UK Landscapes: Physical & Human Processes (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)

Physical Process in UK Landscapes

Landscapes and the interaction of physical processes

• Distinctive upland and lowland landscapes can result from the interaction of physical processes, including:

  • Glacial erosion and deposition

  • Weathering and climate

  • Post-glacial rivers

  • Slope processes

Glacial erosion and deposition

• During the last ice age, large areas of the UK were covered with ice

• The erosive power of the glaciers formed many landforms which remain in the landscape of Scotland, Wales and the Lake District today

• The differences between upland and lowland landscapes are the result of the interaction of different physical processes

Upland landscapes: Scotland, Wales and the Lake District

Climate

• In the north and east, the UK experiences high levels of precipitation

• High levels of precipitation can lead to landslides, mudflows and rotational slip due to the saturation of the slopes

• Where there are impermeable rocks, such as granite, this leads to surface runoff, which erodes the landscape

Weathering

• Weathering in upland landscapes is often the result of freeze-thaw

• Many of the slopes in the upland areas are steep

• When the rocks break off, they fall down the slopes as scree

Freeze-thaw weathering is the dominant process in upland areas of the UK

Slope processes

• Upland areas experience slope processes due to the influence of gravity and high levels of precipitation

• These include:

  • Rock falls

  • Landslides

  • Mudflows

  • Rotational slip

Post-glacial rivers

• Misfit streams can be found as small rivers flowing through U-shaped valleys that were formed by glaciers

Lowland landscapes: Sussex, East Anglia, and Lincolnshire

Climate

• During periods of colder climates, the ground was frozen

• Rivers flowing over the surface eroded valleys

• As temperatures increased, the water drained through the permeable rock, and many rivers disappeared

• Dry valleys remain 

Glacial deposition

• As well as sedimentary rocks, some lowland areas are the result of glacial deposits

  • Glacial till is less resistant to erosion

Rivers

• River erosion and deposition lead to wide valleys with flat floodplains 

Human Activities in UK Landscapes

• The physical landscape of the UK has been significantly changed by human activity, including:

  • Settlements

  • Agriculture

  • Forestry

Settlements

• Settlements developed where the landscape offered advantages such as:

  • Rivers

    • Meanders in rivers provided good defensive locations as well as transport links and freshwater

  • Natural harbours were sites for fishing and trading

  • Natural springs brought reliable freshwater

• Over time, these settlements have developed, forming towns and cities

• In upland landscapes, there are fewer settlements as the land is less suitable for building

Agriculture

• The UK landscape has been changed through farming

  • Drainage ditches are built to drain water from low-lying land

  • Trees and hedges are cleared away to make room for large agricultural machinery

  • Small fields are combined to make it more profitable for farming but also to use large machinery

Forestry

• Planting, managing, and care of forests for:

  • Conservation

  • Natural windbreaks

  • Landscaping

  • Recreation

  • Timber production

• Many upland areas have been planted with trees

  • To make the trees easier to manage, they are usually planted in straight lines