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Farming - pastoral farming, thick soils in valleys, cereal and potato crops

Water management - dams, HEP

Forestry - woodland and coniferous forest

Quarrying - limestones used for conditioning soil and and cement

Tourism - walking, cycling, sailing, kayaking

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Corries
Large hollowed out depressions found on the upper slopes of glaciated valleys
Aretes - knife edged ridge often found at the back of a corrie
Pyramidal Peaks - if 3 or more corries have formed on a mountain, erosion will lead to a peak
Glacial Valley Landforms

Troughs

Truncated spurs

Hanging valleys

Ribbon lakes

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Moraines

Lateral - forms at edges of glacier and mostly scree material

Ground - material dragged underneath the glacier and left behind when the ice melts

Medial - when a tributary glacier joins the main to lateral moraines will merge to produce a single line that runs down the centre of the glacier

Terminal - material piles up at the snout of a glacier to form a high ridge

Drumlins - egg shaped hills found on the floor of a glacial trough

Erratics - large boulder resting on a different rock type

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Erosion - Abrasion and Plucking

Weathering - Freeze-thaw weathering

Transportation - bulldozing

Deposition - till and outwash

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How do glaciers shape the landscape? Animation from geog.1 Kerboodle.

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Glaciers erode by pushing rocks like a bulldozer

when a glacier retreats, it goes back up the valley

freeze thaw is the only method of weathering in glaciated areas

glaciers are frozen all of the time

rocks break down from freeze thaw weathering after a few rounds of freezing

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Freeze-thaw Weathering

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Weathering and erosion - Freeze thaw weathering

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How Do Glaciers Move? TIMELAPSE! | Earth Lab

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Weathering and erosion are basically the same thing

Corries, cirques and cwms are different things

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Glaciaition Processes and Formation of a Corrie

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Moraines vanish

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Identifying glacial landforms on an OS map.

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How to read Maps - Grid References (Geography Skills)

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Corries, Aretes and Pyramidal peaks

Glacial trough

Truncated spurs

Depositional landforms

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Online map produced by University of Sheffield researchers reveals how major cities were affected by the last glacial cycle 22,000 years ago

People can type in their area or postcode to see how their area was affected and see the landforms that might be nearby

BRITICE map and GIS database of the glaciated landscape of the British Isles is the most complete overview of glacial landforms to date - containing more than 170,000 landforms from over 100 years of field investigation.

An interactive online map produced by researchers at the University of Sheffield reveals how major cities were affected by the last glacial cycle 22,000 years ago - when a kilometre-thick ice sheet covered Britain and Ireland.
The vast ice sheet sculpted the landscape, leaving behind landforms which have allowed researchers to piece together how the ice sheet grew, flowed and disappeared. The online BRITICE map allows people to type in their postcode or city to look at how their area was affected and see the landforms that might be nearby - such as moraines recording the margin of the ice sheet.

The BRITICE map and GIS database of the glaciated landscape of the British Isles is the most complete overview of glacial landforms to date, containing more than 170,000 landforms from over 100 years of field investigation.

Dr Jeremy Ely, a Research Associate on the BRITICE-CHRONO project, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Geography, said: "The landform information tells us about how the last British-Irish ice sheet behaved. We can see how it dammed rivers, creating large glacial lakes which covered Manchester, Doncaster and Peterborough.

"Corridors of fast flowing ice, known as ice streams, flowed toward the east over Edinburgh and toward the west over Glasgow. Ice also covered the entirety of Ireland, flowing through the Irish Sea, where it coalesced with Welsh ice, causing it to flow southward toward the Isles of Scilly."

The BRITICE-CHRONO project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, has seen researchers work for six years to model the build-up and retreat of the last British-Irish ice sheet. The programme has involved more than 70 scientists from around the world who have visited 28 different islands, collected more than 15 tonnes of samples from 914 sites and steamed 7,942km on marine expeditions.

