Geography key terms

The generally older urban area outside the central business district, often containing housing and former industrial land.

The solid central part of the Earth's core, composed mainly of iron and nickel.

Uncertainty about a person's legal right to occupy or own their home or land, leaving them vulnerable to eviction.

Incoming solar radiation received at the Earth's surface.

Financial protection that can provide a payout for covered losses, helping people repair or replace damaged property.

An approach that coordinates management of the wider coastal system, balancing human, physical and ecological needs and involving different stakeholders.

A transport network that connects different forms of transport so passengers can transfer between them and complete journeys more easily.

An increase in a tropical cyclone’s strength, including stronger winds.

The strength of earthquake shaking at a particular place, assessed using its effects on people, objects and buildings.

Farming that uses high levels of inputs, such as machinery, fertilisers and irrigation, to increase production from an area of land.

The temporary capture of precipitation by vegetation before it reaches the ground.

The dependence of different parts of an ecosystem on one another, so that a change in one part affects others.

An additional charge paid for borrowing money.

A warmer interval between glacial periods when ice sheets and glaciers retreat.

An agreement between national governments to cooperate, for example by reducing trade barriers or addressing debt.

Ridges of land projecting alternately from opposite sides of a narrow river valley, around which the river winds.

Equipment and techniques suited to local needs, resources, skills and ability to maintain them.

Variation in an energy source's output because it is not available continuously, as with wind and solar power.

Electricity generation that varies because its energy source is not continuously available, as with changing wind conditions.

Migration between places within the same country, such as moving from another UK city to London.

Natural fluctuations in climate that occur alongside longer-term climate change.

Money, goods, expertise or other assistance provided internationally to support people or development.

Movement of people to live in another country.

A body through which countries work together towards shared aims, such as maintaining security or supporting development.

The buying and selling of goods and services between countries.

Estimating a value or position between known measurements.

To explain the meaning of evidence, rather than only describing what is present.