AQA GCSE Geography key terms

An approach to increasing food production that aims to benefit poorer farmers while conserving the environment.

A country experiencing rapid economic growth and an increasing importance of manufacturing and services, although poverty and inequality may remain.

Being active mainly at night.

An organisation independent of government, often carrying out charitable or development work.

Energy obtained from a finite resource that is not replaced on a human timescale, such as coal, oil, natural gas or uranium.

A numbered horizontal map-grid line. Northing values increase towards the north and are read second in a grid reference.

Broad differences in economic and social conditions between London and southern England, especially the South East, and much of northern England.

Energy released from atomic nuclei and used to generate electricity. Nuclear fuel is finite, so nuclear energy is non-renewable.

The movement and recycling of nutrients between living organisms, dead organic material and soil.

The movement and reuse of nutrients between living organisms, dead organic matter and the non-living environment.

Long-term variations in the shape of the Earth's orbit, its axial tilt and the direction of its axis, which change the distribution of sunlight received by the Earth.

Farming that avoids artificial fertilisers and restricts the use of synthetic pesticides, relying instead on methods that maintain soil health and manage pests naturally.

Food produced using methods that restrict synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, instead using approaches such as crop rotation and natural pest control.

An observation that lies unusually far from the general pattern of the data.

Sediment transported and deposited by glacial meltwater, usually sorted into layers.

Taking water from a river or underground store faster than it can be replenished.

Growing crops so intensively or repeatedly that soil nutrients are depleted and the land cannot recover.

Grazing that removes vegetation faster than it can regrow.

A curved lake formed when a meander is cut off from the main river channel.

A transport system in which people leave their cars in a car park outside the city centre and complete their journey by public transport.

The highest river discharge reached during a particular event.

A pipe carrying water downhill under pressure to a hydroelectric turbine.

The average number of people in a population for each doctor.

An increase or decrease expressed as a percentage of the original value.

A value marking a particular percentage position in ordered data. Approximately 90% of values lie at or below the 90th percentile.

Designing food-growing and living systems to work with natural processes, conserve resources and minimise waste.

Ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years.