Creature that eats animals and/or plant matter.

An organism such as a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down dead tissue, which is then recycled to the environment.

A community of plants and animals that interact with each other and their physical environment.

The connections between different organisms (plants and animals) that rely on one another as their source of food.

A complex hierarchy of plants and animals relying on each other for food.

A set of processes whereby organisms extract minerals necessary for growth from soil or water, before passing them on through the food chain - and ultimately back to the soil and water.

Very large ecological areas on the earth’s surface (or biomes), with fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their environment. Examples include tropical rainforest and hot desert.

An organism or plant that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis

The variety of life in the world or a particular habitat.

Farming to sell produce for a profit to retailers or food processing companies.

Countries are relieved of some of their debt in return for protecting their rainforests.

The chopping down and removal of trees to clear an area of forest.

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of the local people, and may involve education. It is usually carried out in small groups and has minimal impact on the local ecosystem.

The business of cutting down trees and transporting the logs to sawmills.

The removal of solid mineral resources from the earth. These resources include ores, which contain commercially valuable amounts of metals, such as iron and aluminium; precious stones, such as diamonds; building stones, such as granite; and solid fuels, such as coal and oil shale

The cutting out of trees which are mature or inferior, to encourage the growth of the remaining trees in a forest or wood.

Removal of topsoil faster than it can be replaced, due to natural (water and wind action), animal, and human activity. Topsoil is the top layer of soil and is the most fertile because it contains the most organic, nutrient-rich materials.

 type of agriculture producing food and materials for the benefit only of the farmer and his family.

Actions and forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Also called Intermediate technology) Technology that is suited to the needs, skills, knowledge and wealth of local people in the environment in which they live. It usually combines simple ideas with cheap and readily available materials, especially for use in poorer countries, and is environmentally friendly.

The process by which land becomes drier and degraded, as a result of climate change or human activities, or both.

Parts of the world that have high average temperatures and very low precipitation.

The removal of solid mineral resources from the earth. These resources include ores, which contain commercially valuable amounts of metals, such as iron and aluminium; precious stones, such as diamonds; building stones, such as granite; and solid fuels, such as coal and oil shale.

Exhausting the soil by over-cropping the land.

Grazing too many livestock for too long on the land, so it is unable to recover its vegetation

An extensive area of land regarded as being visually and physically distinct

The wearing away of cliffs by sediment flung by breaking waves.

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.

Erosion caused when rocks and boulders transported by waves bump into each other and break up into smaller pieces.

Where a spit grows across a bay, a bay bar can eventually enclose the bay to create a lagoon. Bars can also form offshore due to the action of breaking waves.

The zone of deposited material that extends from the low water line to the limit of storm waves. The beach or shore can be divided in the foreshore and the backshore.

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

Changing the profile or shape of the beach. It usually refers to the direct transfer of material from the lower to the upper beach or, occasionally, the transfer of sand down the dune face from crest to toe

A large hole in the cliff caused by waves forcing their way into cracks in the cliff face.

The decomposition (or rotting) of rock caused by a chemical change within that rock; sea water can cause chemical weathering of cliffs.

A steep high rock face formed by weathering and erosion along the coastline.

Occurs when material being transported by the sea is dropped due to the sea losing energy.

Action taken to build up dunes and increase vegetation to strengthen the dunes and prevent excessive coastal retreat. This includes the re-planting of marram grass to stabilise the dunes, as well as planting trees and providing boardwalks.

The wearing away and removal of material by a moving force, such as a breaking wave.

Steel wire mesh filled with boulders used in coastal defences.

A wooden barrier built out into the sea to stop the longshore drift of sand and shingle, and so cause the beach to grow. It is used to build beaches to protect against cliff erosion and provide an important tourist amenity. However, by trapping sediment it deprives another area, down-drift, of new beach material.

The use of concrete and large artificial structures by civil engineers to defend land against natural erosion processes.

A rocky coastal promontory made of rock that is resistant to erosion; headlands lie between bays of less resistant rock where the land has been eroded back by the sea.

The process by which breaking waves compress pockets of air in cracks in a cliff. The pressure may cause the crack to widen, breaking off rock

The zigzag movement of sediment along a shore caused by waves going up the beach at an oblique angle(wash) and returning at right angles(backwash). This results in the gradual movement of beach materials along the coast

Allowing cliff erosion to occur as nature taking its course: erosion in some areas, deposition in others. Benefits include less money spent and the creation of natural environments. It may involve setting back or realigning the shoreline and allowing the sea to flood areas that were previously protected by embankments and seawalls.

