GEOGRAPHY

NATIONAL 4/5

In this document is almost everything you’ll need to know to do well in your prelim and your SQA exam.

Please use this….use a highlighter, copy it into your jotter, type it on your PC.

Important things to remember – write in full sentences and if they ask for a place, volcano or disease you have studied, this should be your first sentence. Look at the number of marks a question is worth and make sure you write at least that number of good sentences.

If you lose this, you can find the document on the Bellahouston Academy website.

Mr Macdonald


PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

SECTION 1 IN THE EXAM

Weather

You must know all the symbols to do with fronts, isobars and so on.

LATITUDE

Places near the equator are hotter than those further away.

ASPECT

Those places facing South are warmer than those facing North

HEIGHT

The higher up a hill you are, the colder it is.

AIR MASSES

There are a number of air streams which bring different weather conditions to the UK. If they come from the North, they will bring cold weather. If they come from the South, warm weather. If the air comes over land, dry weather. If they come over the sea, wet weather.

DEPRESSION (LOW PRESSURE)

Cold fronts bring heavy rain, Warm fronts bring steady rain (drizzle) An occluded front is found when a cold front catches up with a warm front, these bring torrential rain. In between the fronts is the warm sector, this is an area of warmer temperatures, clearer skies and less rainfall. Winds in a depression go parallel to the isobars in an anticlockwise direction.

ANTI CYLCONE (HIGH PRESSURE)

In an anticyclone, winds blow clockwise parallel to the isobars. Isobars are normally far apart and winds are light. There is little or no rainfall or clouds. It brings lovely warm weather in summer, very cold but clear weather in winter.

Glaciated uplands

At National 4/5 level you will be expected to be able to describe and explain, in detail, how the following features of glacial landscapes are formed by glacial erosion:

·  Corries

·  Tarn

·  Arête

·  Pyramidal peaks

·  U-shape valley/glacial trough

·  Truncated Spurs

·  Misfit stream

·  Hanging valleys

You will be expected to draw a diagram/s to help you illustrate your answer.

Corrie

Snow falls on a north facing hollow in a mountainside; this snow will gradually be compressed to form ice. As the ice moves down the mountainside due to gravity, it erodes the back and bottom of the hollow through plucking and abrasion. Plucking is when water freezes onto the rock so the glacier becomes attached, as the glacier moves downhill it pulls away rock fragments. Abrasion is when material carried along the bottom of the glacier effectively smoothes out the hollow of the corrie, like a sandpapering effect. Corrie lochs/tarns often fill the hollow after the ice has melted. Red Tarn

Arête

An arête is created when two corries form back to back. As they erode towards one another the rock between them is plucked to form a steep and narrow knife-edged ridge. Freeze-thaw action on the exposed surfaces causes them to have jagged and angular surfaces. Striding Edge

Pyramidal Peak

A pyramidal peak is created when three or more corries form back to back. The exposed rock is eroded by plucking and freeze-thaw to form a sharp, jagged and angular peak in a triangular or pyramidal shape. Ben Lomond

U-shaped valley

A glacier flows down an old V-shaped valley, as the glacier flows; it erodes the sides and bottom of the valley through plucking and abrasion. The valley becomes U-shaped, with very steep sides and a flat valley floor. Glen Avon

Truncated Spurs

V-shape river valleys wind around mountains as they have less erosive force. The sides of the mountains that rivers flow past are known as interlocking spurs. Glaciers have much greater erosive force so bulldoze their way down river valleys, eroding the interlocking spurs to form cut-off truncated spurs which form the steep sides of the U-shape valley. Three sisters of Glencoe

Misfit Stream

After the ice has melted away completely, rivers again flow through many U-shape valleys. These rivers are far too small to have eroded the valley they flow through and are therefore known as misfit streams.


