Edexcel Geography B
Revision Booklet
Paper 2 –
UK Geographical
Issues
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, Contents –
Topic 4 – UK’s Evolving Physical Landscape – Topic 5 – UK’s Evolving Human Landscape –
OVERVIEW – PG 3 – OVERVIEW – PG 12 –
How have geology and past processes influenced the physical Why are population, economic activity and settlements
landscape of the UK? key elements of human landscape?
How have physical processes helped create distinctive UK How does migration shape the UK economy and society?
landscapes? How is the UK economy changing?
How has human activity helped create distinctive UK What are the effects of globalisation, trade and
landscapes? investment?
A – Coastal Change and Conflict – PG 4 – CASE STUDY – Birmingham – PG 13 –
How do waves and geology influence the coastline? How is Birmingham changing?
What other landforms are created due to coastal erosion? What is the structure of Birmingham?
What subaerial processes act on the coastline? – PG 5 How is migration changing Birmingham?
What are influences of transportation and deposition on coast? What are the patterns of inequality in Birmingham?
How do geographers investigate coastal landscapes using OS What challenges have been created by the changes in
Maps? – PG 6 Birmingham?
How do human activities influence coastal landscapes? – How have changes in Birmingham caused economic and
CASE STUDY – DORSET COAST population growth?
What challenges do coastal landscapes create and how are they What has been done to regenerate and rebrand
managed? Birmingham and what have been the effects?
How do we protect our coastlines? – PG7 How has urban living been made more sustainable and
B – River Processes and Pressures – PG 8 – improved quality of life?
Why is there a variety of river landscapes in UK? How is Birmingham interdependent with its
How do river processes form distinctive landforms? surroundings?
CASE STUDY – River Severn – PG 9 CASE STUDY – Worcestershire – PG 16 –
How do physical factors and human activities affect storm What changes have taken place in rural Worcestershire?
hydrographs? What are the challenges and opportunities of rural
How do OS maps help geographers investigate river change?
landscapes? – PG 10 What is rural diversification and what are its
How do physical processes interact to cause flooding on River environmental impacts?
Severn?
Why is the flood risk in the UK increasing?
How can you reduce the chances of flooding? – PG 11
Topic 6 – Geographical Fieldwork – PG 18 –
Enquiry Question
Locating the study
Methodology
Risk assessment
Data presentation
Analysis and conclusions
Evaluation
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, Topic 4 – UK’s Evolving Physical Landscape – Overview -
How have geology and past processes influenced the physical landscape of the UK?
Sedimentary Rocks – formed of small particles that have been eroded, transported, and deposited in layers or
from remains of plants and animals – carboniferous limestone, chalk and clay. They are found in lowland UK
landscapes, North and South Down – South-East England – hills formed of chalk. Some upland areas contain
carboniferous limestone formed 350 million years ago when GB surrounded warm tropical seas.
Igneous Rocks – created by volcanic activity when magma or lava cools, forming rocks made of crystals that
usually hard – granite. They are found in Scotland, North Wales, Lake District, and south-west England.
Metamorphic Rocks – existing rocks that have been changed by extreme pressure. They usually comprised of
layers or bands of crystals are very hard – slate, schists. They are found in Scotland, North Wales, Lake District,
and south-west England.
UK upland areas are formed of harder, resistant rocks that have been eroded slower than softer rocks.
300 million years ago, tectonic processes caused magma to rise through crust. Some reached surface as lava.
Today these are areas of high relief such as Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland, and Dartmoor, Devon.
How have physical processes helped create distinctive UK landscapes?
Dartmoor is an example of upland landscape formed when massive dome of magma developed underground
290 million years ago. As it cooled it formed granite, and cracks known as joints developed. This made rock
vulnerable to freeze-thaw weathering. As granite becomes exposed on surface, erosion and mass movement
removes broken-up downhill. Bowerman’s Nose surrounded by clitter slopes covered in smaller rocks.
Yorkshire Dales has largest areas of carboniferous limestone in UK. Impact of various physical processes on
rock creates, cliffs, gorges, valleys, waterfalls and limestone pavements. One distinctive area is Malha Cove.
15,000 years ago melting water from glaciers created waterfall which eroded cliff. Combination of water flow
over cove as well as erosion, weathering creating curved face. Above the cove created limestone pavements.
Last Ice age, glaciers eroded and transported, large quantities of rock. 11,700 years ago, ice retreated resulting
in deposition. An example is Ingleborough, where Silurian rock can be found on top of carboniferous limestone
North and South Downs during Cretaceous Period, Britain covered by warm seas which reported in marine
deposits that created chalk foundations for both Downs. 30 million years ago, large earth movement caused
compact layers of sediment to be forced upwards creating chalk dome. Overtime dome experienced erosion
which removed chalk leaving North and South Downs. South Downs consists of scarp slope. Between both
where chalk eroded, sandstone ridges and gentler, clay vales have been exposed.
How have human activity helped create distinctive UK landscapes?
Agriculture – South Downs National Park is example of how distinctive landscapes result from human activity. 85% is
farmed with 1100 businesses operating. Great for training race horses and grazing sheep due to chalk. Clay grassland is
suitable for dairy cows. Deep chalk soils more suitable for arable farming
Advantages of Farming Disadvantages of Farming
Income generated supports local economy. Decline in arable farming and changes in farming have reduced presence of
arable plants which damaged wildlife habitats
Arable farming has contributed towards supporting rare bird species on Decline in traditional practices – sheep grazing – have led to scrub
Downs. encroachment on remaining chalk grassland
Formation of hedgerows and field margins have provided wildlife There have been significant decline in chalk grassland due to chemicals in
corridors for bats farming
Forestry - South Downs Park has widespread of woodland. Distribution of woodland is uneven with west more wooded
than east. Human activity has increased resulting in areas being cleaned.
Advantages of forestry on South Downs Disadvantages of forestry on South Downs
Large percentage of woodland makes up South Downs is comprised of Removal of woodland for new developments is threatening some of ancient
ancient trees which provide habitats for diverse range. large – leaved lime woodland.
Timber harvested from National Park is sustainable with growing markets Many of hazel and chestnut coppices no longer being managed as
traditionally. Overgrown due to decline and biodiversity.
Settlements – Chalk escarpments of South Downs suitable for development. South Downs Park most populated at 120,000 –
live in urban areas and villages surrounding. Recent years been many developments in many settlements in area. Resulted
in loss of local distinctiveness. Historic features have been replaced. Decline in community facilities such as post offices,
stores, pubs or schools.
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