geog paper 3 :)

Anticyclone

Aquifer

A permeable or porous rock which stores water

Channel flow

Water flowing in a rivulet, stream or river

Conventional precipitation

Solar radiation heats the air above the ground, causing it to rise, cool & condense forming precipitation (often as thunderstorms)

Cryosphere

The global water volume locked up within a frozen state (i.e. snow and ice)

Depression

A system of low pressure, with fronts of precipitation where low and high pressure air masses meet

Desalination plant

The conversion of seawater to freshwater, suitable for human consumption

Drainage basin

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

Desublimation

The change of state of water from gas to solid, without being a liquid (the opposite process to sublimation)

Drainage density

The total length of all rivers & streams divided by the area of the drainage basin

Drought

An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical average for the region (UN)

Economic water scarcity

When water resources are available but insufficient economic wealth limits access to it

ENSO cycles

El Nino Southern Oscillations - naturally occurring phenomena that involves the movement of warm water in the Equatorial Pacific

Evapotranspiration

The combined total moisture transferred from the Earth to the atmosphere, through evaporation and transpiration

Frontal precipitation

Where air masses of different temperatures meet at a front, one mass will be forced over another, causing precipitation beneath the front

Global hydrological cycle

The continuous transfer of water between land, atmosphere and oceans. The Earth is a closed system

Groundwater flow

Water moving horizontally through permeable or porous rock due to Gravity.

Hydrological drought

Insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of vegetation at a particular time

Infiltration

The movement of water vertically through the pores in soil

Integrated drainage basin management

Establishing a frame of coordinated efforts between administrations (e.g. local government) and stakeholders (e.g businesses) to achieve balanced management of a basin (World Bank)

Interception

Raindrops are prevented from falling directly onto the ground, instead hitting the leaves of a tree

Meteorological drought

When long-term precipitation trends are below average

Monsoon

The drastic variation between wet and dry seasons for sub-tropical areas, caused by a changed prevailing wind. Can lead to annual flooding

Open system

A system affected by external flows and inputs (such as a drainage basin, or a sediment cell)

Percolation

Water moving vertically from soil into permeable rock

Physical water scarcity

A physical lack of available freshwater which cannot meet demand

Relief precipitation

Precipitation caused when air masses are forced to rise over high land, determined by the relief/ morphology of the land

River regime

The pattern of river discharge over a year

Runoff

Water flowing over the surface of the ground eg. after precipitation or snowmelt

Salinisation

Where salt water contaminates freshwater stores or soils, creating saline conditions and reducing human use/ consumption.

Saltwater encroachment

The movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers or soils. This may be caused by sea level rise, storm surges or over-extraction

Smart irrigation

Providing crops with a water supply less than optimal, to make crops resistant to water shortages

Storm hydrograph

Variation of river discharge over a short period of time (days)

Sublimation

The change of state of water from solid to a gas, without being a liquid.

Throughflow

Water moving horizontally through the soil, due to gravity

Transpiration

The process through which water evaporates through the stomata in plants' leaves

Water budget

The annual balance between inputs and outputs within a system

Water conservation

Strategies to reduce water usage and demand

Water recycling

The treatment and purification of waste water, to increase supply

Water scarcity

There are limited renewable water sources (between 500 and 1000 cubic metres per capita per year)

Water security

The ability to protect and access a sustainable source to adequately meet demand

Water sharing treaty

International agreements for transboundary sources

Water transfer

Hard engineering projects, such as pipelines or aqueducts, that divert water between basins to meet demand

Watershed

The boundary between neighbouring drainage basins

Bipolar world

Two superpowers exist, each with opposing ideologies.

Capitalism

The belief that individuals may gain wealth and status through business ventures, the hours they work and their skills.

The Cold War

Tensions between the USA and USSR from 1950 to the 1990s due to their conflicting ideologies and competition to become a unipolar superpower.

Colonialism

The act of gaining control, building an empire and exerting influence over other countries.

Communism

The belief that everyone in a population should be equal financially, the property they own and politically.

Democracy

A political system where every member of the population has an equal vote.

Dictatorship

One individual controls a country, rather than an elected government.

Economic alliances

Trade blocs that promote trade between members, offer each other financial assistance and loans and allow the migration of workers between states

Emerging states

Countries that have quickly gained influence, developed and have notable culture. They may become superpowers in the future.

