Physical Landscapes in the UK

Coastal Landscapes in the UK

The UK has a range of diverse landscapes

Major Upland/lowland areas and river

systems of the UK

Upland

Lowland

The UK has a range of diverse landscapes

1) Grampian Mountains2) Southern Uplands3) Cumbrian Mountains4) Yorkshire Dales5) North York Moors6) Peak District7) Snowdonia8) Cambrian Mountains9) Brecon Beacons10) Dartmoor

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes - wave types & characteristics

How do waves form?

• Wind blowing over the sea.• Friction with the surface causes ripples to form.• These develop into waves• Distance the wind blows across the water = FETCH• The longer the fetch the more powerful the wave.• The stronger the winds, the larger the waves

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – wave types & characteristics

How do waves work?

• Wind blows over the surface of the water causing friction between water & air.

• Particles move in a circular way. • Water moves up and down but the energy is moved

forward. • The shallow sea bed stops the circle movement at

the base. • Wave is still moving at the top – getting higher and

higher.• The wave breaks and the water that goes onto the

beach = SWASH• The water is then dragged back to sea = BACKWASH

Weathering – The breaking down of rocks in the place where it is found. This usually occurs due to the weather, chemicals or plants.

Erosion – The movement/taking away of rock that has been weathered.

These two processes work together to shape the landscape.

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – weathering processes

MECHANICAL – breaking up of rock

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – weathering processes

ExfoliationFreeze-Thaw

CHEMICAL – caused by chemical changes

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – weathering processes

Carbonation

• Acids are found in rain (carbon dioxide)

• Creates acid rain (weak carbonic acid)

• Rain hits rocks

• Very slowly dissolves rock (e.g. limestone) away

Solution

• Some minerals that are found in rocks dissolve in rain water when it hits the rock (just like sugar dissolves in water)

• Only some rocks will dissolve e.g. rock salt (the salt dissolves)

• This dissolving process = solution

MASS MOVEMENT – the downward movement or sliding of material under the influence of gravity. Speeds vary considerably. Often due to; increase in water & softer coastline.

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – mass movement

SLUMPING – rapid mass movement that involves a whole segment of the cliff moving down slope along a saturated line of weakness.

• Weathered material – saturated by rain.

• Material becomes too heavy and unstable.

• Under the force of gravity this material then slides.

• Creates a step like appearance along the coast.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z27g9j6

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – mass movement

SLIDING

• When rocks are laid down in beds/layers that slope of dip forward towards the sea.

• When weathering occurs it weakens the top layer.

• After heavy periods of rain the loose material becomes saturated.

• Under the extra weight it moves rapidly downhill.

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – mass movement

ROCKFALL

• Rapid free-fall of rock from a steep cliff face.

• Rock fragments fall from the face of the cliff because of gravity.

• This is made worse by freeze-thaw loosening the rock.

• Bare, well-jointed rock is very vulnerable to rockfall.

• Scree slope of fallen rock is formed at the bottom of the cliff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVjr4mii3cE

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – erosion

Hydraulic Power = Due to the power of the waves. Breaking waves compress pockets of air in cracks in a cliff. The pressure causes the rocks to crack and break off.

Abrasion = The wearing away of the cliff by sediments flung by breaking waves hitting the rocks.

Attrition = When rocks and boulders transported by waves bump into each other and break up into smaller pieces.

Solution (corrosion) = Chemical erosion caused by sea water dissolving rocks and minerals.

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – erosion

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – characteristics &

formation of landforms of erosion

Headlands & Bays

https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z3ndmp3/revision/3

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – characteristics &

formation of landforms of erosion

Caves, arches, stacks & stumps

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zccd2hv

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – characteristics &

formation of landforms of erosion

Cliffs & wave cut platforms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zjtc87h

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – transportation

Transportation = the movement of sediment along the coastline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlDzaIE-ajQ

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes – deposition

Deposition = occurs when material that is being transported by the sea is dropped due to the sea losing energy

• Water flow slows down

• Sheltered bays

• Where water is protected by spits/bars

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – characteristics &

formation of landforms of depositionBeaches

• Range from being wide to flat, narrow to steep

• Steeper in summer because of constructive waves

• Strong backwash = ridges and runnels

• Cusps form when gradient gets steeper& strong backwash taking a ‘bite’ out of sediment

https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zxfd7ty

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – characteristics &

formation of landforms of deposition

Sand Dunes

• Form when sand is deposited on beach.

