Geography key terms

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation: a political and military alliance whose members cooperate over their security.

The difference between births and deaths in a population. It is positive when births exceed deaths and negative when deaths exceed births.

Population decline caused by deaths outnumbering births, excluding migration.

The warming of Earth's surface and lower atmosphere caused by naturally occurring greenhouse gases absorbing and re-emitting outgoing infrared radiation.

An event caused by natural environmental processes that has the potential to harm people and their property.

Population growth that occurs when the number of births exceeds the number of deaths, excluding migration.

An area whose character is dominated by naturally occurring features, such as mountains, rivers and coastlines, although human influence may still be present.

A raised bank of deposited sediment beside a river channel, built up through repeated flooding.

A feature or part of the environment that people can use to meet their needs.

Materials or supplies obtained from the environment that people use, such as water, timber and fossil fuels.

A naturally occurring atmospheric event that threatens people, property or the environment.

A newly emerging economy: a country experiencing rapid economic development and increasing industrial activity.

A reinforcing sequence in which lost jobs or spending reduce demand for other businesses and services, causing further decline.

Continued economic or political dominance over an independent country, without direct colonial rule.

The number of people arriving to live in an area minus the number leaving it during a given period.

A balance in which greenhouse gas emissions released are matched by greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere.

An approach to increasing food production that aims to benefit poorer farmers while conserving the environment.

A country experiencing rapid economic growth and development, often associated with industrial expansion and rising incomes.

A non-governmental organisation: an organisation independent of government that works towards particular social or environmental aims.

Being active mainly at night.

An organisation independent of government, often carrying out charitable or development work.

Food that can be stored for a relatively long time without spoiling, such as dried pasta or unopened tins.

Energy from finite sources that are not replaced as quickly as they are used, including fossil fuels and nuclear fuels.

An energy resource with a finite stock that is not replaced on a human timescale, so continued use depletes it.

A finite resource that is not replaced on a human timescale, such as coal, oil or natural gas.

The warm ocean-current extension into the North Atlantic that helps moderate the climate of north-western Europe.

A numbered horizontal map-grid line. Northing values increase towards the north and are read second in a grid reference.