Key Terms Flashcards
Glacials
Cold periods in Earth’s history when glaciers have advanced and ice sheets increased in size.
Global cooling
The cooling of the climate at a global scale. This process can occur if the sun’s radiation is blocked too much dust (aerosols) in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse effect
A process which traps longwave radiation in the atmosphere. This process is natural but has been enhanced (made stronger) by extra greenhouse gases.
Inter-glacials
Warmer periods in Earth’s history when glaciers have retreated and ice sheets have decreased in size.
Quaternary
The most recent period of geological time in Earth’s history.
Continental climate
The climatic condition of large land masses heating up and cooling down very quickly.
Cyclone
A low pressure system in the atmosphere associated with unsettled weather, wind and rain.
Maritime climate
The climatic condition of land close to sea. The sea moderates temperatures meaning that there are only small variations in temperature.
Ocean currents
Predictable flows of water through the seas and oceans. Can bring cold/warmer water to surrounding areas.
Urban micro-climate
The small scale, local climate of a large city which is influenced by its buildings and traffic.
Biodiversity
The variety of living things.
Biomes
Very large scale ecosystems e.g. tropical rainforests or deserts.
Ecosystem
A community of plants and animals and the environment in which they live.
Mono-culture
A type of agriculture (farming) in which only one crop is grown over very large areas of land.
Nutrient cycles
The movement of minerals, through an ecosystem, from one store to another.
Tropical rainforest
Large forest ecosystems (or biomes) that exist in the hot, wet climate found on either side of the equator.
Wildlife corridor
Where habitats (such as forests) are joined by strips of habitat (such as hedgerows). These corridors allow the movement of wildlife.
Enclave tourism
Where tourists are kept separate from local communities.
Globalisation
Flows of people, ideas, money and goods are making an increasingly complex global web that links people and distant places together.
Informal economy
Those jobs and businesses that are not regulated by the state. Workers generally do not pay income tax but they are not protected by safety rules.
Multi-national companies (MNCs)
Large businesses, such as Sony, who have branches in several countries. The headquarters of MNCs are usually located in global cities.
Newly Industrialised Country (NIC)
Countries, such as India, which have a growing middle class, a strong manufacturing sector and rapid urban growth.
Development aid
Help which is given to tackle poverty and improve quality of life over the long term to improve education or health care.
Emergency aid
Help that is given urgently after a natural disaster or a conflict to protect the lives of the survivors.
Exports
The sale of goods or services to another country.
Fair trade
A deal in which workers in the producing country benefit from a reasonable rate of pay and decent working conditions.
Imports
The purchase of goods from another country.
Quotas
Restrictions on the amount of particular goods that can be imported each year
Subsidy
A payment that a country makes to its own farmers and businesses so that their goods can be sold at a lower price to consumers.
Tariffs
A type of tax, or import duty, charged on goods as they enter a country.
Trade blocs
Trading partnerships arranged between a group of countries. The European Union is one example.
Over-abstraction
When water is abstracted at a faster rate than it is recharged, leading to a store of water decreasing in size.
Water footprint
The amount of water used to make an item of food or make a product such as an item of clothing
Water security
When a society has enough water to ensure that everyone has clean water, sanitation and good health and the economy has enough water to grow food and make things.
Water transfer
A scheme that allows large quantities of water to be moved from a place where there is plenty of water to a place that does not have enough.
Asylum seekers
People who move from one country to another because they are in danger or because they are persecuted because of their religion or political views.
Bottom-up development
Improvement projects carried out by ordinary people rather than by businesses or governments. For example a water pump in a village. It can be argued it has more direct impact on people than larger schemes.
Infant mortality rate (IMR)
The number of children who die before the age of one for every 1000 that are born
Refugees
People who are in danger and who leave their homes for their own safety. Refugees may move because of a natural disaster such as a volcanic eruption or because of conflict
Top-down development
When decisions about development are made by governments or officials rather than by ordinary people. Often large scale schemes such as dams
