Geography key terms

Fuel made from biological material, such as crops, which can be used to provide energy.

The breakdown of rock by living organisms, such as plant roots growing into cracks.

Organic material, such as wood, crops or animal waste, used as a source of energy.

A large-scale ecosystem characterised by its climate and dominant vegetation, such as tropical rainforest or coniferous forest.

The parts of the Earth where life exists, including living organisms and their environments on land, in water and in the air.

The use of technology to modify living organisms or biological processes, for example by genetically engineering crops.

The living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, decomposers and humans.

The living parts of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals and microorganisms.

A resource obtained from living organisms, such as plants, animals or fungi.

A group of people born during the same period, whose progress through age groups can be followed over time.

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in one year.

Data containing paired values for two variables, such as river width and river depth measured at each site.

Boserup's argument that population pressure encourages innovation and more intensive farming, increasing food production.

A theory that pressure from population growth encourages agricultural innovation and more intensive farming, increasing food production.

An approach in which local people help identify needs, make decisions and manage solutions, rather than having decisions imposed entirely from above.

Development in which local communities lead decisions about projects intended to meet their needs.

An approach in which local residents and community organisations help identify priorities and make decisions about improvements.

An approach in which local communities help identify their needs and develop solutions, often supported by NGOs.

A poorly consolidated mixture of sediment deposited by ice, also called glacial till, which forms much of the Holderness coastline.

A geographical model describing expected changes in river characteristics with distance downstream, including increasing channel width, depth and discharge.

The loss of skilled or highly educated workers from a country through emigration.

A point where the steepness or direction of a slope changes.

Concentrated salt water left over from desalination.

Land that has previously been developed.

Land that has previously been developed. It may be available for redevelopment, but it is not necessarily derelict or contaminated.

Rules setting standards for construction, which can require features that reduce the risk of buildings collapsing during an earthquake.

How closely buildings are packed together in an area.