• Moved by wind (saltation).

• Debris on beach traps the sand and it builds up.

• Only occur when deposition is greater than erosion.

1st dunes = embryo = 1m high

2nd dunes = yellow = 5m high & 80% veg cover

3rd = grey dunes = 10m high & only 10% sand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKU1K8n6jYM watch up to 1.40

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – characteristics &

formation of landforms of deposition

Spits & Bars

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coasts/depositional_landforms_rev1.shtml

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6dPiuDthzQ

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes

How geological structure & rock type influence coastal forms

• Some rocks are tougher and more resistant than others.

• Geological structure = the way that layers of rocks are folded/tilted

• Faults = cracks in rock

• Tectonic pressures can cause rocks to snap = lines of weakness in rock easily calved out by sea

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – UK Coastline

HOLDERNESS

Location

• NE coast England

• Flamborough = northern part

• Spurn Head = souther part

• 160km north east St Helens

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – UK Coastline

HOLDERNESSGeological Structure

Distinctive coastal landforms are a result of rock type, structure & physical processes – UK Coastline

HOLDERNESSErosion & Deposition

• Arches = Flamborough Head = erosion

• Adam & Eve caves = Flamborough Head = erosion

• Stacks = Flamborough Head = erosion

• Spurn Head = Withernsea = deposition longshore drift

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zn4jxnbhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z48pyrd

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – costs &

benefits of management strategies

Hard Engineering = The use of concrete & large artificial structures by civil engineers to defend land against natural erosion processes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coasts/coastal_management_rev2.shtml

Sea Wall

• Large walls made of stone, steel and concrete• Shield the coastline and throw back the waves• Effective at protecting the cliff• Works really well as defence and will last a long time• Very expensive due to large size (millions)• Only reflect waves back but don’t absorb energy

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – costs &

benefits of management strategies

Groynes

• Fence like structures that stick out on the beach at right angles.• Traps material transported by longshore drift = beach builds up. • Very effective at preventing movement of material.• Beach then becomes a natural defence.• Unattractive because of their location on beach and make it difficult for people to walk

along the beach. • Quite expensive - £1000 per m.

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – costs &

benefits of management strategies

Gabions

• Found at base of cliff.• Metal cages that contain rocks to absorb wave energy. • Made out of natural material.• Take up a lot of space.• Cage makes them look less natural.• Stones are difficult to replace due to them being in cages.

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – costs &

benefits of management strategies

Rock Armour

• Placing large boulders at the front of a cliff to absorb energy.• Reflects wave energy rather than just directing them away.• Natural look because just stones.• Traps sediment to build up the beach.• Need to be continually replaced. • Expensive; £1 million per km.

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – HARD

ENGINEERING UK SCHEME

Holderness coast hard engineering schemes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG9eOC-ErO0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-VzLG15yMQ

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – costs &

benefits of management strategies

Soft Engineering = Managing erosion by working with natural processes to help restore beaches and coastal ecosystems.

1) Beach nourishment2) Dune regeneration3) Dune fencing

https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z397mp3

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/coasts/coastal_management_rev2.shtml

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – SOFT

ENGINEERING UK SCHEME

Formby Soft Engineering

• Beach profiling – material brought onto beach using a barge. £3,000 per km but needs constant maintenance.

• Sand dune regeneration – Old Christmas trees put along coastline to trap sand and build up dunes.

• Fencing is used to trap sand and keep people off the dunes.

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – costs &

benefits of management strategies

Managed Retreat = Allowing cliff erosion to occur taking it’s course; erosion in some areas, deposition in others (longshore drift)

POSITIVES• Allows natural habitats to be

created e.g. salt marsh• Can be cheap.• Very natural but effective.• Can attract tourists to new

habitats.

NEGATIVES• People lose their land and

livelihoods.• Money needs to be spent to

provide compensation to those who have lost their homes.

