Key Terms

Question 1

Glacials

Answer 1

Cold periods in Earth’s history when glaciers have advanced and ice sheets increased in size.

Question 2

Global cooling

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Greenhouse effect

Answer 3

A process which traps longwave radiation in the atmosphere. This process is natural but has been enhanced (made stronger) by extra greenhouse gases.

Question 4

Inter-glacials

Answer 4

Warmer periods in Earth’s history when glaciers have retreated and ice sheets have decreased in size.

Question 5

Quaternary

Answer 5

The most recent period of geological time in Earth’s history.

Question 6

Continental climate

Answer 6

The climatic condition of large land masses heating up and cooling down very quickly.

Question 7

Cyclone

Answer 7

A low pressure system in the atmosphere associated with unsettled weather, wind and rain.

Question 8

Maritime climate

Answer 8

The climatic condition of land close to sea. The sea moderates temperatures meaning that there are only small variations in temperature.

Question 9

Ocean currents

Answer 9

Predictable flows of water through the seas and oceans. Can bring cold/warmer water to surrounding areas.

Question 10

Urban micro-climate

Answer 10

The small scale, local climate of a large city which is influenced by its buildings and traffic.

Question 11

Biodiversity

Answer 11

The variety of living things.

Question 12

Biomes

Answer 12

Very large scale ecosystems e.g. tropical rainforests or deserts.

Question 13

Ecosystem

Answer 13

A community of plants and animals and the environment in which they live.

Question 14

Mono-culture

Answer 14

A type of agriculture (farming) in which only one crop is grown over very large areas of land.

Question 15

Nutrient cycles

Answer 15

The movement of minerals, through an ecosystem, from one store to another.

Question 16

Tropical rainforest

Answer 16

Large forest ecosystems (or biomes) that exist in the hot, wet climate found on either side of the equator.

Question 17

Wildlife corridor

Answer 17

Where habitats (such as forests) are joined by strips of habitat (such as hedgerows). These corridors allow the movement of wildlife.

Question 18

Enclave tourism

Answer 18

Where tourists are kept separate from local communities.

Question 19

Globalisation

Answer 19

Flows of people, ideas, money and goods are making an increasingly complex global web that links people and distant places together.

Question 20

Informal economy

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Multi-national companies (MNCs)

Answer 21

Large businesses, such as Sony, who have branches in several countries. The headquarters of MNCs are usually located in global cities.

Question 22

Newly Industrialised Country (NIC)

Answer 22

Countries, such as India, which have a growing middle class, a strong manufacturing sector and rapid urban growth.

Question 23

Development aid

Answer 23

Help which is given to tackle poverty and improve quality of life over the long term to improve education or health care.

Question 24

Emergency aid

Answer 24

Help that is given urgently after a natural disaster or a conflict to protect the lives of the survivors.

Question 25

Exports

Answer 25

The sale of goods or services to another country.

Question 26

Fair trade

Answer 26

A deal in which workers in the producing country benefit from a reasonable rate of pay and decent working conditions.

Question 27

Imports

Answer 27

The purchase of goods from another country.

Question 28

Quotas

Answer 28

Restrictions on the amount of particular goods that can be imported each year

Question 29

Subsidy

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Tariffs

Answer 30

A type of tax, or import duty, charged on goods as they enter a country.

Question 31

Trade blocs

Answer 31

Trading partnerships arranged between a group of countries. The European Union is one example.

Question 32

Over-abstraction

Answer 32

When water is abstracted at a faster rate than it is recharged, leading to a store of water decreasing in size.

Question 33

Water footprint

Answer 33

The amount of water used to make an item of food or make a product such as an item of clothing

Question 34

Water security

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Water transfer

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Asylum seekers

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Bottom-up development

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

Infant mortality rate (IMR)

Answer 38

The number of children who die before the age of one for every 1000 that are born

Question 39

Refugees

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Top-down development

Answer 40

When decisions about development are made by governments or officials rather than by ordinary people. Often large scale schemes such as dams