Geography key terms

The process in which an increasing percentage of a population lives in towns and cities.

Organising the development of a town or city, including its housing, infrastructure and services.

The number of people living in an urban area.

An increase in the number of people living in towns and cities.

The dominance of one urban area within a country, giving it disproportionate economic and/or political influence compared with other urban areas.

Creating a new identity for an urban area, often by combining physical regeneration with changes to its image and reputation.

Investment and redevelopment intended to improve an urban area’s physical environment, economy and living conditions.

The transition zone at the edge of a built-up area, where urban and rural land uses meet.

The outward spread of a town or city’s built-up area into surrounding countryside.

A cross-section across a river valley, showing the shape of the valley floor and its sides.

A characteristic that can vary between observations, such as river width, water depth or distance downstream.

The speed of river flow, usually measured in metres per second (m/s).

Downward erosion of a river bed, deepening the channel and valley.

The stretching of the height scale relative to the horizontal distance scale on a cross-section, making relief more noticeable.

An old tree with features such as cavities and decaying wood that provide valuable wildlife habitats.

A fluid's resistance to flowing. High-viscosity magma is thick and sticky; low-viscosity magma flows easily.

An opening in the Earth’s crust through which lava, gases and other volcanic material erupt.

A feature of the Earth’s crust through which magma erupts onto the surface as lava, often building up a mountain from erupted material.

A valley with steep sides and a narrow floor, formed by river downcutting together with weathering and movement of material down its slopes.

How susceptible people and property are to harm from a hazard.

Areas beside a river left available to flood temporarily, storing water and reducing discharge downstream.

Taking water from a river, lake, reservoir or underground store for use.

The amount of usable water that people can access in a place at a particular time.

An illness spread through contaminated water, such as cholera.

Reducing water use and waste so that available supplies last longer.

The use of water by households, farming, industry and other activities.

A situation in which demand for water exceeds the available supply.