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physical and coastal landscape of the UK - Coggle Diagram
physical and coastal landscape of the UK
an overview
the uk has a variety of natural landscapes, including high mountains, upland areas with fast-flowing rivers
these landscapes is largely the results of the different underlying rocks and the processes that have operated on them.
Where are the upland areas in the UK?
Most of the upland in the UK is located in Scotland (in the Scottish Highlands), the Lake District and the Pennines in the north and north-west of the UK.
Upland areas in the UK are often rugged, with steep relief (difficult for growing crops) and weathered rocks.
Sheep farming, tourism, and paper-making are popular activities in Cumbria and the Lake District.
shaping the coastline
erosion
deposition
coastal landscape in the uk
how are waves formed
when the wind blows over the sea or the ocean, friction occurs, causing the surface of the water to be pushed in the direction of the wind, creating waves.
the stronger the wind, the greater the friction all equaling a bigger wave
constructive waves
which build up beaches by depositing sediment
Constructive waves are small waves that are not very tall above the surface of the ocean.
When the sea's waves are constructive, we say that the sea is calm.
A constructive wave is very long and not very high. Constructive waves have a low frequency (about 7-10 waves arrive at the beach each minute).
Constructive waves deposit material on coastlines because their swash depositing things on the beach is stronger than their backwash dragging things from the beach.
destructive waves
which remove sediment from beaches
Destructive waves are taller and more frequent than constructive waves.
The frequency of destructive waves is about 10-15 waves per minute.
Destructive waves cause most of the erosion of coastlines.
Destructive waves have a stronger backwash than swash, meaning they drag more material away from the coastline than is deposited on the shore.
sediment
material moved and deposited in a different location
swash:
movement of waves up a beach
backwash
movement of water down a beach (gravity)
Where are the lowland areas in the UK?
Most of the UK's lowland in the UK is found in the South and East of the UK. Cities like Norwich are the largest towns in the East Anglia lowland area.
The lowland areas are the best areas of the UK for farming. The soil is very fertile and the relief is very gentle.
Cattle farming and carrot growing are strong agricultural industries in East Anglia.
Which are the largest cities in the UK?
In 2020, 9.3 million people were estimated to live in London and 1.2 million people were estimated to live in Birmingham.
Large cities are often found close to a water source in lowland areas.
he River Thames runs through London.
The River Mersey runs through Liverpool and Manchester.
Bristol, Cardiff, and Gloucester are all found on the River Severn.
Examples of the UK's Landscape
The Lake District
The Lake District is an upland area in Cumbria, in the north-west of England.
Upland areas in the UK are often rugged, with steep relief (difficult for growing crops) and weathered rocks.
Sheep farming, tourism, and paper-making are popular activities in Cumbria and the Lake District.
The Grampians
The Grampians are in the Scottish Highlands, an area of upland in the north of the UK.
Upland areas in the UK are often rugged, with steep relief (difficult for growing crops) and weathered rocks.
Temperatures are very cold in the Grampians and the wind speed can be very high.
The Fens
The Fens are a marshy area of lowland in East Anglia.
The lowland areas are the best areas of the UK for farming. The soil is very fertile and the relief is very gentle.
Cattle farming and carrot growing are strong agricultural industries in East Anglia.
Weathering?
Mechanical weathering
Mechanical weathering is also called physical weathering.
In mechanical weathering, the chemical composition of rock stays the same.
Water expands when it freezes. When water fills cracks in rocks, if it then freezes, it expands, putting pressure on the rock. The water will then melt, but it has put pressure on the rock. Eventually, this process of freezing and thawing will wear down rock. This is called freeze-thaw weathering.
Chemical weathering
In chemical weathering, the chemical composition of rock changes.
When the climate is warm and wet, carbonic dioxide can dissolve in rain to create a 'carbonic acid'.
The carbonic acid in rainfall hits rocks and dissolves the parts of the rock made of calcium carbonate.
This also breaks down rock.
Mass Movement
Mass movement describes the movement of rocks on a hill or cliff. These movements are caused by weathering, erosion, and gravity. Small changes over time can mean that a cliff's centre of gravity hangs over the sea, instead of over land.
Slides
Slides are when material moves down a slope in a straight line.
Rockfalls
Rockfalls are when the cliff (materials) break and crumble down the cliff.
Slumps
Slumps are when a slip plane forms under the cliff. The cliff then slumps down in layers.
Processes of Erosion
Erosion is the wearing away of rock using movement. The sea can build up a lot of energy and move quickly with a lot of force. This can make erosion happen faster. The types of erosion that affect coasts are:
Hydraulic action
Hydraulic action is where the force of the water hits against the river or sea bed and banks and causes the rock to break off.
Solution
Solution is where soluble rocks are dissolved by the water in the river or sea (limestone and chalk in particular). They are carried along with the river or sea.
Abrasion
Abrasion is where pieces of rock are picked up by the river or sea water and hit against the bed or the banks. This wears them away.
Attrition
Attrition is where pieces of bedload (material carried by a river or seawater) are hit against one another. This causes them to break apart and become smaller and more rounded.
Wave-Cut Platforms
Over time, cliffs are eroded by destructive waves, resulting in the formation of wave-cut platforms. This process is described below:
Stage 1
Destructive waves are responsible for most of the erosion at the base of cliffs.
Eventually, this erosion causes a wave-cut notch to form.
Stage 2
Continued erosion of the wave-cut notch causes the rock above it to become less and less stable until it collapses.
Stage 3
Waves wash away the debris from the cliff collapse.
The destructive waves begin to erode the cliff, causing a new wave-cut notch to form.
Stage 4
As stages 1-3 happen again and again, more debris falls into the ocean and the cliff retreats.
What is left behind is called a wave-cut platform.
Headlands and Bays
Headlands and bays are formed in areas that have alternate areas of hard and soft rock facing the sea.
rock with lots of cracks and joints is called soft rock.
When the sea hits both the soft and hard rock, more of the soft rock is eroded.
The soft rock erodes inwards, creating a bay.
The hard rock that erodes more slowly is called a headland.
Bays
When the sea hits both soft and hard rock, more of the soft rock is eroded. The soft rock erodes inwards, creating a bay.