Land use and conflicts - Case Study – Loch Lomond and the Trossachs NP

·  Hill Sheep Farming

·  Forestry

·  Quarrying (Gold mine)

·  Recreation and Tourism

·  Hydro Electric Power

·  Water Supply

·  Military

Hill Sheep Farming

In a glaciated upland area such as Loch Lomond, temperatures are very cold, slopes are very steep and there is heavy rainfall. Low temperatures due to the height of the land mean that the growing season is too short to grow crops and a lack of sunshine means crops will not ripen. The slopes are too steep for modern farming machinery to be used, making it extremely difficult to grow crops and the high rainfall leaches nutrients from the soil, leaving it thin, acidic and infertile. Sheep are hardy animals which can survive in these cold, harsh environments on the upper slopes of U-shaped valleys.

Forestry

Commercial forestry can take place on the lower, gentler slopes of the U-shape valleys where conditions are less harsh and soils are deeper and more fertile. Commercial forestry can be very profitable. Queen Elizabeth Forest

Industry

There is very little flat land here for traditional manufacturing industries and also a lack of wide, fast roads for transport of people and goods. There is also a low unskilled population to work in factories. The main industry in the area is quarrying. The Cononish Gold mine will create jobs in the local area.

Hydro-electric power (HEP)

This is generated by the damming of hanging valleys to create electricity using the force of the water. Loch Sloy Hydro Electric Power station

Tourism

Tourists are attracted to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs due to its natural picturesque scenery and variety of all year round activities. Loch Lomond is also close to Glasgow and has excellent road links, A82.Hotels : Cameron House, Rowardennan Hotel.


Recreation and Leisure

Loch Lomond is an excellent place for recreation due to its variety of different landscapes. Pyramidal Peaks such as Ben Lomond provide excellent opportunities for hill walking. Corries also provide excellent opportunities for winter sports such as skiing. There are boat trips, fishing, mountain biking….

Historical and cultural attractions such Luss and Rob Roy’s cave also attract people to the region.

Water Supply

The high rainfall ensures that lakes in this region such as Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine can be used to supply fresh drinking water to nearby towns and cities like Edinburgh. The area must have the appropriate geological conditions such as an impermeable rock which provides ideal conditions for a reservoir.

Military

The military use this rough terrain for firing ranges and to run test exercises. These areas are often remote and far from settlements so ideal for military testing, due to noise and safety concerns. The Air Force also fly jetplanes in the area.


Due to the variety of different land uses, conflict inevitably occurs. Most of this conflict is as a result of the mass influx of tourists to the region, especially during summer.

Tourists vs Farmers

Farming activities are often in conflict with walker's rights of access

Walkers leaving gates open, sheep escaping and causing accidents

Dogs chasing sheep

Stone walls damaged

Tourists vs Locals

Tourism causes problems with increased litter

Traffic congestion at peak periods

Footpath erosion in popular walking areas

Increase in air pollution

Second home owners increase house prices so first time buyers struggle

Services may close as second home owners are not permanent resident

Tourists vs Tourists

Wild camping – noise, anti-social behaviour

Noisy activities like water skiing conflicts with those looking for peace such as sightseers or bathers

Motor boats will scare away fish from anglers

Camp and caravan sites spoil views

Tourists vs Industry

Commercial forestry is unpopular as it looks unnatural

May also restrict access for walkers

Industry/quarrying creates air and noise pollution

Heavy traffic on narrow roads – further congestion and damages road surface

Spoils the appearance of the scenery


Management Strategies and the Role of Public and Voluntary Bodies

The National Park Authority - A Public Body

Planning permission for developments which may cause conflict can be refused by National Park Authorities in National Park areas.

Different recreational activities may be zoned such as waterskiing and sailing.

Park rangers are employed to prevent problems developing between different users of the park. Wild camping has been banned from the East side of the loch. There is also an alcohol ban. NPA visitor centre staff aim to educate the public about the 'Countryside Code/Outdoor Access Code'

Improved Public transport (Balmaha) has been introduced to reduce the effect of traffic congestion.

The National Trust - A Voluntary Body

Voluntary bodies such as the National Trust protect areas by buying land and buildings, maintaining walls and footpaths, and protecting important wildlife habitats.

