Geology and Human Impact on Landscape
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Which type of rock is formed when molten rock from the mantle cools down and hardens?

  • Metamorphic Rock
  • Chemical Rock
  • Igneous Rock (correct)
  • Sedimentary Rock

Glaciation does not impact the landscape by carving out U-shaped valleys.

False (B)

What type of weathering involves the expansion of salt crystals in rock cracks?

Salt weathering

___ rocks are formed through the compaction of layers of sediment over millions of years.

<p>Sedimentary</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the rock type to its formation process:

<p>Igneous Rocks = Formed from cooling molten rock Sedimentary Rocks = Formed from compacted sediments Metamorphic Rocks = Formed from heat and pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

What impact does agriculture have on the landscape?

<p>Reduces biodiversity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Biological weathering involves physical processes only.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the management of woodland areas for various uses like timber and recreation?

<p>Forestry</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes attrition in the context of erosion?

<p>Eroded particles smash into each other and break apart. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A discordant coastline consists of alternating bands of hard and soft rock that are parallel to the coast.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one major cost associated with constructing sea walls?

<p>They create a strong backwash which erodes the land under the wall.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Groynes are built at right angles to the coast to trap material transported by ________ drift.

<p>longshore</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of coastlines with their descriptions:

<p>Discordant coastline = Alternating bands of hard and soft rock at angles Concordant coastline = Alternating bands of hard and soft rock parallel to the coast</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one benefit of beach replenishment?

<p>It creates a wider beach that slows down waves. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Soft rocks erode faster than hard rocks due to their lower resistance.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of engineering strategy includes the construction of concrete sea walls?

<p>Hard engineering</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of slope stabilization?

<p>To prevent mass movement (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Strategic realignment allows land to flood in order to reduce erosion.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of valley is characteristic of the upper course of a river?

<p>V-shaped valley</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the middle course of a river, the channel is _____ and deeper.

<p>wider</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the river course with its appropriate characteristics:

<p>Upper course = Low discharge and large angular stones Middle course = Gently sloping valley with wider channels Lower course = Very wide, almost flat valley with fine material</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to large particles during traction in a river?

<p>They are pushed along the river bed (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The lower course of a river has a high velocity and very large discharge.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process causes pebble-sized particles to bounce along the river bed?

<p>Saltation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The formation of a waterfall only occurs where there is soft rock present.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the steep-sided valleys created by vertical erosion called?

<p>Interlocking spurs</p> Signup and view all the answers

The area created when a river breaks through the neck of a meander is known as an ______.

<p>oxbow lake</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the river bend experiences more erosion?

<p>The outside of the bend (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the river landforms with their definitions:

<p>Flood Plains = Area that occasionally gets flooded and deposits eroded material. Levees = Deposited material forming raised banks along the river. Meanders = Bends in the river that experience different rates of erosion and deposition. Waterfall = A steep drop in the river caused by erosion of rock layers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Levees are formed by the lightest material being deposited first during flooding.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature results from the undercutting of hard rock at a waterfall?

<p>Plunge pool</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to rivers when they meet the sea or a lake?

<p>They deposit the material they are carrying. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

More resistant rocks typically result in gentler valley slopes.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process involves soil particles moving down a slope due to gravity?

<p>Soil creep</p> Signup and view all the answers

Intense rainfall increases surface runoff due to higher river __________.

<p>discharge</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following river management techniques with their functions:

<p>Flood Walls = Holds more water for the river Embankments = Protects buildings during floods Flood Barriers = Stops flooding from high tides Flood plain retention = Helps maintain flood plain's storage ability</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following human activities can increase flooding?

<p>Increased impermeable surfaces (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Deforestation decreases surface runoff, making floods less likely.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of valley develops in the lower course of a river due to increased discharge?

<p>Wide flat flood plain</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Igneous Rock Formation

Molten rock from the mantle cools and hardens.

Sedimentary Rock Formation

Layers of sediment compact together over time.

Metamorphic Rock Formation

Existing rocks change due to heat and pressure.

Glacial Erosion

Ice shapes landscapes by carving U-shaped valleys.

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Freeze-Thaw Weathering

Water in cracks expands when freezing, breaking rocks.

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Salt Weathering

Seawater in cracks evaporates, leaving salt crystals that expand and break rock.

