THE SOUTH DOWNS

ESCARPMENT

Where is the South Downs Escarpment?

The area referred to in this presentation is here

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

Clay Vale

Escarpment

Scarp slope

Dip slope

Springs

Dry Valleys

Physical Features on O.S. Map

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

The next slide is taken from here..

Looking west along the scarp slope

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

Physical features…. name them

Vale

Escarpment

Scarp Slope

Dip Slope

Spring L

ine

River Gap

1.

2

34

5

6

6

Impermeable clay

Porous chalk

Dip Slope

Block diagram…physical features

River gap

Vale

Escarpment

Scarp slope

Spring line

A Closer Look at the Vale…..

• Look at the photo and describe the relief

• What rock underlies the vale?

first on the photo

…and then on the map

• look at the contours and

describe the relief

• remember to refer to

altitude and gradient

• is surface drainage

present or absent? Why?

• what is happening here? ..and here?

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

One of the springs

A Closer Look at the Escarpment• How do the scarp and dip slopes differ?

• What rock underlies the escarpment?

first on the photo

…and then on the map

The Scarp Slope

Look at the contours and

describe the relief

The Dip Slope

Look at the contours and

describe the relief

Is surface drainage present or absent? Why?

Another feature of the escarpment…

Is photographed from here

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

What is this feature?

‘V’ shaped profile

..but no evidence of a stream

It’s the dry valley called Devil’s Dyke

When and how were features like this created?

How has this landscape influenced Human Geography?

Settlement

FarmingRecreation

Communications

Prehistoric and Ancient Settlement

Where was it located and why?

Why would settlement have avoided the vale at that time?

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

Modern Settlement

Where is it located and why?

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

Farming

intensive or extensive?

arable or pastoral? valeescarpment

Communications

Explain the routes of :

a) the minor road network and

b) the South Downs WayMap copyright Ordnance Survey

Recreation

What evidence is there of recreational land use on the map?

Map copyright Ordnance Survey

Vale

Escarpment Gap

Prehistoric settlement

Scarp slope

Dip slopeChalk

Clay

Spring line

Modern settlement

Now remember!