Geography Flashcards
Atmosphere
All of the gases that surround the earth
Biodiversity
The variety of living organisms (I.e. plants, animals, bacteria and fungi) found in an environment
Biological Pollutant
A term used to describe the negative effects of invasive species (such as bacteria, parasites and invasive plants and animals) that do harm to an environment
Biome
A large area of the earth that is home to similar plant and animal communities that have adapted to a particular environment over time (e.g. desert, forest, grassland)
What are the 7 Key Concepts of Geography?
The 7 Key Concepts of Geography are:
- Space
- Place
- Interconnection
- Change
- Environment
- Scale
- Sustainability
Change
A Key Concept in Geography: the dynamic nature of all processes on earth, whether fast or slow, small or large
Chemical Pollutants
A term used to describe a range of heavy metals, oils, pesticides, industrial chemicals and salts that do harm in the environment
Child Mortality Rate
A measure of the number of deaths among children under five years per 1000 children born
Climate Change
A change in global or regional climate patterns; in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels
Deforestation
The removal of trees and other plant life from a forested area, either by cutting down or burning; usually carried out to clear the land for farming
Demographics
The statistical data of a population or of particular groups within a population, especially those related to average age, gender, income, education level, etc
Deposition
The laying down of solid material that has been eroded and transported from another part of the earth’s surface
Desertification
The transformation of fertile land into relatively dry desert
Developed country
An industrialised country with a well-developed economy and relatively high standard of living that is able to support the needs of its citizens
Developing Country
A non-industrialised (largely agriculture) country with a relatively fragile economy and low standard of living that is not always able to support the needs of its citizens
Economic
(Adjective) describes a range of issues relating to employment, income and trade
Ecosystem
A complex community made up of living organisms that interact with each other and with their environment; an abbreviation for ‘ecological system’
Environment
A Key Concept in Geography: a specific place on earth and all the things, both animate and inanimate, that are there
Erosion
The wearing away of the earth’s surface by wind, water or ice
Fertility Rate
A statistical measure of the average number of children that all women in a particular area or population will have throughout the course of their lives; expressed as births per 1000 women
Food Insecurity
A term used to describe a condition in which not all people have access to enough safe nutritious food to sustain a healthy life
Food Insecurity
A term used to describe a condition in which all people at all times have access to enough safe nutritious food to sustain a healthy life
Fossil Fuel
A fuel made from decomposed (fossilised) remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago (e.g. coal, oil, gas)
Gender Inequality
Unequal treatment of individuals within a society based on their gender, whether male or female
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A device that uses satellites to accurately pinpoint he location of an object on the earth’s surface (e.g. a car, satellite navigation device, mobile phone) and provide data and directions to help with navigation
Global Warming
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, CFCs and other pollutants into the atmosphere
Greenhouse Gases
A has such as carbon dioxide, that absorbs radiation from the sun’s rays trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The total monetary value of all goods and services produced by a country over a specific period of time (usually a year)
Human Development Index (HDI)
A tool developed by the United Nations to grade and rank he social and economic development of the world’s countries in order from most to least developed; used as a measure of human wellbeing
Infant Mortality
A statistical measure of the proportion of children in an area or population under the age of 12 months who die; expressed as deaths per 1000 live births
Interconnection
A Key Concept in Geography: the relationship between all things, both living and non-living, and all processes, both natural and human
Internally Displaced Person (IDP)
A person who has been forced to flee their home to escape conflict, but who remains within their own country’s borders
Invasive Species
A plant, animal or other organism that is not native to an area, and whose introduction has negative effects on its new environment
Irrigation
The watering of otherwise dry land by artificial means (e.g. pipes, ditches, sprinkler systems) to help in the growing of crops
Life Expectancy
A statistical measure of the average number of years a person in an area or population can expect to live; expressed in years
Ocean Acidification
The ongoing decrease in the pH level (a measure of acidity and alkalinity) of the earth’s oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by the water
Ozone Layer
A layer of ozone high in the atmosphere that protects the earth from harmful amounts of the sun’s rays
Physical Pollutants
A term used to describe a range of substances (e.g. particles of soil, chemicals, plastic bags, cigarette butts and other rubbish) that do harm to an environment
Place
A Key Concept in Geography: a part of the earth’s surface that is identified and given meaning by people
Pollution
Any substance that is released into the environment that causes damage
Qualitative Data
Any information that can be recorded in words
Quantitative Data
Any information that can be recorded as numbers
Raw Material
The basic organic resources from which things are made; often used to refer to the earth’s natural materials such as oil, wood and water
Refugee
A person who travels from one country to another country to escape the effects of a natural disaster or conflict or to avoid persecution
Salinity
A measure of the amount of salt present in the soil
Scale
A Key Concept in Geography: the level at which a geographical inquiry take place- personal, local, regional, national or global
Primary Data
Data collects first-hand for a geographical inquiry by the person conducting the inquiry (e.g survey data, hand-drawn maps or photographs)
Secondary Data
Data used for a geographical inquiry not collected by the geographer conducting the inquiry (e.g. textbooks, atlases and government websites)
Scale
A Key Concept in Geography: the way things are arranged on the earth’s surface
Sustainability
A Key Concept in Geography: the ongoing capacity of earth to maintain all life
Water Scarcity
A term used to describe a lack of sufficient water to meet the demands of an area or population
Wellbeing
The ability of human beings to access the things they need in order to live happy and healthy (e.g. food, water, education, safety and security)
Sustainable Development Goals
A set of 17 goals developed by the United Nations in 2015 that are designed to end poverty, protect the earth from unsustainable development, and improve the wellbeing of all people
Services/ Supporting Services
One of the four categories of ecosystem services; processes that take place in the environment that support life (e.g. seed dispersal and absorption of carbon dioxide by trees and oceans)
Sinks/ Regulating Services
One of the four categories of ecosystem services; processes that take place in the natural that absorb waste (e.g. microorganisms in the sok and water breakdown waste from humans and animals)
Sources/ Provisioning Services
One of the four categories of ecosystem services; these are natural products that can be used or converted by humans for use (e.g. wood from trees)
Spirituality/ Cultural Services
One of the four categories of ecosystem services; a sense of wellbeing and spiritual connection offered by the environment (e.f. Aesthetic appreciation of certain landscapes, deep connections to the land)