The downhill movement of weathered material under the force of gravity. The speed can vary considerably.

Weathering processes that cause physical disintegration or break up of exposed rock without any change in the chemical composition of the rock, for instance freeze thaw.

Large boulders dumped on the beach as part of the coastal defence

Coastal sand hill above the high tide mark, shaped by wind action, covered with grasses and shrubs.

A concrete wall which aims to prevent erosion of the coast by providing a barrier which reflects wave energy.

Occurs after periods of heavy rain when loose surface material becomes saturated and the extra weight causes the material to become unstable and move rapidly downhill, sometimes in an almost fluid state

Rapid mass movement which involves a whole segment of the cliff moving down-slope along a saturated shear-plane or line of weakness.

Managing erosion by working with natural processes to help restore beaches and coastal ecosystems.

A depositional landform formed when a finger of sediment extends from the shore out to sea, often at a river mouth. It usually has a curved end because of opposing winds and currents

An isolated pillar of rock left when the top of an arch has collapsed. Over time further erosion reduces the stack to a smaller, lower stum

A rocky, level shelf at or around sea level representing the base of old, retreated cliffs

Ripples in the sea caused by the transfer of energy from the wind blowing over the surface of the sea. The largest waves are formed when winds are very strong, blow for lengthy periods and cross large expanses of water.

The side to side cross-section of a river channel and/or valley.

A barrier (made on earth, concrete or stone) built across a valley to interrupt river flow and create a man‐made lake (reservoir) which stores water and controls the discharge of the river.

The quantity of water that passes a given point on a stream or river‐bank within a given period of time.

Raised banks constructed along the river; they effectively make the river deeper so it can hold more water. They are expensive and do not look natural but they do protect the land around them.

The tidal mouth of a river where it meets the sea; wide banks of deposited mud are exposed at low tide.

Occurs when river discharge exceeds river channel capacity and water spills out of the channel onto the floodplain and other areas.

The relatively flat area forming the valley floor on either side of a river channel, which is sometimes flooded.

This attempts to organise the flood defences in such a way that land that is near the river and often floods is not built on. This could be used for pastoral farming, playing fields etc. The areas that rarely get flooded would therefore be used for houses, transport and industry.

Building new artificial channels which are used when a river is close to maximum discharge. They take the pressure off the main channels when floods are likely, therefore reducing flood risk

The predicted frequency of floods in an area.

Providing reliable advance information about possible flooding. Flood warning systems give people time to remove possessions and evacuate areas.

Processes relating to erosion, transport and deposition by a river.

A narrow, steep sided valley, often formed as a waterfall retreats upstream.

A graph which shows the discharge of a river, related to rainfall, over a period of time.

A series of ridges projecting out on alternate sides of a valley and around which a river winds its course

Sideways erosion by a river on the outside of a meander channel. It eventually leads to the widening of the valley and contributes to the formation of the flood plain.

Embankment of sediment along the bank of a river. It may be formed naturally by regular flooding or be built up by people to protect the area against flooding

The gradient of a river, from its source to its mouth

An arc-shaped lake which has been cut off from a meandering river.

Moisture falling from the atmosphere - as rain, hail, sleet or snow.

Soluble particles are dissolved into the river.

Removing meanders from a river to make the river straighter. Straightening the river (also called channelising) allows it to carry more water quickly downstream, so it doesn’t build up and is less likely to flood.

Fine solid material held in the water while the water is moving

The rolling of boulders and pebbles along the river bed.

Sudden descent of a river or stream over a vertical or very steep slope in its bed. It often forms where the river meets a band of softer rock after flowing over an area of more resistant material.

English (UK)

Geography GCSE - AQA paper 1 (physical geography) : Hot deserts,tropical rainforests, small scale ecosystem, rivers and coasts

Flashcard

Isabel  13

United Kingdom

Earth and Geographic Sciences

DEFAULT (England)

Geography

The living World/ Uk landscapes 

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Awesome Study Notes for Math: How to Review Tricky Topics Easily

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Awesome Study Notes for Math: How to Review Tricky Topics Easily