Geography key terms

The angular position of a place north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees from 0° to 90° N or S.

Molten rock that has erupted onto the Earth's surface.

A set of geographical information displayed together in GIS, such as roads, water bodies or land cover.

The washing of dissolved nutrients down through soil by water.

Money leaving an economy rather than continuing to circulate within it, for example when a TNC sends profits abroad.

The lasting effects and uses of an event or project after its original purpose has ended.

Activities people choose to do in their free time, such as sport, entertainment and visiting parks or beaches.

A naturally raised bank beside a river channel, built up by sediment deposited during repeated floods.

A raised natural bank beside a river channel, built from sediment deposited during repeated floods.

The percentage of a population living in towns and cities at a particular time.

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

A low-income developing country: a country with low average income and widespread poverty.

The average number of years a newborn baby can expect to live, based on mortality conditions at the time.

A graph with numerical axes that uses connected points to show changes, commonly over time.

An estimated line through the centre of a scatter-graph pattern, with points and their distances roughly balanced on either side.

The ability to understand and communicate meaning through reading and writing.

The percentage of adults who can read and write.

Earth's rigid outer shell, made of the crust and uppermost mantle and divided into tectonic plates.

Dead organic material on the ground, including fallen leaves and twigs.

Someone's everyday, personal experience of living in a place.

The means by which people earn a living and obtain the resources they need.

The sediment and dissolved material carried by a river or the sea.

The scale of a neighbourhood, town or community, rather than a whole country.

Obtaining food from producers close to where it will be sold or consumed.

Cutting down trees to obtain timber.

The angular position of a place east or west of the Greenwich prime meridian, measured in degrees from 0° to 180° E or W.

A side view along a river from its source to its mouth, showing how its height and gradient change.