavy. Undercutting of a slope by erosion will increase the chance of mass movement.
• What are the two types of mass movement?

  Slides and Slumps.
• What is a Slide?

  When material shifts in a straight line.
• What is a Slump?

  When material shifts with a rotation.
• What are the 4 processes of erosion?

  Hydraulic Action, Attrition, Abrasion and Solution.
• What is Hydraulic Action?

  Along coasts, waves crash against the rocks and compress the air in the cracks, which puts pressure on the rock. Repeated compression widens the cracks and makes bits of the rock break off.
• What is Abrasion?

  Eroded particles in the water scrape and rub against rock in the sea bed, cliffs or river channel, removing small pieces and wearing them away. Most erosion in rivers happens this way.
• What is Attrition?

  Eroded particles in the water smash into each other and break into smaller pieces. Their edges also get rounded off as they rub together. The further material travels, the more eroded it gets (attrition causes particle size to decrease between a river's source and its mouth).
• What is Solution?

  Dissolved carbon dioxide makes river and sea water slightly acidic. The acid reacts chemically with some rocks, dissolving them.
• What is Exfoliation?

  (Type of Mechanical Weathering). Most commonly associated with large fluctuations in temperature. Rock is a poor conductor of heat, so only the outer part of the rock warms and cools. As it warms, it expands and as it cools it contracts, leading to the outer skin peeling from the rest of the rock.
• What is Transportation?

  Transportation is the movement of eroded material.
• What are the 4 processes of transportation?

  Traction, Saltation, Suspension and Solution.
• What is Traction?

  Large particles like boulders are pushed along the river bed or sea floor by the force of the water.
• What is Saltation?

  Pebble-sized particles are bounced along the river bed or sea floor by the force of the water.