CCEA GCSE Geography Unit 1

Abrasion / Corrasion

(1) When material being transported by the river rubs against the bed/banks causing it to erode. (2) stones carried by waves are thrown against the cliff causing it to erode.

Afforestation

Planting trees. A soft engineering method to increase interception and reduce severity of a flood.

Air Mass

A body of air with similar characteristics e.g. temperature, moisture, humidity etc

Altitude

Height above sea level. Normally given in metres

Anenometer

An instrument used to measure wind speed

anticyclone

High pressure weather system that is generally associated with dry, calm weather.

Arch

A wave-eroded passage through a small headland. This begins as a cave formed in the headland, which is gradually widened and deepened until it cuts through.

atmospheric pressure

the weight of a column of air pressing down on the earths surface. Measured in millibars (mb)

Attrition

A process of erosion where transported material hit against each other, making the particles smaller and rounder

barometer

An instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

beaches

form in sheltered coastal areas where the sea deposits sediment such as sand or stones (shingle) along the coastline.

beach nourishment

The addition of new material to a beach artificially, through the dumping of large amounts of sand or shingle.

buy

an anchored float that may contain instruments to measure environmental conditions. e.g. A weather body can measure temperature changes of ocean currents and help inform weather forecasts

caves

hollows in a cliff or headland made when the sea erodes the rock around a line of weakness (crack/joint)

cirrus

a type of cloud. It appears high in the sky. Thin and wispy. Indicates good weather

cliff

a near vertical rock face along the coast

climate

The average weather conditions of an area over a long period of time e.g. 35 years

climate change

changes in the earths average temperature

cloud cover

The amount of the sky covered by clouds. Measured in oktas via observation

cloud type

clouds are divided into categories such as nimbus, cirrus, stratus depending on their height, shape and nature

coastal defences

natural or manufactured management strategies which try to maintain the land-sea boundary or reduce the impact of erosion

coastal landforms

Large features within a coastal area formed by processes such as erosion and deposition. e.g headland or spit

cold front

the zone where cold air comes behind warm air. The cold air undercuts the warm air, forcing it to rise, cool and condense.

cold sector

the largest part of a depression coming between the warm front and the cold front. Temperature and air pressure temporarily rises.

Collision zone

The place where a collision between two continental plates crunches and folds the rocks at the boundary, lifting them up and leading to a fold mountain formation.

composite volcano

a steep-sided volcano that is made up of a variety of materials, such as lava and ash. Occurs at destructive plate boundary

confluence

The point where two rivers meet

conservative margin

When plates slide past each other. Crust is neither created nor destroyed

constructive wave

A wave with a strong swash and weak backwash which contributes adds material to a beach via deposition

convection currents

Circular currents in the mantle caused by the magma being heated by the core off the Earth. This causes plates to move.

core

the centre of the earth. Found below the mantle. It is extremely hot

corrosion

when material being carried by a river or sea is dissolved via chemicals in the water

crust

the outer layer of the Earth. Split into giant sections called plates

cumulonimbus

a dense, tall, towering cloud. Produces heavy rain and thunderstorms

cumulus

a common cloud with is white and puffy. Low to mid level and indicates changeable weather

dam

a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water

deposition

the dropping of material. Can be due to shallow water, friction, drop in velocity

depression

a low pressure weather system bringing wet and windy conditions

depth (river)

The distance from the surface of a river to the river bed

destructive margin

Where two plates are moving towards each other.

Where an oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle and destroyed via subduction.

