Physical Landscapes in the UK: Key Ideas (AQA GCSE Geography): Revision Note

3.1.3.1 (UK Physical Landscapes)

The UK has a range of diverse landscapes.

• An overview of the location of major upland/ lowland areas and river systems.

3.1.3.2 (Coastal Landscapes in the UK)

The coast is shaped by a number of physical processes.

• Wave types and characteristics.

• Coastal processes:

  • Weathering processes – mechanical, chemical

  • mass movement – sliding, slumping and rock falls

  • erosion – hydraulic power, abrasion and attrition

  • transportation – longshore drift

  • deposition – why sediment is deposited in coastal areas

Distinctive coastal landforms are the result of rock type, structure and physical processes.

• How geological structure and rock type influence coastal forms.

• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from erosion – headlands and bays, cliffs and wave cut platforms, caves, arches and stacks.

• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from deposition – beaches, sand dunes, spits and bars.

• An example of a section of coastline in the UK to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition.

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

• The costs and benefits of the following management strategies:

  • hard engineering – sea walls, rock armour, gabions and groynes

  • soft engineering – beach nourishment and reprofiling, dune regeneration

  • managed retreat – coastal realignment.

• An example of a coastal management scheme in the UK to show:

  • the reasons for management

  • the management strategy

  • the resulting effects and conflicts

3.1.3.3 (River Landscapes in the UK)

The shape of river valleys changes as rivers flow downstream.

• The long profile and changing cross profile of a river and its valley.

• Fluvial processes:

  • erosion – hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition, solution, vertical and lateral erosion

  • transportation – traction, saltation, suspension and solution

  • deposition – why rivers deposit sediment.

Distinctive fluvial landforms result from different physical processes.

• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from erosion – interlocking spurs, waterfalls and gorges.

• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from erosion and deposition – meanders and ox-bow lakes.

• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from deposition – levées, flood plains and estuaries.

• An example of a river valley in the UK to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition.

Different management strategies can be used to protect river landscapes from the effects of flooding.

• How physical and human factors affect the flood risk – precipitation, geology, relief and land use.

• The use of hydrographs to show the relationship between precipitation and discharge.

• The costs and benefits of the following management strategies:

  • hard engineering – dams and reservoirs, straightening, embankments, flood relief channels

  • soft engineering – flood warnings and preparation, flood plain zoning, planting trees and river restoration.

• An example of a flood management scheme in the UK to show:

  • why the scheme was required

  • The management strategy

  • the social, economic and environmental issues

3.1.3.4 (Glacial Landscapes in the UK)

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

• Maximum extent of ice cover across the UK during the last ice age.

• Glacial processes:

  • freeze-thaw weathering

  • erosion – abrasion and plucking

  • movement and transportation – rotational slip and bulldozing

  • deposition – why glaciers deposit sediment (till and outwash).

Distinctive glacial landforms result from different physical processes.

• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from erosion – corries, arêtes, pyramidal peaks, truncated spurs, glacial troughs, ribbon lakes and hanging valleys.

• Characteristics and formation of landforms resulting from transportation and deposition – erratics, drumlins, types of moraine.

• An example of an upland area in the UK affected by glaciation to identify its major landforms of erosion and deposition.

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

• An overview of economic activities in glaciated upland areas – tourism, farming, forestry and quarrying.

• Conflicts between different land uses, and between development and conservation.

• An example of a glaciated upland area in the UK used for tourism to show:

  • the attractions for tourists

  • social, economic and environmental impacts of tourism

  • strategies used to manage the impact of tourism