Empire

A collection of countries, ruled over or influenced by a single government.

Environmental alliances

Groups of countries that discuss and pledge to reduce greenhouse emissions and protect the natural environment.

Frank's dependency model

Describes neo-colonialism and how a country can gain control over a neo-colony through exploitation and economic dependency.

Foreign direct investment / FDI

The investment of money, infrastructure or assets by a foreign government or business.

Hard power

Exerting a country's influence over another through the use of economic or military intervention.

Human resources

The available workforce and skills of the population, which can contribute to a country's status.

Ideology

Beliefs and values that are shared within a population.

Imperial era

The period of 18th and 19th Century, when European states created empires, using hard power to rule over America, Africa and Asia.

Intellectual property

The ownership of ideas and designs, such as patents and copyrights.

Mackinder's heartland theory

Whoever controls the heartland (Russia, Eastern Europe and parts of South Asia) controls the majority of physical and human resources, and so will be a leading superpower.

Military alliance

A group of states that share weapons & intelligence, offer military assistance and discuss international affairs such as terror attacks, national security, etc.

Multi-polar world

There are several superpowers, each with a characteristic strength, competing for global influence and status.

Physical resources

The natural assets such as fossil fuels, minerals or crops, that can be sold for profit or political gain.

Rostow's modernisation theory

The development of a country takes five stages of growth: Traditional Society, Pre-Conditions for Take Off, Take Off, Drive to Maturity, Mass Consumption.

Sanctions

Restrictions put into place against a country who breaks international law or agreements.

Soft power

Exerting a country's influence over another through cultural diffusion, political reform and FDI.

Spheres of contest

Areas of competition for superpowers and emerging states, e.g. land ownership, intellectual property, state borders.

Unipolar word

There is one superpower who dominates economically and politically.

Wallerstein's world systems theory

Describes the movement of raw materials and manufactured goods between the core and periphery.

Acidification

The gradual reduction of pH of the oceans, due to dissolving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Afforestation

Planting trees and vegetation in the aim of increasing forest cover

Biofuel

Burning crops and vegetation for electricity and heat

Carbon capture and storage/CCS

The capture of carbon dioxide emissions directly from the factory, pumped into disused mines rather than being released into the atmosphere

Carbon fluxes

The movement of carbon between stores

Carbon neutral

A process that has no net addition of carbon dioxide to the environment

Carbon stores

Places where carbon accumulates for a period of time such as rocks and plant matter

Choke points

Points in the logistics of energy and fuel that are prone to restriction

Combustion

The process of burning a substance, in the presence of oxygen, to release energy

Decomposition

The break down of matter, often by a decomposer which releases carbon dioxide through their own respiration

Energy mix

The composition of a country's energy sources

Energy security

The ownership and full control of a country's energy source, production and transportation

Energy pathway

The movement of energy from its extraction or source, through pipes, freight logistics or cabling

Energy players

Key companies and individuals who own, distribute and sell energy and energy sources

Enhanced greenhouse effect

The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation reflected into space

Inorganic carbon

Carbon stored in carbonated rocks

Non-renewable

A source of energy that can only be used once to generate electricity or takes thousands of years to replace e.g. Fossil Fuels

Nuclear fusion

The process of joining atomic nuclei together, to produce energy

OPEC

Oil and Petroleum exporting countries. An organisation that supports and coordinates fossil fuel exporting countries

Organic carbon

Carbon stored in plant material and living organisms

Outgassing

The release of dissolved carbon dioxide (e.g. at plate boundaries, warming the oceans)

Photosynthesis

The process of converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. All plants and some organisms rely on this process to survive

Phytoplankton

Small organisms that rely on photosynthesis to survive, so intake carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Primary energy

The initial source of energy, as it is naturally found. This could be natural ores, water, crops or radioactive material

Renewable

Primary energy that can be re-used to produce electricity or has a short lifetime, therefore any used can be replaced quickly e.g. Hydroelectric, biomass, sola

Respiration

The process of converting glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and energy. Some organisms rely on this to survive

Secondary energy

The product of primary energy, mostly electricity

Sequestration

The movement of volumes of seawater from cold deep water to warm water surface water