This often creates volcanoes and ocean trenches.

destructive waves

a wave with a strong backwash and weak swash which erodes material off the beach

digital thermometer

an instrument that measures the temperature of the air, displaying the result as an LCD readout

discharge

the amount of water in a river at a certain point in a certain time. Measured in cumecs = cubic meters per second

drainage basin

an area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

earthquake

Shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement.

embankments/levee

raised edges along the edge of a river which help prevent flooding. Can be natural or manmade

epicentre

The first place on the Earth's surface to feel shockwaves from an earthquake. It is directly above the focus

erosion

wearing away of the landscape

Evapotranspiration

The combined amount of evaporation from the surface and transpiration from plants

fault line

A weak line in the Earth's surface, where the crust is moving, causing earthquake activity

flood wall

a stone/brick/cement wall built alongside a river to protect the nearby areas from flooding

flooding

a temporary covering of water over land that is normally dry

floodplain

flat land either side of the river which will flood if the river bursts its banks

focus

the point of origin of an earthquake under the earth surface

fold mountains

mountain range formed mainly by the effects of folding of the earth crust at collision plate boundaries

front

the boundary where two air masses meet

gabions

metal cages filled with rocks which can form part of the sea defence structure or be placed along rivers to protect banks from erosion, and example of hard engineering

geostationary satellites

A satellite that orbits the earth at the same rate that the earth rotates and thus remains over a fixed place. Helps inform weather forecasts

gradient

The steepness of a slope/ area of land

groundwater

water stored in the underlying bedrock

Groundwater flow

water moving horizontally through the underlying rock towards a river or sea

groynes

wooden or concrete barriers built at right angles to the beach to stop longshore drift removing sand.

Hard engineering

Involves the building of entirely artificial structures using various materials such as rock, concrete and steel to reduce, disrupt or stop the impact of river processes.

headland

an area of land made of hard rock that extends out to sea

hooked spit

a coastal landform formed by deposition and longshore drift. Changes in the wind or waves can cause the end to curve

hydraulic action

(1) erosion caused by the force of moving water (2) when water enters a crack in the rock. It widens and collapses

igneous rock

a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface

Infiltration

the downward movement of water from the surface into the soil

interception

Water being prevented from reaching the surface by trees, plants or grass

knot

the unit used to measure wind speed

landform

a natural, recognisable feature of the Earth's surface

latitude

imaginary lines that surround the earth ranging from 0 at the equator to 90 at the poles. They tell us how far north or south we are from the equator

LEDC

A less economically developed country, often recognised by its poverty and a low standard of living

liquefaction

The process of solid soil turning to liquid mud caused by shaking during an earthquake bringing underlying water up to the surface

load

The sediment carried by the river.

longshore drift

the process whereby beach material moves along a coastline, caused by waves hitting the beach at an angle due to the prevailing wind.

managed retreat

moving land uses away from the coast. Working with the natural environment. Soft engineering

mantle

Later of liquid rock found above the core. 80% of the earth. Convection currents are found here

meander

a bend in the river

MEDC

A more economically developed country, often recognised by its wealth and a high standard of living

metamorphic rock

A type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat and pressure being applied to them over a long period of time

mid ocean ridge

where two oceanic plates move apart, magma rises to fill the gap creating a ridge of new crust. (Constructive plate boundary)

ocean trench

found at a destructive plate boundary. When oceanic crust is subducted into the mantle, it creates a deep trench in the ocean floor

percolation

Downward movement of water from the soil into the rock

polar satellites

satellites used to inform weather forecasts. They orbit the earth around 14 times a day

Precipitation

the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)

prevailing wind

the most common wind direction

rain gauge

An instrument used to measure precipitation. Measured in millimetres (mm)

rainfall radar

used to inform weather forecasts. The radar sends microwaves into the atmosphere that hits moisture and scatters back to the receiver. Information used to locate the precipitation, track its movement and predict the type (rain, snow,hail )

Richtar scale

a scale between 0-9 which measures the strength of an earthquake

river cliff

caused by erosion due to fast flowing water on the out edge of a meander

river mouth

the point where a river enters a lake or sea

saltation

when medium sized material bounces along the river or ocean floor

satellite image

a photograph recorded from space

sedimentary rock

rocks formed by layers of sediment

Seismograph (seismometer)

an instrument that records the strength of earthquake waves

shield volcano

a wide, low volcano that erupts basic runny lava. Occurs at constructive plate margins.

source

the starting point of a river