As well as the online map, a physical accompanying map poster has been distributed to all secondary schools in the UK to assist pupils studying glacial landscapes and processes as part of their GCSE and A Level studies.

The University of Sheffield's Department of Geography is one of the largest departments in the country in terms of undergraduate numbers, and places on courses are amongst the most-sought-after in the UK.
View the online BRITICE map Find out more about the BRITICE-CHRONO project

Additional information
The University of Sheffield
With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world's leading universities.

A member of the UK's prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines.

Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in.

Sheffield is the only university to feature in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to Work For 2018 and for the last eight years has been ranked in the top five UK universities for Student Satisfaction by Times Higher Education.Sheffield has six Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and its alumni go on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence all over the world, making significant contributions in their chosen fields.

Global research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, AstraZeneca, Glaxo SmithKline, Siemens and Airbus, as well as many UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.

Contact

For further information please contact:

Hannah Postles
Media Relations Officer
The University of Sheffield
0114 222 1046
h.postles@sheffield.ac.uk

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Interactive map reveals how British Isles were affected by last glacial cycle 22,000 years ago

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Online map produced by University of Sheffield researchers reveals how major cities were affected by the last glacial cycle 22,000 years ago People can type in their area or postcode to see how their area was affected and see the landforms that might be nearby BRITICE map and GIS database of the glaciated landscape of the British Isles is the most complete overview of glacial landforms to date - containing more than 170,000 landforms from over 100 years of field investigation.

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Quarrying - limestone, slate and granite (pollution of land and rivers)
Tourism - local landowner conflct (traffic congestion and rising house prices)
Water Storage - reservoirs (flooding of farmland)

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Wind Turbines at Kirkstone Pass
3 16m wind turbines
completed in april 2012
cost of £150,000
Glenridding zip-wire
4 parallel one mile long zip wires above Glenridding in Patterdale

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Management Strategies

Traffic - dual carriageways, transport hubs, park and ride bus schemes, speed bumps

Footpath Erosion - the upland path landscape restoration project

Responsible Tourism (Nurture Lakeland)

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Why do people visit the lake district?
Physical and Cultural/ Historial Attractions

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Lake District, England - Visit Britain - Unravel Travel TV

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Bowness on Windermere | The Lake District [4K60fps]

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1. Hambrey, M. J. 1994. Glacial Environments. UCL Press.

2. Krüger, J., Schomacker, A. and Benediktsson, Í.Ö., 2010. 6 Ice-Marginal Environments: Geomorphic and Structural Genesis of Marginal Moraines at Mýrdalsjökull. Developments in Quaternary Sciences, 13, 79-104.

3. Dyke, A.S. and Prest, V.K. 1987. Late Wisconsinan and Holocene history of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Geographie Physique et Quaternaire XLI, 237-63.

4. Benn, D.I. and Evans, D.J.A., 2010. Glaciers and Glaciation. Hodder Education.

5. Bennett, M.M. and Glasser, N.F. 2011. Glacial Geology: Ice Sheets and Landforms. John Wiley & Sons.

6. Schomacker, A. 2011. Moraine (Eds.) Singh, V.P., Singh, P. and Haritashya, U.K. Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers. Springer.

7. Dyke, A.S., Andrews, J.T., Clark, P.U., England, J.H., Miller, G.H., Shaw, J. and Veillette, J.J., 2002. The Laurentide and Innuitian ice sheets during the last glacial maximum. Quaternary Science Reviews, 21, 9-31.

8. Glasser, N.F., Jansson, K.N., Harrison, S. and Kleman, J., 2008. The glacial geomorphology and Pleistocene history of South America between 38°S and 56°S. Quaternary Science Reviews, 27, 365-390.

9. Sharp, M., 1984. Annual moraine ridges at Skálafellsjökull, south-east Iceland. Journal of Glaciology, 30, 82-93.

10. Bradwell, T., 2004. Annual moraines and summer temperatures at Lambatungnajökull, Iceland. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 36, 502-508.

