This questions wants you to focus on EITHER fluvial or coastal
Isostasy and Its Impact on the Fluvial Landscape (14 SRPs)
Isostasy and Crustal Adjustment
(S) Isostasy refers to the rising or sinking of the Earth’s crust in response to changing surface loads.
(D) This occurs as the Earth's crust seeks equilibrium when weight, such as ice, is added or removed.
(SE) As glaciers melt and relieve pressure, the crust begins to rise, leading to various fluvial changes.Isostatic Rebound in Ireland After the Ice Age
(S) After the last Ice Age in Ireland, roughly 10,000 years ago, isostatic rebound occurred.
(D) As the weight of the ice was removed from the land, the crust started to rise.
(SE) This uplift led to significant changes in river systems across the landscape, especially in how rivers adjusted to the new base levels.River Rejuvenation as a Result of Rising Land
(S) As the land rises, rivers are forced to adjust to the new base level through a process called river rejuvenation.
(D) Rejuvenation occurs when a river has to erode downward to reach the new, lower base level.
(SE) This often creates steepened sections of the river, leading to the formation of features such as knickpoints.Knickpoints as Indicators of River Rejuvenation
(S) A knickpoint is a sharp change in the river’s gradient, marking a point of rejuvenation.
(D) The River Erne, located in Ireland, provides an example of a river with knickpoints caused by isostatic rebound.
(SE) These knickpoints are created as the river cuts through its valley, adjusting to the rising land.Waterfalls Formed at Knickpoints
(S) Waterfalls are often found at knickpoints where rejuvenation occurs.
(D) For example, the Horseshoe Falls on the River Shannon are a well-known feature formed at a knickpoint.
(SE) This waterfall was created when the river was forced to steepen its gradient due to isostatic uplift.Paired Terraces as Evidence of Isostatic Rebound
(S) Paired terraces form in river valleys as a result of isostatic rebound.
(D) These terraces are old floodplains left elevated on both sides of the valley as the river erodes downward.
(SE) An example can be found on the River Dodder near Dublin, where terraces mark stages of the river’s response to the new base level.Formation of a Valley Within a Valley
(S) As isostatic rebound continues, the river cuts deeper into its valley, creating a valley within a valley.
(D) This process, known as vertical erosion, carves a new valley floor as the river adjusts to the lowered base level.
(SE) The old valley floor is left as a terrace, while the river now flows in a deeper, steeper channel.Incised Meanders and Fluvial Rejuvenation
(S) Incised meanders are another feature of fluvial rejuvenation caused by isostasy.
(D) These meanders are formed when a river maintains its winding course but cuts vertically into its bed due to rejuvenation.
(SE) The River Barrow in Co. Kilkenny has deep incised meanders that developed as the river responded to rising land after the Ice Age.Steep-Sided Valleys Formed by River Rejuvenation
(S) River rejuvenation also increases the river's erosive power, leading to steep-sided valleys.
(D) The River Moy in Co. Mayo shows how rivers deepen their valleys through vertical erosion after isostatic uplift.
(SE) This creates V-shaped valleys and entrenched meanders as the river cuts through the landscape.Formation of Misfit Streams
(S) As rivers adjust to the new base level, they can form misfit streams.
(D) These streams are now too small for the large valleys they flow through, evidence of past larger rivers before isostatic changes occurred.
(SE) This is common in areas of Ireland where river rejuvenation has left oversized valleys relative to current river size.Complex River Systems Due to Multiple Stages of Rebound
(S) Over time, river systems can become complex due to multiple stages of isostatic rebound.
(D) Each stage of rebound may cause new knickpoints or terraces to form, creating a stepped profile along the river’s course.
(SE) The River Erne shows multiple terraces from stages of rejuvenation after the last Ice Age.Impact of Isostatic Rebound on Fluvial Landscapes
(S) In summary, isostatic rebound has a profound impact on fluvial landscapes.
(D) Rivers must erode downward as the land rises, creating features like knickpoints, waterfalls, paired terraces, and incised meanders.
(SE) These features reflect the dynamic adjustment of rivers to changes in base level due to isostasyIncreased Sediment Deposition from Rejuvenated Rivers
(S) As rivers undergo rejuvenation, the increased erosive power can lead to greater sediment transport.
(D) This sediment is often deposited downstream, forming new floodplains or deltas in areas where the river slows down.
(SE) The deposition of sediment is common in areas of Ireland where rivers, such as the Shannon, carry material eroded from upland rejuvenated sections.
14. Ongoing Fluvial Rejuvenation Due to Isostatic Changes
(S) Fluvial rejuvenation continues as long as the landscape adjusts to isostatic changes.
(D) The formation of terraces, knickpoints, and incised meanders are evidence of ongoing isostatic adjustment in Ireland’s river systems.
(SE) These changes highlight the impact of post-glacial rebound on shaping the fluvial landscape.
15. Diagram A relevant diagram is necessary to get full marks. Ensure it has a title, a frame, and labels. Keep it simple, don’t waste time, it is only worth 2 marks.