acid rain | rain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions, especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides |
adaptation | modification; alteration or adjustment in structure or habits |
arable land | land that can be used for growing crops |
biome | a major biotic community characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate |
climatic | of or relating to a climate, or meteorological conditions |
continental drift | the gradual movement and formation of continents (as described by plate tectonics) |
cultural fusion | the mixture of two or more cultures of different races |
density | thickness; quantity of something per unit measure, especially per unit length, area, or volume |
desertification | the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert; is usually caused by climate change or by destructive use of the land |
developed nations | a sovereign state that has a highly developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure relative to other less developed nations |
developing nations | a nation with a low living standard, underdeveloped industrial base |
distribution of resources | the distribution of resources, including land, water, minerals, fuel and wealth in general among corresponding geographic entities |
drought | dry period; aridity; long period of abnormally low rainfall |
earthquake | quake from underground; disturbance that is extremely disruptive; temblor |
ecosystem | system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment |
elevation | altitude; height; distance of something above a reference point |
emigrant | someone who leaves one country to settle in another |
ethnic heritage | a socially defined category of people who identify with each other based on a shared social experience or ancestry |
famine | shortage of food; starvation |
flood | a large flow; the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land |
fossil fuel | fuel consisting of the remains of organisms preserved in rocks in the earth's crust with high carbon and hydrogen content |
GIS | geographic information system, a computer system used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographic data |
global warming | an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes |
human | relating to a person; characteristic of humanity |
hurricane | big storm; severe tropical cyclone |
map projection | a projection of the globe onto a flat map using a grid of lines of latitude and longitude |
modification | act of modifying, or state of being modified; modified form or condition; a change |
pattern | a model considered worthy of imitation; something regarded as a normative example |
perspective | appearance of things; view, outlook, or vista |
plate tectonics | the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust |
policy | settled method of government to administer; system of public or official administration |
prevailing winds | the predominant wind direction |
processes | a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; a mental process that you are not directly aware of |
regional | related or limited to a particular region |
tectonic plate | a scientific theory that describes the large-scale motions of Earth's lithosphere, the model builds on the concepts of continental drift, developed during the first few decades of the 20th century |
tornado | cyclone; localized and violently destructive windstorm |
tsunami | a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption |
typhoon | tropical cyclone occurring in the western Pacific; violent whirlwind |
urban sprawl | an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities |
urbanization | social process whereby cities grow and societies become more urban |
volcano | fissure in the earth's crust through which molten lava and gases erupt |
weather phenomena | phenomenon in a weather event that can be explained by the principles of meteorology |
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