11. Beedle, M.J., Menounos, B., Luckman, B.H. and Wheate, R., 2009. Annual push moraines as climate proxy. Geophysical Research Letters, 36.

12. Lukas, S., Graf, A., Coray, S. and Schlüchter, C., 2012. Genesis, stability and preservation potential of large lateral moraines of Alpine valley glaciers-towards a unifying theory based on Findelengletscher, Switzerland. Quaternary Science Reviews, 38, 27-48.

13. Benn, D.I. and Owen, L.A., 2002. Himalayan glacial sedimentary environments: a framework for reconstructing and dating the former extent of glaciers in high mountains. Quaternary International, 97, 3-25.

14. Benn, D.I., Kirkbride, M.P., Owen L.A. and Brazier, V. 2003. Glaciated Valley Landsystems (Ed.) Glacial Landsystems, Arnold, London.

15. Evans, D.J., Shulmeister, J. and Hyatt, O., 2010. Sedimentology of latero-frontal moraines and fans on the west coast of South Island, New Zealand. Quaternary Science Reviews, 29, 3790-3811.

16. Eyles, N. and Rogerson, R.J., 1978. A framework for the investigation of medial moraine formation: Austerdalsbreen, Norway, and Berendon Glacier, British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Glaciology, 20, 99-113.

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Moraines are distinct ridges or mounds of debris that are laid down directly by a glacier or pushed up by it1. The term moraine is used to describe a wide variety of landforms created by the dumping, pushing, and squeezing ... Continue reading →

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Welcome

For grandeur and rugged beauty, few locations equal Cadair Idris, a spectacular chain of peaks in the south of Snowdonia National Park.

The highest peak, and one of Wales's highest mountains, is Penygadair and the views from the summit overlook most of Wales, from the Llŷn peninsula in the north-west to the Brecon Beacons in the south-east.

The rocky peaks of Cadair Idris were formed by volcanic processes and later sculpted over many Ice Ages by glaciers as they thawed and shattered the rocks.

The remarkable geology supports a wealth of wildlife and special plants, and a large part of the mountain has been designated as a National Nature Reserve

Dôl Idris parkland lies at the foothills of Cader Idris and is the gateway to the reserve.

This parkland was once part of the Idris family estate and it has a peaceful lake and exotic specimen trees.

Visiting Cadair Idris

The Minffordd path to the summit of Cadair Idris starts just past the visitor centre.

There are also four short walking trails.

If you're feeling energetic and have suitable footwear, why not try one of our two steep climbs up part of the Minffordd path for views of waterfalls and woodlands.

If you prefer a gentle stroll on flatter ground or a peaceful picnic by the lake, try our two accessible paths through the parkland.

Walking trails

Dôl Idris Lake and the Parkland Circuit walking trails are waymarked from the car park and follow flat paths in the parkland. These two trails can be combined to make a longer walk.

The Gorge Climb and the Nant Cadair Bridge Walk follow part of the Minffordd Path and climb steeply from the visitor centre on to the National Nature Reserve.

Dôl Idris Lake

⅓ mile/0.6 kilometres, accessible

This circular route starts from the car park and goes all the way around the lake in the parkland.

Look out for birds such as the dipper and grey wagtail, which breed on the lakeshore, and the fish ladder near the footbridge that helps salmon to reach the streams.

There are picnic benches around the path.

Parkland Circuit

½ mile/0.8 kilometres, accessible

This slightly longer circular route passes through the parkland to the visitor centre.

Look out for the ruined building where Idris table water and ginger beer were first made.

There are picnic benches around the path.

Gorge Climb

460 feet/140 metres (one way), moderate

The Gorge Climb starts just past the visitor centre.

It follows part of the Minffordd Path which has many steep, rocky steps into the Celtic Rainforest with views across the gorge.

It returns down the same path.