Different management strategies can be used to protect coastlines from the effects of physical processes – MANAGED

RETREAT UK SCHEME

Medmerry, West Sussex

• 2013 and cost £28 million

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-agency-flood-risk-schemes-win-3-construction-awards

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24770379

Glacial Landscapes in the UK

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Maximum extent of ice cover UK

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00gbfzl

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Glacial Processes

Weathering = The breakdown of rock. There is no movement of rock involved.

Erosion = The wearing away of the land by ice and the removal of material by the ice.

Freeze-thaw weathering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XnCTcjNpuc

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Erosion

Abrasion & Plucking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqEraWuWDw0http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/glacial_landscapes/glaciation_rev3.shtml

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Movement & Transportation

• Glaciers can carry big loads• Frost shattered rock debris & material eroded from the valley

floor & sides that is transported and deposited by glaciers = MORAINE

• Moraine is unsorted if dropped by the ice.• Material is dropped by ice when it reached a point of overload

(when the load is heavier than carrying capacity).

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Movement & Transportation

• Glacial movement = When the ice moves

• Glacial transportation = When ice carries moraine (rocks)

• Glacial deposition = When moraine is dropped by the ice

• Moraine = The name given to rocks carried and deposited by the ice

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Movement & Transportation

Rotational slipIce rotates around a central point as it moves

BulldozingMaterial is pushed to the front of the glacier where it is moved along

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Deposition

Deposition = when ice starts to melt and drops the moraine it is carrying.

Ice starts to melt because the temperature gets warmer.

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Deposition

Moraine

Ice was a powerful force in shaping the physical landscape of the UK – Deposition

Till

• Unsorted mixture of sand, clay & boulders deposited over a large area.

• Different shapes & sizes.• Deposited by ice.• Ice is carrying too much as

it melts

Outwash

• Sand or gravel deposited by meltwater streams in front of, & underneath, a glacier.

• Rounded.• Sorted.• Deposited by meltwater.• Because of a rise in

temperature.

Distinctive glacial landform result from different physical processes – characteristics & formation of landforms resulting

from erosionCorrie = Armchair-shaped hollow in the mountainside formed by glacial erosion, rotational slip & freeze-thaw weathering.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00gbfzl

Arete = Two corries back to back. Sharp knife-like ridge.

Pyramidal Peak = Three corries back to back. Makes a central point.

Distinctive glacial landform result from different physical processes – characteristics & formation of landforms resulting

from erosion

Glacial Trough/U Shaped Valley

• Form in a previous V-Shaped valley during an ice age. • Glaciers move down the side of the mountains with the force of gravity.• As it moves it widens, steepens, deepens, and smooths the V-Shaped

valley by abrasion, freeze-thaw and plucking. • Leaves a U-Shaped valleyRibbon Lake = Lake at the bottom of U – Shaped valley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SROTOaENeHs

Distinctive glacial landform result from different physical processes – characteristics & formation of landforms resulting

from erosion

Truncated Spurs

• Ice moves from corries.• Ice occupies a former V-

shaped valley.• Ice erodes the valley sides.• The interlocking spurs are

removed to form truncated spurs.

Distinctive glacial landform result from different physical processes – characteristics & formation of landforms resulting

from erosion

Hanging Valley

• Just like rivers, glaciers have tributaries (a small glacier leading into the main glacier).

• As the glacier erodes deeper into the valley, the tributary is left higher up the steep sides of the glacier.

• Usually seem like a waterfall.

Distinctive glacial landform result from different physical processes – characteristics & formation of landforms resulting

from transportation & deposition

Erratic

• Bowder Stone, Borrowdale, Lake District.

• Rocks have been transported & deposited by a glacier some distance from their source.

Drumlins

• Moraine is deposited. • It is shaped by the moving ice. • The blunt end shows where the

ice has come from.

Distinctive glacial landform result from different physical processes – example of an upland area UK

Lake District

• Red Tarn• Striding Edge Arete• Helvellyn Pyramidal Peak• Great Langdale Valley U Shaped Valley• Ribbon Lake, Windermere• Bowder Stone, Borrodale, Erratic• Swindale Beck, Drumlins

Glaciated upland areas provide opportunities for different economic activities, and management strategies can be used to reduce land use conflicts – economic activities

Economic activities – Lake DistrictForestry

• Forestry Commission planted coniferous trees in upland areas.

