Geography Revision Guide Grade 12

These flashcards cover key concepts related to climate, cyclones, geography of South Africa, drainage systems, rural and urban settlements, and various geographical phenomena.

Mid-latitude Cyclones

Cyclones that form between 30°-60° N/S, created by the meeting of cold polar easterlies and warm westerlies.

Tropical Cyclones

Storms formed over warm oceans, typically between 5°-25° N/S, characterized by high winds and heavy rainfall.

Polar Front

The boundary where cold polar air meets warm air, crucial for the formation of mid-latitude cyclones.

Cyclone Families

Groups of mid-latitude cyclones that can affect an area in rapid succession.

Occlusion

A stage in cyclone formation where the cold front catches up to the warm front.

Cumulonimbus Clouds

Towering clouds formed by warm air rising along cold fronts, associated with heavy rainfall.

Isobars

Lines on a map that connect points of equal air pressure, used to analyze weather patterns.

Drainage Basin

The area of land where all the water that falls as precipitation drains into a common outlet, like a river.

Confluence

The point where two or more rivers meet.

Flood Plains

Flat areas adjacent to rivers that are prone to flooding but offer fertile soil for agriculture.

Urban Heat Island

A city area that is significantly warmer than its rural surroundings due to human activities and infrastructure.

Urban Sprawl

Uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land.

Siltation

The accumulation of silt or sediment in bodies of water, often leading to decreased water capacity and quality.

Atmospheric Inversion

A weather phenomenon where a layer of warmer air traps cooler air near the ground, affecting weather and pollution.

Dendritic Drainage Pattern

A tree-like drainage pattern characteristic of uniform erosion in flat-lying sedimentary rocks.

Katabatic Winds

Cold winds that flow downhill due to gravity, often forming under clear and cold conditions.

Anabatic Winds

Warm winds that rise up slopes during the day as the air is heated.