Chapter 5: Europe Landscapes
Before You Start …
(a)physical geography: the study of the Earth’s natural features and landscapes
(b)human geography: the study of how people live with and interact with the physical landscape – their cultures, communities and activities
(a)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(b)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(a)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(b)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
Snow and ice-covered mountain ranges.
Many major transnational rivers.
About 90000 km of coastline.
Named examples may vary
colour / Type of landscape / Named European examplewhite / Glaciated /snow and ice / Alps, Pyrenees, Scandinavian Highlands
green / lowland / North European Plain
brown / Mountains/highland / Apennines, Tagus, Scottish Highlands
Should include:
•African tectonic plate collides with Eurasian plate
•Rock strata is compressed, folded and uplifted to form the Alps (fold mountains)
•Higher parts covered by snow and ice
•Glaciation occurs – glaciers occupy mountain valleys
•As glaciers retreat (melt) they leave behind a deeply eroded glacial landscape with many distinctive features
(a)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(b)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
Should include: fast flowing river, waterfall, gorge, rapids. Erosion.
(a)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(b)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
Should include: coastal landscape, cliffs, headland, beach. Erosion, transportation and deposition
(c)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
5.1 Formation, highlands and lowlands,
pages 122-123
The supercontinent of Pangaea split into two parts 400 / 200million years ago.
Between50 / 100 and 100 / 200 years later, one of these parts split in two again.
The western part formed the NorthAmerica / Eurasian plate, whilst the eastern part formed the North American / Eurasian plate.
The Eurasian plate is the fifth / fourth / third / second largest of the world’s tectonic plates
The Eurasian plate contains both Asia and Europe. Asia forms 20 / 50 / 80 % of the plate, whilst Europe makes up the remaining 80 / 50 / 20 %.
(a)divergent (constructive)
(b) apart
(c)
(i)new land / crust is formed
(ii)volcanic activity is common
(a)the African plate
(b)The African plate is colliding with the Eurasian plate
(c)Fold mountains like the Alps
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
The coastline of Norway has many fjords, shaped by glaciers
Some of Europe’s oldest mountains are in Scandinavia, Scotland and Iceland.
The mountains which run down the centre of Italy are called the Apennines.
Two of the major rivers which flow across the NorthEuropeanPlain are the Rhine and theElbe. (other answers possible)
The Danubeand Dneiperare two of the major rivers in E. Europe.
(other answers possible)
Central Uplands / Alpine mountainslocation
(countries/regions) / Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic / France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Slovenia.
Area (km2) / Student calculation / Student calculation
Height (metres) / varied / Highest =over 4000 metres
shape/type / Block mountains / Fold mountains
named mountains/peaks or ranges / Massif Central, Vosges, Taunus, Black Forest / Mont Blanc, Eiger.
Bernese, Pennine, Maritime, Bavarian and Austrian Alps. Dolomites
other / Formed by faulting / Formed by the collision of tectonic plates, compressing, folding and uplifting rock strata
EXTENSION TASK
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
Weathering is when rocks are broken down into smaller fragments by the action of the weather, plants or animals, usually on the surface or close to it. Once weathered the fragments remain in situ unless or until they are eroded, transported and deposited elsewhere by the action of wind ice, water or the wind.
When weathered layers of rock are ‘peeled off’ we call it exfoliation
Freeze thaw happens as water expands during the day and contracts at night, breaking rocks up
Acid rain can cause chemical weathering
Plants can cause weathering when roots grow and create cracks in rocks
Scree: weathered material / rock debris found on steep slopes or the base of steep slopes
Biological weathering: rocks broken up by the action of plants (e.g. growing roots) or animals (e.g. burrowing)
In situ: in place e.g. weathered material stays where it has been weathered unless/until it is moved elsewhere e.g. by ice, water, wind, gravity or animals
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
5.2 Landscapes from ice, pages 124-125
Temperature decreases with altitude – the higher you are above sea level, the colder it becomes. This means that even if high mountains are located on or near the Equator they are likely to have snow and ice for at least part of the year (and possibly snowfields and glaciers for all of the year if cold enough)
(i)glaciation: when an area is or has been covered by glaciers / ice sheets creating distinctive glacial landscapes/features
(ii)bergschrund: a crevasse which forms at the back of a snowfield at the top of a glacier as snow moves away from the rock
(iii)firn: compressed, coarse snow which may eventually compact into ice
STUDENT CHOICE
Should include this sequence:
•Snow fall exceeds snowmelt
•Snow collects and builds up in a dip or hollow on high mountain slopes
•Over time the weight of the snow compresses to form a coarser snow called firn
•Eventually (after hundreds of years) this forms glacier ice
•Eventually the ice starts to move slowly downhill into valleys below – as a glacier
STUDENT CHOICE / ANNOTATED DIAGRAMS
The main feature is a large (former v-shaped) river valley occupied by a glacier. It is joined by two small tributary glaciers. Each glacier is fed by a snowfield. There are also lines of debris on the glaciers: these are lateral moraines found on the glacier’s surface along the edges where debris has fallen onto or been eroded by the ice. Where two glaciers meet they form a medial moraine along the centre of the glacier. The end of the glacier is called the snout, where terminal moraine has been deposited.
