AQA GCSE Geography key terms

A system in which living organisms interact with one another and with their non-living environment.

A condition in which interactions between organisms and their environment keep the ecosystem broadly stable and sustainable over time.

Tourism focused on natural environments that aims to minimise environmental damage, support local communities and contribute to conservation.

The transmission of information electronically, including through the internet and telecommunications networks.

Reducing energy use by avoiding unnecessary consumption and waste.

The amount of energy used by people, businesses and other activities over a given period.

The average energy consumption per person, calculated by dividing total consumption by population.

A shortfall in energy supply relative to demand. A gap between domestic production and consumption can be filled by imports.

Providing the same useful service or output with less energy input.

The shortfall when a country's energy consumption is greater than the energy it can produce from its own resources, so it must import energy.

A situation in which energy supplies are insufficient, unreliable, unaffordable or inaccessible.

The combination of different energy sources used by a country or region.

Access to an uninterrupted, affordable and accessible supply of energy.

A situation in which available energy supply exceeds demand.

Additional warming caused by human activities increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The question or purpose that a geographical investigation is intended to address.

The main question that an investigation aims to answer.

An assessment of the likely environmental effects of a proposed activity before it takes place.

The point on Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake’s focus.

The wearing away and removal of material by processes such as flowing water.

A rock transported and deposited by a glacier whose rock type differs from the local bedrock.

The tidal mouth of a river, where river water meets and mixes with seawater.

An economic and political union of European countries. The UK was a member but left in 2020.

Moving people out of an area of danger to a safer place.

Weighing evidence, strengths and limitations to reach a reasoned judgement.

The combined transfer of water to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration from plants.

Describes plants that retain foliage throughout the year rather than losing it all in one season.