Edexcel GCSE Geography A key terms

A raised natural bank beside a river channel, built from sediment deposited during repeated floods.

The percentage of a population living in towns and cities at a particular time.

The average number of years a newborn baby is expected to live if current mortality patterns continue.

The proportion of a population able to read and write.

Dead organic material, such as fallen leaves and animal remains, lying on the ground before it decomposes.

The means by which people earn a living and obtain the resources they need.

Cutting down trees to obtain timber.

The changing height and gradient of a river along its course from source to mouth.

The movement of beach sediment along the coast as waves approach at an angle, carrying material diagonally up the beach before it returns downslope.

Action taken over the following months or years to rebuild communities, restore livelihoods and reduce future risk.

Deliberately allowing the sea to flood selected coastal land, often by moving defences inland, to create space for water and habitats such as saltmarsh.

Allowing the coastline to move inland in a planned way, often by removing or abandoning defences so that selected land can flood.

The explanation of the colours, patterns and symbols used on a map.

The relationship between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground.

An ecosystem in seawater, including coastal waters and seabed habitats.

A climate strongly influenced by the sea, usually with relatively mild winters, cool summers and a smaller annual temperature range than inland continental areas.

The movement of rock or soil downhill under the influence of gravity.

A bend in a river's channel.

Average coastal retreat per unit of time, commonly calculated as total retreat in metres divided by elapsed time in years.

The physical breakdown of rock into smaller pieces without changing its chemical composition.

The use of machinery to carry out work previously performed by people or animals.

The age that divides a population into two equal halves: half the people are younger and half are older.

A city with a population of at least 10 million people.

Rock changed by heat and pressure without melting.

A prolonged shortage of rainfall compared with the amount normally expected in an area.

A social group with incomes that allow spending beyond basic necessities, often associated with skilled, professional or managerial employment.

Long-term variations in the shape of Earth's orbit, its axial tilt and the direction of its axis, which alter the distribution of incoming solar radiation.