Tourists vs Industry

Quarries and cement works can be filled in and landscaped once they have closed.

Vegetation and trees can be used to shield the quarry from view.

Quarries can be turned into water features which can be also be used for recreational purposes.

Environmentally friendly methods of transportation such as nets on lorries are also used. Industrial buildings are made from local materials and are low level.

This helps them to blend in with the surrounding landscape.


Coasts

You will also be expected to be able to describe and explain, in detail, how the following features of coastlines are formed:

Coastal Erosion

·  Headlands and Bays

·  Cave

·  Arch

·  Stack

·  Stump

Coastal Deposition

·  Longshore Drift

·  Spit

·  Sandbar

·  Tombolo

EROSION

Headlands and Bays

Headlands and bays are formed due to differential erosion, where rocks along the coastline are formed in alternating bands of different rock types e.g. sandstone and clay and which meet the coast at right angles. Clay is a softer rock than the sandstone so is eroded more quickly. The softer rocks therefore erode backwards faster to form sheltered bays (which may have beaches), whereas the harder rock areas jut out into the sea to form exposed headlands.

Caves, Arches, Stacks and Stumps

As headlands jut out into the seas they are more exposed to erosion by waves. Hydraulic action (the force of the water eroding rock) will attack cracks (areas of weakness) in the rock widening them. The cracks will be continuously widened until over time they form a cave as they have been eroded backwards by corrosion (rocks in the water hitting off the backwall and eroding it). Continued corrosion and hydraulic action on both sides of a cave leads to it cutting through the headland completely to form an arch. The rocks at the base of the arch will be attacked by the waves and widened which in time leads to the top of the arch being unsupported and unstable, so that it will eventually collapse. This leaves a column of rock standing alone in the sea which is called a stack. This can be eroded further until it collapses leaving a stump. Arch : Durdle Door Stack : Old Harrys Rock


DEPOSITION

Longshore Drift

The direction waves move in is determined by the prevailing wind. In the UK this is usually from the South West. Therefore waves approach beaches at an angle. When waves break on the shoreline water is carried up the beach at the same angle. This is called the swash. The backwash is when water is pulled back towards the sea. This happens at right angles to the swash. As a result sand is transported along the beach in the direction of the prevailing winds. This process is called longshore drift.

Spit

Spits form where the coastline changes direction and longshore drift continues to move material along the beach. Longshore drift will deposit material in the sea after the coastline has changed direction. Over time the level of the sand deposited will build up until it is above sea level. The beach therefore appears to extend out into the seas and is known as a spit or sandspit. Blakeney Spit

Sandbar

The process of forming a spit can also lead to the formation of a sandbar. If a sandspit occurs near a bay then the spit can continue to form across the mouth of the bay completed blocking it off. This is now known as a sandbar. The seawater trapped behind the sandbar is called a lagoon. A sandbar is less likely to occur across a river mouth as the river current does not allow deposition to happen and carries the sand out toward the open sea. Slapton Sands

Tombolo

If a spit grows out across the sea and joins onto an island then it is now called a tombolo. Chesil Beach

Case Study – The Dorset Coast

Land Uses

·  Water Sports

·  Military

·  Historic Attractions

·  Coastal Footpaths

·  Wildlife

·  Water Sports

A coastline provides numerous areas where people can participate in a variety of different water sports. These include swimming, water skiing, windsurfing and yachting along the coast, in sheltered bays and lagoons.

Military

Military training takes place along many coastlines, e.g. the South West Coast footpath runs through Lulworth (Army) Range.

Historic Attractions

The Dorset coast has a number of historic attractions which bring visitors to the area. These include Corfe Castle, Thomas Hardy's cottage and a number of historic ruins.

Coastal Footpaths

The area along the Dorset coast has many coastal footpaths where walkers can enjoy the stunning and varied scenery of the region. The South West Coast long distance footpath for example passes along cliffs where they will see caves, arches and stacks and bays with sandy beaches. Landscape features which tourists come to see include Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Old Harry and Tilly Whim Caves.