• Over 75,000 tonnes of timber produced each year.• 53 full time jobs working at Forestry Commission.• Also creates wildlife habitats.

Recreation & Tourism

• Over 16 million visit per year.• Go for picturesque scenery, ribbon lakes (Lake

Windermere), boat trips, fishing.• 15% of houses are second homes, owned by visitors. • Striding edge arête – great for hill walking & climbing.

Farming

• Growing season too shorts for crops – soil also acidic & infertile.

• Sheep farming – sheep can withstand hard conditions. • Herdwick Hill sheep farming – sheep wool used for

carpets. • Turning barns into B&Bs.

Quarrying

• Shap Beck Quarry – produces limestone supplied to Shapfell works.

• Employs 24 people• However, eyesore and can put tourists off.

Glaciated upland areas provide opportunities for different economic activities, and management strategies can be

used to reduce land use conflicts – CONFLICTS & SOLUTIONS

Problems Solutions

Walkers leave gates open Farmers display 'keep gate closed' signs

Dogs chase sheepPark rangers are employed to prevent problems by

encouraging responsible tourism

Stone walls are damaged

Voluntary bodies, such as the National Trust, protect

areas by buying land and buildings, and maintaining

walls and footpaths

Farmers may restrict access to walkers at certain

times, eg lambing season

Park rangers liaise with different land users to minimise

problems

Noise disturbs animalsVisitor centre staff aim to educate the public about the

'Outdoor Access Code'

http://corporate.unitedutilities.com/united-utilities-plans-for-fence-at-thirlmere-lake-district.aspx

Glaciated upland areas provide opportunities for different economic activities, and management strategies can be

used to reduce land use conflicts – CONFLICTS & SOLUTIONS

Problems Solutions

Increased litterNational Parks have removed litter bins in the hope that people

take their litter home

Traffic congestion at peak times impedes locals going about

their daily business

One-way systems, pedestrianised areas and improved public

transport have been introduced to reduce the effect of traffic

congestion

Footpath erosion results in visual pollution in popular walking

areas, e.g. on the mountain Helvellyn

National Park officers can build stone paths to reduce footpath

erosion and put up signs to direct walkers along alternative

routes

More noise and air pollution from heavy visitor trafficRail and bus services have been improved to reduce the

number of cars in the national park

Services may close as second home owners are not

permanent residents

Weekly vans providing services to small villages, eg mobile

library

Glaciated upland areas provide opportunities for different economic activities, and management strategies can be

used to reduce land use conflicts – UK exampleAttractions – Lake District

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtWYM07J9mU

Glaciated upland areas provide opportunities for different economic activities, and management strategies can be

used to reduce land use conflicts – UK exampleImpacts of tourism – Lake District

1. 16,000 jobs created in 2014 - ECONOMIC2. £1,146 million spent by tourists in 2014 – income for local businesses - ECONOMIC3. Local goods can become expensive because tourists will pay more – ECONOMIC & SOCIAL4. Increased demand for local food from farmers - ECONOMIC5. Tourists mainly come to see the scenery and wildlife, so there is pressure to conserve

habitats and wildlife - ENVIRONMENTAL6. Damage to the landscape: litter and footpath erosion - ENVIRONMENTAL7. 89% of visitors travel by car causing traffic congestion and air pollution - ENVIRONMENTAL8. Shops stock products for tourists and not everyday goods needed by locals – ECONOMIC &

SOCIAL9. Demand for holiday homes makes housing too expensive for local people - ECONOMIC10.Jobs are mainly seasonal, low paid with long hours – ECONOMIC & SOCIAL

Glaciated upland areas provide opportunities for different economic activities, and management strategies can be used to reduce land use

conflicts – UK example

Management – Lake District

1) HONEYPOT SITES = focuses tourists in areas like Windermere & protects other areas.

2) FIX THE FELLS = 10 year project to restore footpaths. Use stone pitching.

3) B4 NETWORK = includes Cross Lakes Shuttle which links lake Windermere and Coniston Water. Also cycle racks on the boat.

4) DRIVE LESS, SEE MORE = £7million spent to have unified boats, bikes, boots and buses network throughout the National Park.