Geography Grade 12 CAPS - Climate, Geomorphology, Settlements, and Economic Activities

Flashcards for key vocabulary and concepts in the Grade 12 South African Geography CAPS curriculum.

Water Cycle

The continuous process by which water moves from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back.

Sustainable Development

Meeting the needs of today's population without harming the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Mid-latitude Cyclone

A frontal low pressure system that forms in the westerly wind belt between 30°-60° N/S latitude.

Tropical Cyclone

Intensely developed low pressure systems associated with severe storms.

Subtropical Anticyclone

High pressure cells that influence weather patterns.

Valley Climate

Study of climates over a small area such as within a valley.

Urban Climate

Study of climate in an urban area.

Anticyclones

High pressure systems/cells. Flow of air out of a high pressure system.

Convergence

Movement of air into a low pressure cell.

Cyclones

Low pressure systems/cells. Also called depressions. Flow of air into a low pressure system.

Dissipation

Decay of a low pressure system or cyclone - when it ceases to exist.

Divergence

Flow of air out of a high pressure system.

Heat Island

An area of higher temperature surrounded by lower temperatures in a city.

Moisture Front

Zone along which warm, moist air meets with cold, dry air and is uplifted. Line thunderstorms occur along the moisture front.

Polar Front

The boundary between the warm sub-tropical air and cold polar air around the 60° latitude.

Cyclone Families

Refers to a group of mid-latitude cyclones that pass over an area.

Synoptic Weather Map

Summary of weather conditions of a place/region for one day.

Berg winds

Hot, dry and gusty wind that is local to South Africa.

Anabatic Winds

Winds that are forced upslope in a valley by descending cold air (day).

Aspect

Angle at which the sun's rays strikes a slope.

Katabatic Winds

Downslope flow of winds in a valley due to the force of gravity at night.

Radiation Fog

Low level condensation in valley due to temperature dropping below DPT.

Temperature Inversion

Increase in temperature with altitude (warm air rises to lie above cold air).

Micro climate (local)

Study of climate in a small area e.g. a valley.

Dust dome

Pollutants, dust, soot and smoke that subside over the city at night.

Drainage Basin

Area drained by a river and its tributaries.

Fluvial Processes

The processes of erosion, transportation and deposition associated with rivers and streams.

Base Level

The lowest level to which a river can erode.

Course

The path taken by a river.

Drainage Pattern

Surface pattern formed by a river and its tributaries.

Impermeable

Hard rock that does not allow water to pass through.

Knick Point

A break in the profile of a river.

Tributary

A smaller river that feeds into a larger river.

Catchment Area

Area from where a river gets its source of water.

Source of River

Starting point of a river.

Mouth of River

Point where the river enters the sea.

Confluence

Place where two rivers join.

Watershed

High lying land separating two drainage basins.

Longitudinal Profile

Side view of a river from its source to its mouth.

Cross Profile

View of a river from bank to bank.

Permanent River

Flows all year round.

Seasonal River

Only flows in the rainy season.

Stream Ordering

Method used to classify streams.

Rejuvenation

A river that regains its energy and erodes vertically again.

River Capture

When one river robs another of its headwaters.

Superimposed Stream

A river that is younger than the underlying rock structure through which it flows.

Antecedent Stream

A river that is older than the underlying rock structure through which it flows.

Settlement

A place where people live which includes buildings, economic activities and transport networks.

Site

Actual land on which a settlement is located.

Situation

Location of a settlement in relation to the surrounding physical features and places.

Basic services

Services to meet the basic needs of people, e.g., water, transport, clinics, schools

Focal point

Shallow point across a river which makes it easy to cross

Central Business District (CBD)

Commercial heart of an urban area

Multifunctional

Has many functions, e.g., urban settlements

Dispersed rural settlements

Farmsteads are found far apart or scattered

Nucleated rural settlements

Farmsteads are found clustered or close to each other

Rural-urban migration

Movement of people from rural to urban areas

Rural depopulation

Decrease in the number of people living in rural areas

Land redistribution

To redistribute land to landless people, who are not eligible to claim land

Land restitution

To return land to people that were forced out during the apartheid era

Land tenure reforms

To secure the rights of people (tenants) that live under insecure conditions on land owned by others

Formal sector

Employment that is regulated or registered, e.g., lawyer

Informal sector

Employment that is not regulated or registered, e.g., street traders

Urbanization

Process whereby an increased percentage of people live in urban areas

Megalopolis

Forms when two or more cities merge such as Boston, New York and Washington

Economic Sectors

Division of economic activity classified as primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary activities

Rural

Farmsteads, villages or hamlets where there is limited development and technology

Urban

Densely populated settlements with a lot of man-made structures, and few open spaces such as towns and cities

Economic Geography

The study of the location, distribution, and spatial organization of economic activities across the world.

Agglomeration

Concentration of activities, usually industries close to each other.

Balance of trade

The difference in value between a country's imports and its exports.

Informal sector

Refers to business activities that are unregistered and which provide services without a license.

Quaternary economic activity

The hi-tech sector of an economy that is linked to research and development.