(a)In Figure 5 the ice has left a much-changed glacial landscape. The snowfield has left behind a deep, steep-sided basin called a corrie now occupied by a lake or tarn, open on the fourth side. Where two corries were next to each other, a steep sided ridge called an arête can be found separating them. Above them is a steep central pyramidal peak, formed where corries have eroded all around the original mountain
The former v-shaped river valley has been eroded into a much bigger, deeper and steeper u-shaped valley (see answer to Q2). Hanging valleys are left above the main valley where smaller tributaries once joined the river – often marked by waterfalls. Material carried by the ice (moraines) is deposited on the valley floor, especially where the end or snout of the glacier once was. The valley is occupied by a long, narrow ribbon lake with a small stream called a misfit stream.
(b)That is was once warmer with a network of rivers and river basins, and then became much colder and covered by glaciers, snow and ice, before warming up again revealing the landscape we see today in Figure 5.
(c)May include:
•To dam and use for reservoirs / water storage
•To produce hydroelectric power
•For tourism
•For farming / communication links/ settlement
5.3 Case Study: The Alps, pages 126-129
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
The Alps form a chain of fold mountains about 1000 km long and 100 to 200 km wide.
The highest mountain isMont Blanc It is one of several peaks which are 4000metres or more.
The Alps are divided into 5, including the Pennine AlpsinFrance andItaly and Bernese Alps on the borders between Switzerland and Italy.
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
Should describe and explain the clear link between population density and relief i.e. the Alps are sparsely populated compared to flatter or lower areas.
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(a) and (b) STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site = outstanding scenery
The area contains a wide range of fragile ecosystems
It is closely studied and monitored by scientists e.g. to record any changes which may be the result of global warming / climate change
(a)
•Alpine farming in the past:grazing in high alpine meadows; livestock reared inside in winter; transhumance; small herds of sheep, goats and cattle
•Alpine farming today:viniculture on lower slopes; less jobs in farming; more intensive farming on valley floor; larger herds and farms; greater use of fertilisers and pesticides
(b)
•Using buildings to accommodate visitors
•Work as tour guides or ski instructors
Farms have had to become larger to survive, affecting the alpine meadows used for grazing. Fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides are used to help improve grazing. This has meant that there is little variety apart from pasture, reducing biodiversity.
(a)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(b)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
EXTENSION TASK
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
5.4 Rivers, pages 130-131
(i)watershed
(ii) source
(iii)load or bed load
(iv)drainage basin or catchment area
location / Upper course – first section starting at the sourcegradient / steep
river channel / Narrow, shallow, often rocky bed
discharge / small
main process(es) / Erosion (vertical = downwards)
valley: size/shape/floor / Small, narrow, steep-sided, little or no floor, v-shaped with interlocking spurs
main features / Waterfalls, gorges, rapids,
human activity/land use / Limited – sheep / goat farming on surrounding hillsides; winter sports/tourism if very high/snowy
FalseThe source of river a can be a spring, lake, desert or glacier
TrueIn the upper course the river often flows downhill around interlocking spurs
FalseErosion is usually outwards rather than downwards
FalseThe river deposits much of its load in this section
FalseWaterfalls gradually move downstream as they erode
TrueSoft rock erodes more quickly, allowing undercutting downstream of a waterfall
location / Middle course, between the upper and lower coursesgradient / Fairly steep at the beginning, more gentle at the end
river channel / Shallow and narrow at start, becoming wider and deeper towards the end of middle course
discharge / Higher than upper course, less than lower course
main process(es) / Erosion, transportation and deposition
valley: size/shape/floor / Valley floor starts to widen into a small flood plain; valley sides not as steep now, but still quite close to the river channel
main features / Meanders, ox-bow lakes, river cliffs, flood plain
human activity/land use / Farming on the flood plain (some arable), small towns/settlements; industry.
Water flows more slowly/quicklynear the outside bend of a meander
The discharge increases as the river channel becomes narrower/widerand deeper/shallower
The loop of a meander increases/decrease as more erosion/depositiontakes place on the inside bend
Steep river cliffs form on the inside/outsidebend of a meander where erosion/deposition occurs
location / The last section where the river ends and enters the sea/oceangradient / Flat or almost flat
river channel / Very wide and deep
discharge / Highest discharge is in this course
main process(es) / Transportation and deposition of load
valley: size/shape/floor / Wide, flat floor and flood plain; valley sides a long way from the river channel
main features / Embankments (levees); wide flood plain; ox-bow lakes; delta; estuary; tidal mud flats
human activity/land use / Often densely populated; towns/ports/cities; coastal resorts/tourism; industry; ferry ports
(a)the river in flood: should show valley covered by water and deposition taking place
(b) after several floods had occurred and subsided: should show deposition across flood plain, higher embankments and more deposition on bed of channel
e.g. the how:
•In the upper course the valley is steep sided, v-shaped and with little or no valley floor. The river channel is small and shallow
•By the middle course there is a valley floor / flood plain and the sides are less steep, but still quite close to the river channel. The channel is wider and deeper.
