Geography key terms

An economy in which services and knowledge-based activities have become more important than traditional manufacturing.

Purchasing power parity: a way of adjusting monetary comparisons to account for differences in prices between countries.

The slow wobble of Earth's rotational axis, which changes the direction it points and the timing of the seasons relative to Earth's position in its orbit.

Water falling from the atmosphere, including rain, snow and hail.

Forecasting where and when a hazard may occur and how severe it may be.

Actions taken before a hazard event to help people respond safely and reduce damage.

A broad zone of relatively high or low atmospheric pressure extending around the Earth.

The change in atmospheric pressure over a distance. A greater pressure change over the same distance produces a stronger force driving the wind.

The direction from which the wind most commonly blows in a place.

A factor that lowers the birth rate and therefore limits population growth in Malthus's theory.

Information collected first-hand for an investigation, such as measurements, counts or questionnaire responses.

An activity that obtains raw materials directly from the natural environment, such as farming, forestry, fishing or mining.

A direct consequence of a hazard, such as buildings being destroyed by strong winds.

Work that obtains raw materials from the natural environment, such as farming, forestry and mining.

Damage or harm caused directly by a hazard, such as wind destroying a building.

Economic activities that obtain raw materials from the natural environment, including farming, fishing and oil extraction.

A city that dominates a country's urban system through its size and economic and/or political importance.

Investment by businesses rather than government, including smaller firms and transnational corporations.

The transfer of a business or industry from government ownership to private ownership.

An agreed sequence of steps for selecting, measuring and recording data.

An organism, usually a green plant, that makes its own food using energy from sunlight through photosynthesis.

A business owned by producers, such as farmers, who work together to market and sell their products.

A broad measure of national self-sufficiency, calculated by dividing the farmgate value of domestic raw food production by the value of raw food available for human consumption, then multiplying by 100.

The rate at which plants produce new biomass. Net primary productivity is the rate of biomass production remaining after plants use energy in respiration.

The underlying structure or concept of a television programme, which can be adapted to make local versions in different countries.

An estimate of a future value based on existing information and assumptions.

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