Nant Cadair Bridge

⅓ mile/0.6 kilometres (one way), strenuous

The Nant Cadair Bridge Walk follows the same route as the Gorge Climb on part of the Minffordd path which has many steep, rocky steps.

It then continues onto the lower slopes of the open mountain to the Nant Cadair slate bridge.

It returns down the same path.

Walking to the summit

A network of paths lead up and around Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve, meeting on the summit at Penygadair.

Footpaths are mainly well defined and easy to follow but visibility can change quickly and it is advisable to carry a map and compass at all times.

There is a shelter at the top of Cadair Idris for use during inclement weather.

Even in summer the temperature at the top can be several degrees lower than in the car park. Low cloud often covers the summit, so it can be damp as well as cold.

Minffordd Path

This route is 6 miles to the summit and back.

It is the shortest route up Cadair Idris but also the steepest.

This very strenuous climb is not waymarked and starts just past the visitor centre on a long flight of very steep rocky steps.

It should only be attempted by experienced walkers with appropriate clothing and footwear, and a map.

All routes include steep and often slippery sections, with loose stone and shale surfaces

There are gates and stiles on all routes

Take care on the wet and boggy areas

Wear good walking shoes

Take suitable clothing with you

Carry water and food with you

Visitor centre and tea room

Cadair Idris visitor centre and Cadair Tea Room are 250 metres from the car park on a wide level path.

The visitor centre houses an exhibition showcasing the wildlife, geology and legends of Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve.

The exhibition includes:

interactive games

short film about the making of the mountain

film about work that Natural Resources Wales does for nature conservation here

animated films telling the legends of Idris the Giant

live infrared footage of rare lesser horseshoe bats in the roofspace

The centre is owned by Natural Resources Wales, and managed in partnership with the staff of Tŷ Te Cadair Tea Room.

The visitor centre and tea room are open seasonally - see opening times.

Quality assured

The visitor centre has been accredited as a Quality Assured Visitor Attraction by Visit Wales.

The Visit Wales Quality Marque is awarded to attractions that have been independently assessed against the national standards of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme.

Legend of Cadair Idris

Local folklore describes Idris as a giant who lived on this magnificent mountain; Cadair Idris is Welsh for "Idris's chair".

The large boulders on the lower slopes are supposed to be the debris from stone throwing battles between Idris and the other giants.

It is said that if you are lucky enough to survive a night on the summit, the ordeal will either drive you mad or turn you into a poet.

Our film about the legend of Cadair Idris is bi-lingual. The Welsh version plays first and the English version follows after seven minutes.

What to see on the National Nature Reserve

National Nature Reserves are places with some of the very finest examples of wildlife habitats and geological features.

A walk through Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve is like climbing a ladder from habitat to habitat, from a fertile valley to the rocky peak of one of Wales's highest mountains.

You will ascend from the classic U-shaped Tal-y-llyn valley through a steep gorge, to a hanging valley and glacial Cwm Cau.

Above lie the cliffs of Craig Cau and the Penygadair summit, with their bare jagged rocks.

What to see in spring

If you're lucky, you may spot peregrine falcons hunting above the high crags, or a shy ring ouzel in the steep rocky ravines.

Wheatears return to the mountain too, whilst chiffchaffs and willow warblers can be heard singing all around the visitor centre at the foot of the reserve.

Many woodland plants such as primrose and wood anemone come into flower, and the oaks show signs of bursting into life again.

What to see in summer

Summer sees the welcome return of the classic trio of Welsh oakwood birds: pied flycatcher, wood warbler, and redstart, as well as the swallows and housemartins that often nest under the visitor centre eaves.

On the cliffs in early summer, arctic-alpine plants are at their best, some of which are seen nowhere further south in Wales.

In flower at the same time is the locally rare hairy greenweed that grows here at it's northernmost location!

Later the dry slopes are clothed in a carpet of purple heather, punctuated here and there by the yellow flowers of western gorse. The bogs glisten with the sticky sundews, accompanied by bog ashopodel and heath spotted orchids, whilst dragonflies patrol their patches.

