Geography key terms

The arrangement of rivers and their tributaries across an area.

The removal of accumulated sediment or other material from a river bed, sometimes including bed and bank material to enlarge the channel.

A watering system that supplies small amounts of water directly to the soil near plant roots, reducing losses compared with less targeted watering.

An extended period of unusually low rainfall that can cause water shortages.

Actions taken to reduce the effects of a prolonged shortage of rainfall, including emergency relief and preparation for future water shortages.

A streamlined, elongated hill, commonly made of till, shaped beneath moving glacial ice.

A valley without a permanent river, sometimes left when water began draining underground through permeable rock after frozen ground thawed.

Restoring or stabilising sand dunes, for example through planting vegetation and controlling access.

An alert issued after a hazard has been detected but before its effects reach some people.

A system that detects a developing hazard and communicates an alert so that protective action can be taken.

Sudden ground shaking caused by the release of stored energy when rocks slip along a fault.

A building designed to withstand earthquake shaking and reduce the likelihood of collapse; it is not guaranteed to survive every earthquake.

A numbered vertical map-grid line. Easting values increase towards the east and are read first in a grid reference.

A measure of how far Earth's orbit departs from a circular shape.

The biologically productive land and sea area needed to supply a person’s or population’s consumption and absorb associated carbon dioxide emissions, measured in global hectares.

An area where ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to disturbance or damage.

Buying and selling goods or services online.

Work that produces goods or provides services, creating income and employment.

Able to generate enough income to cover costs and make development financially worthwhile.

A period of strong economic growth, with rising output and spending.

A difficulty involving money, costs, employment or the resources needed to provide services and support livelihoods.

Economic activity and investment that can increase employment, incomes and access to services.

An increase in the real value of goods and services produced by an economy.

A concentration of businesses, employment and supporting services connected to other places by flows of people, goods, money and information.

An effect on income, employment, businesses, property or the costs of damage.

The ability to shape investment, employment, trade and business activity.

A government policy that reduces restrictions on business and trade, allowing a greater role for private companies and market competition.