•The valley in the lower course is very wide and flat. The valley sides are a long way from the river channel which is deep and wide.
Need to also explain why= differing effects of gradient (slope); velocity (speed) of flow; amount of discharge
5.5 Case Study: The River Rhine, pages 132-135
(a)It is high in the mountains (Alps)so fed by:
(i)by glaciers and mountain streams
(ii)snow melt
(b)STUDENT CALCULATION / may vary according to map used
(c)
Tributary / Countries it flows through / Town/ city 1 / Town/city 2Aare / Switzerland / Student choice / Student choice
Main / Germany
Moselle / Germany, France
Neckar / Germany
Ruhr / Germany
Lippe / Germany
Meuse / Belgium, Netherlands
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
The Rhine begins 2000 metres up25 km from the Aletsch Glacier
Two mountain tributaries are suppliedbefore entering Lake Constance
The two meet near Reichenauwhere the Rhine’s upper course begins
One of the tributaries, the Vorderrhein,is justin the Swiss Alps
The river flows north from herewith water by melting glacier ice
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
•Upper Rhine Valley: 300 km long; block mountains (horsts) on either side; ancient rift valley;many meanders;Neckar and Main tributaries; Vosges and Black Forest
•Upper Middle Rhine Valley: 145 km long; The Rhine Gorge; Hunsruck and Eifel uplands;Taunus and Westerwald uplands
(a)
•Reduces the length of the river to navigate along
•Increases the velocity / speed of flow
(b)Helped drain parts of the flood plain
STUDENT SKETCH and ANNOTATIONS
The lower course begins at Bonn where the valley becomes much wider as it flows across the NorthEuropean Plain.This is a densely populated region, with many large industrial cities. The confluence of the river Ruhr and Rhine is found here. TheRuhr flows through one of Germany’s major industrial regions.
(a)On the confluence of the Rivers Rhine and Ruhr on the lower course of the Rhine. At the western edge of Germany’s Ruhr industrial region
(b)Easy route downstream along the Rhine to Rotterdam for seagoing ships and upstream across mainland Europe = large hinterland
(a)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
(b)STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
Suggest students use an atlas to help give detailed answers
3over time sediments (mud, sand and clay) start to build up
1the river channel becomes wider
4if sediments build up faster than the tides can remove it, a delta will form
5the river splits up into smaller channels called distributaries
2much of the river’s load is deposited as the river slows down
STUDENT CHOICE
Depends on atlas used but should name North Sea, main distributaries and waterways, barriers and settlements
STUDENT CHOICE / OPEN ANSWERS
5.6 Coasts, pages 136-137
(a)The fetch is the distance / stretch of water winds blow across to create waves
(b)The bigger/longer the fetch, the larger the waves can become
(a)
(b)
•They are high energy waves with a stronger backwash than swash, so takes material away/out to sea/ along the coast
•They can wear away land through a number of processes, especially abrasion = waves throwing sand, pebbles and rock against the coastline and hydraulic action = waves hit the coast, trapping air in cracks or spaces, building up then releasing pressure which can cause rocks to break up
- Write the correct word next to each description about rocks and coastal features.
Geology = the study of rocks and fossils over time
Strata =individual layers of rock
Dip =the angle of slope of layers of rock
Resistance =the extent to which rocks can be eroded
Headland =an area of hard rock jutting out to sea
Bay =a curved lowland are between two headlands
(i)resistance: how easy or difficult it is for rocks to erode e.g. harder rocks have more resistance so erode more slowly tam softer, less resistant rocks.
(ii)dip of the strata: the angle and direction at which the bedding planes/ rock layers slope
STUDENT CHOICE / ANNOTATED DIAGRAMS
(a)The base of cliff is being continually undercut by wave action at high tide/high water. This causes a notch to be eroded. In time the unsupported rock overhanging the notch will collapse. This creates a new cliff face further away from the sea – a process which continues.
(b)A wave cut platform
3abrasion and hydraulic action help create a cave
5an arch is unsupported so may collapse into the sea
1a headland formed from hard rock juts out to sea
6stacks are left detached from the main headland
4sometimes a cave erodes right through a narrow headland forming an arch
2waves eroded lines of weakness in the headland
(a)Weathering = where rocks are broken up by the weather, plants or animals and the fragments remain in situ
Erosion = the wearing away of rocks by e.g. moving water, wind or ice
(b)They can become saturated or waterlogged. This can lead to slumping and/or rockfalls
5.7 Case Study: The Chalk coast, Sussex, South East England, pages 138-141
Read page 136 and study Figures 1, 2 and 3
The South Downs is a chalk escarpment stretching west to east along the south coast of SE England across the counties of Hampshire and Sussex.
(a)An upland area or feature with a steep slope on one side (the scarp slope) and a more gentle (dip) slope on the other side
(b)Two main areas – the Isle of Thanet in Kent and the coastal area around Dover facing the English Channel. For a detailed answer students will need to use an atlas and Figure 1 (as they did for Q1)