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Gathering Techniques
Processing Techniques
Key Idea 1 - Physical Landscapes
Key Idea 2 Weather
Key Idea 3 Climatic Regions
Key Idea 4 The physical environment and its effect on human activities
Key Idea 5 Competition between land uses in the countryside
Key Idea 6 Environmental Issues
Key Idea 7 Characteristics of Settlements
Key Idea 8 Recent Changes In Towns and Cities
Key Idea 9 Farming
Key Idea 10 Industry
Key Idea 11 Economic Change
Key Idea 12 Population Distribution
Key Idea 13 Population Characteristics
Key Idea 14 Population Change
Key Idea 15 International relations
Key Idea 16 International Trade
Key Idea 17 International Aid and Self Help
Exam words

Gathering Techniques

Gathering techniques are ways of finding out different information. The following is a list of different
techniques that you could be asked about in Standard Grade.

Fieldsketching - drawing a sketch of the site of a
settlement, river landforms.

observing and recording - the age and use of buildings,
land use and land use changes, environmental quality, traffic, cloud cover, cloud type, wind speed and visibility.

Extracting information from maps - on height, slope
aspect, farming, forestry, landforms and population indicators; old maps for former industries and land uses.

Extracting information from other sources - for example T.V., newspapers, Meteorological Office, satellite photographs, radar images, climate graphs, census data. traffic, building types, land uses, environmental quality

Questionnaires - using one with shoppers to find out sphere of influences, the effect of change in industry, land use conflicts, views on trade and aid.

Interviewing - shopkeepers for sphere of influences, local people about urban decay, industrial change, land use changes, the weather; views on trade, aid and European issues.

Processing Techniques

Processing techniques are used to change findings into a different from that is more easily used and understood. The information will be changed into tables, maps, graphs or diagrams. Examples of processing techniques you will be expected to know about in Standard Grade are

Bar graphs - used to compare amount of several different items.

Divided bar graph - used to show different information.

Population pyramid - a double bar graph used to show the structure of the population.

Scattergraph - used to show if there is a relationship between two sets of figures.

Pie-Graph - used to show how one total is divided up.

Tabulating - making up a table to compare two or more places.

Annotating diagrams - putting labels on maps, graphs and
fieldsketches. This gives more detail and helps understanding.

Line graph - shows how one quantity changes over distance or time.

Multiple line graph - shows changes in two or more items over distance or time.

Rose diagram - compares the amount of something in different compass directions e.g. wind direction.

Climate graph - shows temperature and rainfall and helps compare two or more places. It is a combined bar and line
graph.

Cross-sections - a side on view of the landscape which shows the shape of the land.

Transects - this is a cross-sections on which features of
the human or physical landscape are noted. It is used to show the relationship between relief and land use.

Recording information on maps - namely land use, population distribution, migrations, movement of goods and location maps.

Key Idea 1 - Physical Landscapes

abrasion - the way rocks in rivers or glaciers scrape and erode the rocks they are moving over
alluvium - material deposited by a river
arete - the ridge between two corries
attrition - the way that rocks in rivers are worn down by rubbing against each other
boulder clay - rocks, sands and gravels deposited by melting ice; also known as till
braiding - the spitting of a river into different channels
corrosion - the way which rivers use the rocks that they carry to batter the river bed and banks
corrie - a large hollow near the top of a mountain, caused by glacial erosion
crag and tail - a hill with one very steep side and a gentle slope on the other side caused by ice flowing around it
delta - an area at the mouth of a river when it has split up into distributaries
deposition - the dropping of rocks and other materials by e.g. glaciers and rivers
distributary - a branch of a river which flows out from the river
drumlin - a smooth, half egg-shaped hill formed beneath an ice sheet
erosion - the wearing away of soil and rocks by e.g. rivers and glaciers
erratic - a rock transported by ice and dropped in a different area
esker - a winding ridge of sand and gravel, deposited by a river under the ice
estuary - the tidal mouth of a river
fiord - a U shaped valley drowned by the sea to become a long, narrow, steep-sided sea inlet
flood plain - a wide, flat valley, usually in the lower course of a river
freeze-thaw action - the weathering process that breaks up rocks by the repeated freezing and thawing of water in cracks
glacier - a mass of ice flowing down a valley
hanging valley - a smaller valley which hangs above the main U shaped valley in a glaciated region
Ice age - the long, cold period when ice and snow covered most of northern Europe
ice sheet - a large body of moving ice, usually in a lowland area
landform - a shape on the land made by natural processes
lateral moraine - material found at the sides of glaciers
lower course - the end part of a river meander - a large bend in a river
middle course - the middle part of a river
moraine - material deposited by glaciers
mouth - the end of a river where it reaches the sea or a lake
outwash plain - the plain made up of material washed out of a melting glacier or ice-sheet
ox-bow lake - a former meander of a river
physical landscape - the natural scenery of an area
plucking - the way by which moving ice pulls away rocks onto which it has frozen
pyramidal peak - a pointed shaped peak made by glacial erosion
river beach - a build up of material deposited in the inside bend of a river
river cliff - the steep bank made by erosion on the outside bend of a river
river terrace - a flat bench lying on each side of a river valley
roche moutonee - a large rock smoothed by ice on its upstream side, jagged on its downstream side
scree - a pile of loose jagged rocks made by freeze-thaw
source - the start of a river
spur - a ridge of rock which juts down into a valley
terminal moraine - moraine deposited at the end of a glacier
transportation - the carrying of rock and soil
tributary - a smaller river which flows into a larger one
truncated spur - a spur that has been truncated, or cut off, by moving ice
upper course of a river - the first part of a river
U-shaped valley - one that has steep sides and a flat bottom and has been overdeepened by a glacier
V-shaped valley - a valley that has been eroded by a river
weathering - the process by which rocks are worn away but not transported away

