AS Geography Key Words
Although specifically related to Edexcel AS Geography Unit 1 - Global Challenges (6GE01), Topic 1 (World at Risk), these key words will be useful to all A level Geography Students.
46 Key words.
- Created by: Christopher Cartwright
- Created on: 15-02-11 11:07
Hazard
A perceived natural event which has the potential to threaten both life and property
Context Hazard
Widespread (global) threat due to environmental factors such as climate change, E.g. Global warming, El Nino
Geophysical Hazard
A hazard formed by tectonic/geological processes (Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tsunamis)
Hydro-Meteorological Hazard
A hazard formed by hydrological (e.g. floods) and atmospheric (e.g. storms and droughts) processes
Other Hazards
Avalanches can be placed in either group. For example, an avalanche is formed from snow and ice (atmospheric processes), yet the mass movement is a geomorphological process
Vulnerability
A high risk combined with an inability of individuals and communities to cope
Natural Processes
Where the hazard results from an extreme geophysical or hydro-meteorological event, such as a flood or volcanic eruption
Natural Technological Disaster
where natural hazards trigger environmental disaster (e.g. flooding causing a dam to burst)
Technological accidents
Such as Chernobyl, Nuclear power plant exploding
Disaster
A hazard becoming reality in an event that causes deaths and damage to foods/property and the environment
Risk
The probability of a hazard event occurring and creating loss of lives and livelihoods
Albedo
How much solar radiation a surface reflects
Climate Change
Any long term trend or shift in climate (average weather over 30 years) detected by a sustained shift in the average value for any climatic element (e.g. Rainfall)
Global Warming
A recently measured rise in the average surface temperature of the planet
Greenhouse Effect
The warming of the Earth's atmosphere due to the trapping of heat which would otherwise be radiated back into space. It enables the survival of life on Earth.
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase owing to human activity
Fossil Fuels
Energy sources that are rich in carbon which release carbon dioxide when burnt
Tipping Point
The point at which a system switches from one state to another
Asthenosphere
A semi-molten zone of rock underlying the Earth’s crust
Lithosphere
The crust of the Earth, around 80-90 km thick
Magma
Molten material that rises towards the Earth’s surface when hotspots within the asthenosphere generate convection currents
Hotspot
A localised area of the Earth’s crust with an unusually high temperature
Plume
An upwelling of abnormally hot rock within the Earth’s mantle
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
A zone of low atmospheric pressure near the equator. This migrates seasonally
Paeleoclimatology
The study of past climates
Thermal Expansion
Increased volume of the oceans as a result of higher water temperature
Proxy Records
Records used to reconstruct climate before the start of instrumental records. Examples include: Paintings, poems, diaries, journals etc.
The Little Ice Age
Freezing of The Thames regularly between 1500 - 1850
Orbital Shape (Eccentricity)
Eccentricity is a measure of the departure of the ellipse from circularity.
Axial Tilt (Obliquity)
Axial tilt refers to the inclination of the Earth’s axis in relation to its orbit around the sun
Axial Precession (Wobble)
Precession refers to the direction the Earth tilts in relation to its orbit around the sun
Positive Feedback
Amplify a small change and make it larger
Negative Feedback
Diminish the change and make it smaller
Global Dimming
Global dimming is the net cooling of the atmosphere due to pollutants like soot and sulphur dioxide reflecting solar energy back into space
Thermohaline Circulation
The flow of warm and cold water that circulates around the world’s oceans
Carbon Sink
The Southern Ocean area around Antarctica that absorbs Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere
Mitigation
Reducing the output of Greenhouse Gases and increasing the size of Greenhouse Gas sinks (e.g. Rainforests)
Adaptation
Changing our lifestyles to cope with a new environment rather than trying to stop climate change
Top Down Strategies
Incentives and schemes to reduce GHG emissions that are designed and implemented by central government
Bottom Up Strategies
Small lifestyle changes made by all individuals within a community which accumulate into large differences and improvements within the environment
Carbon Offsetting
Carbon offsetting is a credit system, called carbon credits, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Physical Water Scarcity
lack of available supplies to meet demand
Economic Water Scarcity
lack of water because of poverty and poor governance
Food Security
Populations having access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
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