Geography key terms

An action taken to prepare for a hazard, protect people from it or deal with its consequences.

The likelihood of people suffering harm or loss from a hazard, taking account of their exposure and vulnerability.

The Human Development Index: a combined measure of health, education and income, scored between 0 and 1.

A projection of land into the sea, commonly formed where resistant rock remains as neighbouring less resistant rock is eroded.

Open land dominated by low-growing shrubs such as heather and gorse, typically on acidic, nutrient-poor soils.

A prolonged period of unusually high temperatures for a particular place and time of year.

A state of greatly reduced activity that allows some animals to survive winter while using less energy.

A high-income country: a country with a high average income per person.

A country with relatively high average income, generally associated with a high material standard of living.

Food that commands a relatively high selling price, such as certain meats or specialist fruit and vegetables.

A popular location that attracts large numbers of visitors, concentrating both tourism income and pressure on the environment.

A country in which a foreign company establishes business operations.

An ecosystem in a hot, arid region, typically receiving less than 250 mm of precipitation each year.

An area of volcanic activity supplied by rising hot material from within the mantle, which can occur away from a plate margin.

Whether housing costs are manageable in relation to people's incomes.

Whether enough suitable homes are available for people who need them.

The way a household occupies its home, for example through owner occupation, private renting or social renting.

Improvement in people’s well-being and opportunities, including their ability to live healthy lives, gain an education and meet their needs.

A measure combining life expectancy, education and income per person. Values range from 0 to 1; a higher value indicates greater human development.

A feature created or substantially modified by people, such as a road, settlement or drainage ditch.

The study of people, their activities and the places they shape, including settlements, transport and economic activity.

Human activity that alters a landscape or its processes, such as building a reservoir, quarrying or managing footpaths.

The features of an area created or shaped by people, including its population, economic activities and settlements.

Decomposed organic matter in soil, formed from dead plant and animal material.

Erosion caused by the force of flowing water breaking material away from a river’s bed and banks.

A method of extracting oil or gas by injecting water, sand and chemicals under pressure into rock to create fractures that allow the fuel to flow out.

The erosion of coastal rock by the force of waves striking it and attacking weaknesses.