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Carbonate Weathering

Carbon dioxide in water reacts with calcium carbonate rock.

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Hydraulic Action

Waves force water into cracks, causing rock to break.

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Slope Stabilisation

Methods used to prevent soil and rock movement on slopes, usually involving concrete or metal netting.

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Strategic Realignment

A planned approach to flooding by allowing certain areas to flood, reducing flooding downstream and creating new habitats.

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River Course

The path a river follows, divided into three main sections: upper, middle, and lower.

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Upper Course Characteristics

Steep slopes, V-shaped valleys, rapid erosion, and small, angular sediment.

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Middle Course Characteristics

Gently sloping valleys, wider channels, and smoother, smaller sediment.

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Lower Course Characteristics

Flat valleys, deep channels, very large sediment load, and high velocity.

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Traction

How large rocks are moved by a river's force, being rolled or pushed along the riverbed.

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Erosion

The gradual wearing away and transportation of rock and soil by natural forces, like rivers.

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Discordant Coastline

A coastline with alternating bands of hard and soft rock at angles to the coast.

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Concordant Coastline

A coastline with alternating bands of hard and soft rock parallel to the coast.

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Hard Rock

A rock that is more resistant to erosion and weathering.

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Soft Rock

A rock that is less resistant to erosion and weathering.

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Sea Wall

A concrete wall built to reflect waves back to the sea, protecting the coast from erosion and flooding.

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Groynes

Wooden or stone fences built at right angles to the coast to trap material transported by longshore drift, creating wider beaches.

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Attrition

Erosion caused by particles smashing into each other, breaking into smaller fragments, and becoming rounded.

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What are the types of river transport?

Rivers have different ways to transport sediment, including suspension, saltation, and solution. Suspension is carried by the water, saltation is bounced along the bed, and solution is dissolved in the water.

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How do waterfalls form?

A waterfall forms when a river flows over hard rock followed by softer rock. The softer rock erodes faster, creating a steep drop. The hard rock eventually collapses, forming a plunge pool.

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What are interlocking spurs?

Interlocking spurs are hillsides that stick out into a river's path because the river erodes vertically rather than laterally.

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What are meanders?

Meanders are river bends formed by faster erosion on the outside of the bend and deposition on the inside.

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How are oxbow lakes formed?

Oxbow lakes form when erosion on the outside of a meander causes the bends to get closer, until the river cuts through the neck, leaving a loop.

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What is a flood plain?

A flood plain is a flat area next to a river that is regularly flooded. It is built up by sediment deposited during floods.

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How do levees form?

Levees are raised banks along the edges of a river channel formed by the deposition of heavy material during floods.

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What creates a gorge?

A gorge is a steep-sided valley carved by a retreating waterfall. The erosion from the waterfall undercuts the hard rock, causing it to collapse and form a steep-sided valley.

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Delta Formation

A delta forms when a river slows down near a sea or lake, depositing sediment that builds up and creates distributaries, ultimately forming low-lying land.

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River Discharge

The volume of water flowing through a river channel at a given point in time.

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Climate's Impact on Rivers

A wetter climate leads to increased river discharge, causing more erosion, larger flood plains in the lower course, and increased sediment load.

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Geology's Impact on Rivers

Resistant rocks create steeper valleys due to erosion, while less resistant rocks form gentler slopes.

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Slope Processes

Vertical erosion by rivers steepens slopes, increasing material movement. Mass movements and soil creep further contribute to sediment load.

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Physical Flooding Causes

Intense rainfall, impermeable rock, and rapid snowmelt increase river discharge, leading to flooding.

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Human Causes of Flooding

Floodplain development reduces water storage, deforestation increases runoff, and drainage ditches accelerate water flow, all contributing to flooding.

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Flood Walls

Flood walls are barriers built along rivers to hold more water, but can be expensive and block views.

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Study Notes

Rock Formation

  • Igneous rocks form when molten rock from the mantle cools & hardens
  • Sedimentary rocks form when layers of sediment compact together over millions of years
  • Metamorphic rocks form when other rocks change due to heat and pressure, becoming harder and more compact

Impact of Glaciation

  • Ice erodes the landscape, creating U-shaped valleys (e.g., Lake District)
  • Ice deposits material as it melts, especially on eastern sides

Human Impact

  • Agriculture: Forests are cleared for farming, creating fields separated by hedgerows and walls.
  • Forestry: Woodlands are managed for timber, recreation, & conservation. Coniferous forests are often planted in straight lines.
  • Settlement: Rivers are diverted, land is concreted over (roads, buildings), impacting drainage patterns.
  • Embankments or straightening of rivers are done to prevent flooding.

