Edexcel GCSE Geography B key terms

The physical characteristics of the land on which a settlement is built, such as relief, rivers and access to water.

The location of a settlement in relation to other places and surrounding features.

Measures such as planting vegetation or regrading a coastal slope to reduce the risk of mass movement.

A mass movement in which material moves down a slope along a curved slip surface, often when a cliff becomes saturated.

An effect on people's lives, health, homes or access to services.

Information about people’s social and economic circumstances, such as income, housing, population and access to services.

Differences between places in economic conditions and social characteristics, such as income, literacy and life expectancy.

Flood management that works with natural river and floodplain processes to reduce flood risk or its impacts.

Timber obtained from coniferous trees, harvested for uses including wood products and pulp and paper production.

The amount of energy emitted by the Sun.

The dissolving of soluble minerals in river water; also the transport of those dissolved minerals.

The place where a river begins.

An ocean region in which tropical cyclones develop, rather than simply an area they later affect.

An increase in the area occupied by a settlement.

A designated area offering incentives, such as lower taxes, to attract businesses and investment.

An area where businesses receive incentives, such as lower taxes, to encourage investment.

Long, curved bands of clouds and thunderstorms that spiral around a tropical cyclone's centre.

A narrow ridge of sand or shingle extending out from the coast, attached to land at one end.

A numerical label giving the height above sea level of a particular point on a map.

A residential area where people occupy land without legal permission or secure ownership.

An isolated pillar of rock in the sea left after the roof of an arch collapses.

Anyone who has an interest in, or is affected by, a decision or issue.

People’s material living conditions, including their income and access to goods and services.

A graph showing rainfall and changes in river discharge over time during and after a storm.

A temporary rise in sea level caused by storm conditions, particularly strong winds pushing seawater towards the coast.

A planned change to the position of the defended coastline, allowing selected land to flood or erode rather than continuing to defend its existing boundary.

The change in an area's housing and services associated with a high concentration of students, often living in subdivided rental properties.