In the visitor centre, the rare lesser horseshoe bats have returned to their breeding roost, and relayed images show the females nursing their young during July.

What to see in autumn

The dense canopy of the Celtic rainforest takes on its rich seasonal tapestry of colours, and a wealth of fungi produce their fruiting bodies on the woodland floor.

The increased rain swells Nant Cadair, raising the humidity in the gorge under the shade of the trees, making conditions ideal for a variety of very rare mosses and liverworts.

With fewer visitors on the mountain it is a good time to explore the reserve. Look for the dainty flowers of ivy-leaved bellflowers and wild thyme. Choughs occasionally visit the grassy slopes to forage for insects and grubs with their stunning red curved beaks.

The hardier butterflies such as peacocks still emerge to feed on fine days, along with the odd bilberry bumblebee, an uncommon upland species with its seemingly bright red rump!

What to see in winter

Winter is a good time to appreciate the stunning geology of Cadair Idris.

Cwm Cau is a classic result of the last ice age, with sheer cliffs, a thousand feet tall at one point, almost encircling Llyn Cau, one of Wales' deepest natural lakes.

It is said to be bottomless, with a monster lurking within! You may not ever see this mysterious creature, but if you are very lucky, you could possibly see a stoat in its white winter coat, hunting its prey amongst the screes.

Elsewhere on the reserve, you can see other clues to the sites' geological past such as pillow lavas and smooth rock faces, scoured by the slow moving iceflow.

Accessibility information

Facilities include:

disabled parking (managed by Snowdonia National Park Authority)

wheelchair access to the visitor centre and café

lift to exhibition in visitor centre

accessible toilets

Opening times

Please check the top of this page for any changes to these opening times.

Visitor centre and tea room

The visitor centre and tea room are open daily between 10am and 5pm during school holidays and at the weekend from Easter to September.

For the current opening hours, see the information locally.

The visitor centre can also be opened by prior arrangement for education groups, clubs and societies. Please contact the reserve manager using the contact details below.

The toilets in the visitor centre are open when the centre is open.

The toilets in the car park are managed by the Snowdonia National Park Authority and are open each day (not 24 hours).

Closures and diversions

Please note:

Sometimes we need to close or divert trails for your safety whilst we undertake maintenance work or operations

Occasionally we may have to close a site in extreme weather, such as high winds or snow and ice due to the risk of injury to visitors or staff

Please always follow any instructions onsite and make sure you follow any temporary diversion signs in place

How to get here

Location

Cadair Idris is 10 miles south of Dolgellau.

It is in the county of Gwynedd.

The main access to Cadair Idris is via the Dôl Idris car park between Dolgellau and Machynlleth off the A487.

Download the location map.

Directions

Take the A487 from Dolgellau towards Machynlleth and turn right onto the B4405. The entrance to the Dôl Idris car park is immediately on the right.

The car park is managed by Snowdonia National Park and there is a parking charge.

Ordnance Survey map

Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre is on Ordnance Survey (OS) map OL 23.

The OS grid reference is SH 732 115.

Public transport

The nearest train station is in Tywyn.

The bus services 30, 32 and 34 [Dolgellau-Tywyn-Machynlleth] run on the A487 and stop at the junction with the B4405. For details of public transport visit the Traveline Cymru website.

Contact details

Tel: 0300 065 3000

Email: enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Downloads

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Natural Resources Wales / Cadair Idris National Nature Reserve, near Dolgellau

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For grandeur and rugged beauty, few locations equal Cadair Idris, a spectacular chain of peaks in the south of Snowdonia National Park. The highest peak, and one of Wales's highest mountains, is Penygadair and the views from the summit overlook most of Wales, from the Llŷn peninsula in the north-west to the Brecon Beacons in the south-east.