Weathering

  • Physical Weathering (Freeze-thaw): Water enters cracks in rocks, expands when it freezes, and widens the cracks when it thaws, causing the rock to break.
  • Mechanical Weathering (Break-down): Rocks break down without chemical changes
  • Salt Weathering: Seawater enters cracks, evaporates, leaving salt crystals that expand, putting pressure on the rock.
  • Chemical Weathering (Carbonate): Seawater and rainwater (with dissolved carbon dioxide) create carbonic acid, which reacts with rocks containing calcium carbonate.
  • Biological Weathering: Plant roots grow into cracks and push rocks apart.

Coastlines

  • Discordant Coastline: Alternating bands of hard and soft rock at right angles to the coast.
  • Concordant Coastline: Alternating bands of hard and soft rock, parallel to the coast.
  • Hard rocks are more resistant to erosion and weathering than soft rocks.

Engineering Strategies

  • Hard Engineering
    • Sea Walls: Concrete walls that reflect waves back to sea, preventing coastal erosion.
    • Groynes: Wooden or stone fences built at right angles to the coast, trapping material transported by longshore drift
  • Soft Engineering
    • Methods focused on managing the coast without major structural interventions.

River Characteristics

  • Upper Course: Steep gradient, V-shaped valleys, vertical erosion, low discharge, low velocity, large & angular stones.
  • Middle Course: Medium gradient, gently sloping valley sides, wider channels, lateral erosion, increased discharge& speed, smaller rounded sediment load.
  • Lower Course: Gentle gradient, very wide almost flat valley, deep channel, high velocity, very large discharge, fine and well-rounded material.

River Transportation

  • Traction: Large particles (boulders) are pushed along by water.
  • Suspension: Small particles (silt, clay) carried by water.
  • Saltation: Pebble-sized particles bounce along the riverbed.
  • Solution: Soluble materials dissolve in water.

River Landforms

  • Waterfalls & Gorges: Rivers flowing over hard rock then soft rock create waterfalls, with erosion creating plunge pools and gorges over time.
  • Interlocking Spurs: Rivers erode sideways creating hills or spurs, causing the river to meander around them.
  • Meanders: Curves formed when rivers erode the outside & deposit on the inside of curves (in the middle and lower course).
  • Oxbow Lakes: When a meander loop is cut off from the main river flow, leaving a crescent-shaped lake.
  • Floodplains: Flat areas along a river that are periodically flooded, formed by deposition over time.

River Landscapes and Sediment Load

  • Climate: Wet climates cause more river discharge; Increased discharge leads to more erosion, forming V-shaped valleys.
  • Geology: Different rock types affect slope & valley shape (resistant or easily eroded)
  • Slope Processes: Vertical river erosion produces steep-sided valleys, and mass movements (e.g., soil creep) contribute eroded material to rivers.
  • Physical & Human Causes of Flooding: Intense rain, impermeable rock, rapid snowmelt, and human development/floodplain alterations can increase flooding risk.

River Management

  • Flood Walls & Embankments: Prevent flooding by holding more water but can be expensive and affect views
  • Flood Barriers: Protect built-up areas from storm surges, but costs are high and can reduce flood plain ability to absorb water.
  • Flood Plane Retention: Slow floodwaters down
  • River Restoration: reduces flooding downstream and restoring original river paths.

Beach Replenishment

  • Adding sand or shingle (to upper parts of the beach).
  • Creates a wider beach, slows waves, increasing protection.
  • Environmental concerns associated with the extraction and relocation.

Slope Stabilization

  • Concrete nails are used to reinforce slopes and increase stability.
  • Helps prevent mass movement/erosion.
  • Often expensive and can affect the natural look which it aims to protect.

Strategic Realignement

  • Removing existing defences, allowing land behind to flood.
  • Creates marsh, reduces flooding, and creates new habitats.

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Description

Explore the various processes that shape our landscapes, including the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Learn how glaciation and human activities such as agriculture and forestry alter natural environments. This quiz delves into the effects of weathering and erosion on landforms and drainage patterns.

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