Geography key terms

The production, buying and selling of goods and services in an area.

A system formed by living organisms interacting 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.

The processes through which an ecosystem operates, such as plant growth, reproduction and nutrient cycling.

The processes through which an ecosystem operates, including nutrient cycling, water cycling and energy transfer.

A physical product obtained from an ecosystem, such as timber or fuelwood.

Tangible products obtained from an ecosystem, such as timber, food, water and medicines.

A benefit provided by an ecosystem through its processes or the opportunities it offers, such as climate regulation or recreation.

Benefits provided by the functioning of an ecosystem, such as climate regulation, nutrient recycling and protection against soil erosion.

Pressure caused by environmental changes that disrupt organisms and the relationships within an ecosystem.

The physical organisation of an ecosystem, including its vegetation layers and the distribution of trees and habitats.

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

An emerging and developing country: a country whose economy is developing, often with growing manufacturing, exports and average incomes.

An eruption in which lava flows relatively gently onto the surface rather than being violently blasted out.

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

An irregular warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, linked to changes in atmospheric pressure, winds and rainfall.

A raised bank beside a river that increases the amount of water the channel can contain before overflowing.

Raised banks beside a river that increase the amount of water contained before it spills onto surrounding land.

Help provided to people affected by a disaster, including money, food, water, shelter, equipment and medical care.

Urgent assistance, such as food, drinking water and medical treatment, provided to protect people during a crisis.

A country whose economy is developing, often with expanding industry and services, but with uneven incomes and standards of living.

A country whose economy is growing and becoming more connected to global trade and investment, but where incomes and living conditions can remain very unequal.

A country experiencing economic development and increasing participation in the global economy, such as China or India.

Movement out of a country. UK long-term emigration statistics count people leaving the UK for at least 12 months.

The amount of greenhouse-gas emissions associated with one unit of an activity, such as kilograms of CO₂e per kilowatt-hour of electricity used.

A plausible pathway describing how greenhouse gas emissions could develop in the future; it is an assumption used in projections, not a guaranteed outcome.

The distribution of employment between the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors, usually expressed as percentages of total employment.