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Economic activities in glaciated upland areas - Internet Geography

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Upland areas affected by glaciation are challenging environments for economic activity. Farming crops is very difficult due to the steep slopes, thin, infertile soils, low temperatures and heavy rainfall. However, extensive farming, such as sheep farming is well suited to these environments. Glaciated upland areas can be extreme environments.

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Glacial landscapes provide opportunities for different economic activities, and management strategies can be used to reduce land use conflicts.

There are many economic activities within glaciated areas including farming, forestry, quarrying and tourism. The very nature of glaciated environments poses both challenges to development and offers opportunities too. The steep terrain makes many types of farming difficult for example, whilst also offering spectacular scenery for tourists to enjoy.

Farming is difficult in glacial areas such as the Highlands in Scotland and the Lake District of England because;

1. The relief is very steep making it difficult to use machinery

2. The soils are often thin on mountain sides, non-existent in areas scoured by ice or waterlogged in upland mountain areas. This makes arable farming difficult.

3. Temperatures are lower at higher altitudes, and the mountainous landscape creates lots of shaded areas that receive less sunlight

This has meant that many of the farming areas of the UK use Extensive pastoral farming. This is where animals, commonly sheep, are kept for their meat, milk or hides at low densities. This is the case in the Lake District where the Herdwick sheep is common. Some highland areas also farm cattle and deer for venison meat. In the lower valley bottoms there may be some crop farming.

Farming in Easedale

Forestry
Forestry is another land use in the UK's glaciated areas. Many upland areas have been planted with pine (coniferous) trees which grow relatively quickly and can be harvested often. This gives land owners and farmers a viable source of money other than farming. About 2 million hectares of coniferous forests exist in the UK, and the Forestry Commission manage a lot of that. Much of the UK's forestry is said to be sustainable as felled areas are replanted, and our forest cover has actually increased in recent decades. The wood can be used in construction, furniture and increasingly as a fuel for people.

The final natural resource extracted from upland glaciated areas is stone and mineral wealth via quarrying. A quarry is basically an area of land where we dig out rock that we can then use. The Lake District has a very long history of mining and quarrying, over a wide area, for minerals such as lead, copper, graphite, and coal. Slate mining and quarrying still take place, providing building material for dwellings. Slate is used extensively as a roofing material. Granite from the highlands of Scotland is also quarried, and can be used as pavement materials or even for kitchen work surfaces.

Elterwater Quarry in Langdale, the Lake District

Tourism is the final major land use in these areas. Glaciated mountain areas are a big draw for tourists because of the spectacular landscapes, the opportunities for walking, camping, and climbing amongst other activities. The case study exploring the impact of tourism is from the Lake District, later in this chapter.

Conflict in upland areas
All of the land uses described above plus some others mean that we sometimes get conflict in our upland glaciated environments. This is because some of the activities are incompatible with one another and pose issues between development and conservation. In many cases we have to decide if we allow a development to take place so people can exploit the landscape and make money from it, or whether we protect and conserve the area for people to use in the future. For example, farmers have to allow tourists onto their land to use footpaths and to explore the area. These tourists spend money in the local community and eventually the farmers will see some of that money so this is a positive development. However, Tourists can cause footpath erosion and can scare farm animals, thus damaging the land and making conservation difficult. This shows the conflict and tension that can exist in these areas. Cumbria has been earmarked for fracking, which could damage the natural environment, and has already had many conflicts over wind turbines. There have already been protests about extensions being proposed to the Kirkby Moor wind farm for example.

Managing the needs of development and conservation

Glacial landscapes can be managed to try to meet the needs of all of the interest groups involved. It is important that compromises are made to try and keep everyone happy/. Already within the UK we try to;

1. Use education to reduce the impact of activities, appropriate signs and information for people can limit the impact of tourism or keep people out of dangerous areas where the military train.

2. Use public consultation - here if controversial schemes are planned like fracking or wind farms big public meetings take place where all interested parties can put their points across before decisions take place

3. Restrict activities - in some areas we limit what people can do, and during which times of the year

4. Have national bodies to manage areas - such as the National Park Authorities which come up with plans to manage developments and their impacts in National Parks.

