IGCSE Theme 1 Population and Settlement Definitions Flashcards
Define the term over-population
The situation where there are too many people for the available resources at a given level of technology
Define the term under-population
The situation where there are too few people for the available resources to be used efficiently at a given level of technology
Define the term birth rate
The total number of live human births per 1000 population
Define the term death rate
The total number of deaths per 1000 population
Define the term natural increase
The difference between the number of births and number of deaths in a population
Define the term fertility rate
The average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime
Define the term human migration
The movement of people from one place to another
Define the term net migration
The difference between immigrants and emigrants – immigrants minus emigrants
Define the term population density
The number of people per square kilometre. A measure of how crowded an area is.
Define the term population distribution
The pattern of where people live
Define the term settlement
A place where people live
Define the term dispersed settlement
A place where homes are spread over a wide area
Define the term linear settlement
An area of buildings that are formed in a line
Define the term nucleated settlement
Towns where buildings are close together, often clustered around a central point
Define the term rural area
Area of countryside/farmland/not built up
Define the term urban area
A built up area e.g cities or towns – areas with a high population density and built environment
Define the term CBD
Central Business District – the part of the city which contains the principal commercial streets
Define the term urban land use
How the land is used in a town or city
Define the term site
The place where the settlement is located e.g. on a hill or in a sheltered valley
Define the term situation
Where the settlement is in relation to other settlements and features of the surrounding area
Define the term sphere of influence
The area that people travel from to use a service
Define the term settlement hierarchy
A way of arranging settlements into order/importance based upon their population size/services provided etc
Define the term services
Any activity that fulfils a human want or need and returns money to those who provide it
Define the term threshold population
The minimum number of people needed to support a settlement or service
Define the term range
The maximum distance that people are prepared to travel to obtain a particular service
Define the term pollution
The presence or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful poisonous effects
Define the term air pollution
The presence in or introduction into the air of a substance which has harmful effects
Define the term noise pollution
Harmful levels of noise
Define the term water pollution
The contamination of water sources by a harmful substance
Define the term visual pollution
The negative aesthetic quality of the natural and human-made landscapes around people
Define the term urbanisation
Increasing proportion of people living in urban areas (towns/cities)
Define the term squatter settlement
An area in which people building home without landowners approval often an area of self-built housing
