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Theme 5: Weather,
climate and ecosystems
Theme
5 Weather,
climate and ecosystems
Glossary
Aerosol – Tiny particles of dust, volcanic ash and gas in the atmosphere that can reflect the Sun’s
energy back into space.
Agribusinesses – Farming that is organised by large businesses – often by multinational
companies.
Agro-forestry – A type of farming in which a mixture of crop, shrubs, fruit trees and nut trees are
grown.
Air mass – A large parcel of air in the atmosphere. All parts of the air mass have similar
temperature and moisture content at ground level.
Anticyclone – A high-pressure system in the atmosphere associated with dry, settled periods of
weather.
Aspect – The direction in which a slope or other feature faces.
Biodiversity – The variety of living things.
Biomes – Very large ecosystems, e.g. tropical rainforests or deserts.
Buffer zone – Part of a conservation area in which some activities, such as farming and tourism,
may be allowed.
Canopy – The upper layer of a forest. The canopy receives most sunlight so contains many leaves,
flowers and fruit.
Carbon sinks – Places where carbon is stored over very long periods of time, for example in fossil
fuels.
Carbon sinks – Places where carbon is stored over very long periods of time, for example in fossil
fuels.
Coriolis Effect – The way in which the rotation of the Earth deflects the movement of objects such
as airplanes or hurricanes.
Cyclone – A low-pressure system in the atmosphere associated with unsettled weather, wind and
rain.
Depression (weather) – A weather system associated with low air pressure. Depressions bring
changeable weather that includes rain and windy conditions.
Desertification – When the climate of a dry region becomes even drier. Vegetation dies or is eaten
by grazing animals and the soil becomes vulnerable to soil erosion.
Drainage basin – The area a river collects its water from. This is also called a catchment area.
Drought – A long period of time with little precipitation.
WJEC GCSE Geography Teaching and Learning Resources
© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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Theme 5: Weather, climate and ecosystems
Drought-resistant – Plants that are able to survive periods with below average rainfall.
Ecosystem – A community of plants and animals and the environment in which they live.
Ecosystems include both living parts (e.g. plants) and non-living parts (e.g. air and water).
Endemic – An endemic disease is one that is often found amongst people in a particular place.
An endemic species (of plant or animal) is one that is found in a certain place.
Fallow period – A term used in agriculture to describe the period of time during which a piece of
land is allowed to rest between crops.
Glacials – Cold periods in Earth’s history when glaciers have advanced and ice sheets increased in
size.
Greenhouse gases (GGs) – Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that are able to trap heat
in the atmosphere.
Indigenous peoples – Tribal groups who are native to a particular place.
Inter-glacials – Warmer periods in Earth’s history when glaciers have retreated and ice sheets have
decreased in size.
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) – A broad band of atmosphere that circles the tropical
latitudes. The ITCZ is characterised by low pressure, cloud and heavy rain.
Jet stream – A strong wind that circulates around the Earth.
Key services – The way in which ecosystems provide benefits for people. For example, mangrove
forests act as coastal buffers, soaking up wave energy during a storm and reducing the risk of
erosion and flooding.
Kite diagram – A special type of graph, in the shape of a kite, which is typically used to show
changes in vegetation.
Leeward side – The side of a hill or mountain that is sheltered from the wind.
Maritime (climate) – The climatic condition of land close to sea. The sea moderates temperatures
meaning that there are only small variations in temperature.
Monoculture – A type of agriculture (farming) in which only one crop is grown over very large areas
of land.
Monsoon – A climate type experienced in South Asia in which a seasonal pattern of wind brings a
distinct wet season.
Nutrient flows – The movement of minerals from one store to another.
Nutrient stores – A part of an ecosystem in which nutrients are kept.
Ocean currents – Predictable flows of water through the seas and oceans. Some currents are flows
of relatively warm water, like the Gulf Stream. Other currents are relatively cold, like the Labrador.
WJEC GCSE Geography Teaching and Learning Resources
© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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Theme 5: Weather, climate and ecosystems
Primary consumers – Animals that eat vegetation (producers) in the food chain. These animals
may be eaten by secondary consumers.
Producers – Plants that are able to create starch from the sun’s energy. Producers are at the
bottom of the food chain.
Sahel – The semi-arid region of North Africa to the south of the Sahara desert. Sahel means ‘shore’
in Arabic.
Secondary consumers – Animals that are higher up the food chain and that eat primary
consumers.
Taiga – Natural forest ecosystems found in the cold climates of Northern Europe and America.
Tropical rainforest – Large forest ecosystems (or biomes) that exist in the hot, wet climate found
on either side of the Equator.
Tundra – An ecosystem largely found in the Arctic region. The tundra is treeless because the
growing season is short and the average monthly temperature is below 10˚C.
Unstable – Warm air that is rising may be described as unstable. Unstable air causes clouds to
build up and form rain.
Urban heat island – When a city has temperatures that are warmer than in the surrounding rural
area.
Urban microclimate – The small scale, local climate of a large city which is influenced by its
buildings and traffic.
Water cycle – The continuous flow of water between the earth’s surface and the atmosphere – also
called the hydrological cycle.
Wildlife corridor – Strips of habitat that allow wild animals to migrate from one ecosystem to
another, for example hedgerows.
WJEC GCSE Geography Teaching and Learning Resources
© Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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