NEXT TOPIC - Lake District and Tourism

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Coolgeography - GCSE - Physical landscapes in the UK

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There are many economic activities within glaciated areas including farming, forestry, quarrying and tourism. The very nature of glaciated environments poses both challenges to development and offers opportunities too. The steep terrain makes many types of farming difficult for example, whilst also offering spectacular scenery for tourists to enjoy.

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Economic activities in glaciated areas - Glacial management - AQA - GCSE Geography Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize

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Learn about and revise glacial management, and the conflicts that may arise from human activities in glacial areas, with GCSE Bitesize Geography (AQA).

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Wind energy refers to any form of mechanical energy that is generated from wind or some other naturally occurring airflow. There are advantages and disadvantages to any type of energy source, and wind energy is no different. In this article, we'll review some of the top pros and cons of generating electricity from wind turbines.

Top pros and cons of wind energy

Wind energy is one of the most common types of renewable energy in the U.S. today, and also happens to be one of our fastest-growing sources of electricity. However, while there are a number of environmental benefits to using wind energy, there are some downsides. Here are a few of the top pros and cons:

Pros and cons of wind energy

Pros of wind energy

Cons of wind energy

Renewable & clean source of energy

Intermittent

Low operating costs

Noise and visual pollution

Efficient use of land space

Some adverse environmental impact

Wind energy is a job creator

Wind power is remote

On the pros side, wind is a clean, renewable energy source, and is one of the most cost-effective sources for electricity. On the cons side, wind turbines can be noisy and unappealing aesthetically, and can sometimes adversely impact the physical environment around them. Similar to solar power, wind power is also intermittent, meaning that turbines are reliant on weather and therefore aren't capable of generating electricity 24/7.

Below, we'll explore these pros and cons in further detail.

Advantages of wind energy

Wind energy is clean and renewable

Unlike coal, natural gas, or oil, generating electricity from wind doesn't result in greenhouse gas emissions. While there are some environmental considerations that come with building large wind farms, once operational, wind turbines themselves don't require burning any fossil fuels to operate.

Additionally, wind energy is completely renewable and will never run out. In opposition to traditional fossil fuels resources that replenish very slowly, wind naturally occurs in our atmosphere, and we don't have to worry about supply issues in the future.

Wind energy is a job creator

In terms of job creation, the wind energy sector is the fastest growing in the United States. Currently there are more than 100,000 workers in the field with the potential to support more than 600,000 in coming years.

Wind energy has low operating costs

As far as upfront costs go, wind farms or individual turbines can be expensive to install. However, once up and running, operating costs are relatively low; their fuel (wind) is free, and the turbines don't require too much maintenance over the course of their lifetime.

Wind energy is space-efficient

Cumulatively, wind farms can take up a lot of land space; however, the actual turbines and equipment don't use up a lot of real-estate. This means that land used for wind turbines can often also be used for other purposes, such as farming.

Disadvantages of wind energy

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Pros And Cons of Wind Energy | EnergySage

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There are many advantages and disadvantages to wind energy - from cost to land use and more.

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include things like money goes straight to the local people. Another disadvantage is that it causes conflict.

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Advantages

Disadvantages

Wildlife habitats are destroyed.

Valuable agricultural land is taken away.

Heavy traffic causes pollution and congestion on narrow country roads. The vibrations from heavy traffic can cause damage to buildings .

Limestone is a non-renewable resource - so it can be argued that quarrying is unsustainable .

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Quarrying - Quarrying - GCSE Geography Revision - BBC Bitesize

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1 2 3 Page 1of 3 Advantages Wildlife habitats are destroyed. Valuable agricultural land is taken away. Heavy traffic causes pollution and congestion on narrow country roads. The vibrations from heavy traffic can cause damage to buildings . Limestone is a non-renewable resource - so it can be argued that quarrying is unsustainable .