Key Idea 2 Weather

air pressure - the force exerted by air on the earth's surface
air stream - a moving current of air
anemometer - an instrument for measuring wind speed
anticyclone - a high pressure system that brings settled weather
barometer - an instrument for measuring air pressure
barograph - an instrument for recording air pressure
Beaufort scale - a scale of wind speed
cold front - the boundary in front of cold air
depression - a low pressure system that brings unsettled weather
humidity - the amount of water vapour in the air
isobar - a line joining places with equal air pressure
millibar - is a unit of pressure used in recording air pressure; also known as hectopascals
occluded front - where a cold front overtakes a warm front in a depression
okta - an eighth of the sky covered in cloud
precipitation - moisture from the atmosphere in the form of rain, sleet, hail, snow and dew
radiosonde - an instrument carried by a balloon which measures elements of the weather in the upper atmosphere
rain gauge - the instrument for measuring precipitation
Stevenson screen - a white wooden box on legs which holds weather instruments
sunshine recorder - the instrument for measuring hours of sunshine
synoptic chart - a map which shows weather conditions
temperature - how hot or cold it is
warm front - the boundary in front of warm air
warm sector - the wedge of warm air in a depression
weather station - is a site where different elements of the weather are measured and recorded
weather station symbol - is a series of symbols which show the weather at one particular spot
wind vane - an instrument for measuring wind direction

Key Idea 3 Climatic Regions

altitude - the height above sea level
climate - the average of the weather conditions, usually
measured over 30 years
desert - an area with very low rainfall, usually less than 250 mm. a year
drought - a long period of dry weather
equatorial climate - a hot and wet climate found in many
places near the equator
extreme climate - a climate with a large range of temperature between the hottest and coldest months
hot desert climate - a hot, dry climate which is generally experienced on the western sides of continents around 30 north and south of the equator
Mediterranean climate - a warm climate with dry summers
rainfall pattern - the distribution of rainfall throughout a year
seasonal rainfall - is rainfall which occurs mostly during one part of a year
temperature range - the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures
Tundra climate - a cold and dry climate found in the northern parts of Canada and Russia

Key Idea 4 The physical environment and its effect on human activities

drainage - removing water from the land
Forestry Commission - the organisation that plants and looks after forests in the UK.
irrigation - putting extra water onto farmland
land use - the way people use the land e.g. farming, forestry, settlement
national park - a large area of countryside whose scenery is protected for the public
recreation - an activity undertaken for pleasure
rural - the countryside
terraces - steps cut into the sides of hills to make extra flat land for farming
urban - cities, built up areas
country park - a small area of countryside near a city set aside for recreation

Key Idea 5 Competition between land uses In the countryside

conflict - disagreement between different land users
conservation - looking after the attractiveness of an area

Key Idea 6 Environmental Issues

afforestation - the planting of trees
deforestation - the cutting down of trees
global warming - the gradual increase in temperatures world-wide
greenhouse effect - the gradual rise in temperatures due to an increase in carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere
overpopulation - where too many people live in an area for the resources available, resulting in a low standard of living
ozone layer - a belt in the atmosphere which cuts out most of the harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun
pollution - damage to the environment caused by people
shelter belt - a line of trees which slows down the wind and protects the crops and soil behind it

Key Idea 7 Characteristics of settlements

accessibility - how easy it is to get to a settlement
central business district (CBD) - the centre of a city which usually has departmental stores, offices, main bus and railway stations and entertainments
commuter village - a village next to a city; many people travel from the village to work in the city - also known as a dormitory settlement
conurbation - a very large built up area formed when towns and cities join together
dispersed - a scattered pattern of settlements
function - the main purpose of a settlement, e.g. port, market town or route centre
high order services - services that are rarely used by most people and are only found in the larger towns and cities e.g. major football stadium, international airport.
land use zones - in a town are the areas of housing, industry and commerce ( shops, offices etc.).
industrial estate - an area of modem factories
Infrastructure - the framework of roads, railways, power supplies
land use zones - areas in a town with the same kind of land use
linear settlement - settlement with a long, narrow shape
low order services - those used frequently by most people, found in villages as well as towns e.g. post office, general shop
market town - a town surrounded by farmland which provides services for farmers
nucleated - a settlement with the buildings clustered together
residential area - housing area
site - the land on which a settlement is built
situation - the position of a settlement in relation to other settlements and landforms
Sphere of Influence - the area around a settlement within which people use that settlement for their services
urban areas - towns and cities
urban model - a diagram showing a simplified pattern of land use in a town or city

Key Idea 8 Recent Changes In Towns and Cities

commuter - someone who travels to work
congestion - too much traffic on roads
derelict land - disused land
dormitory settlement - a settlement near a larger town in which most people have jobs in the larger town
green belt - an area of protected countryside around towns and cities
Inner city - the old, central area of a town or city, often areas of redevelopment
new town - a planned town, such as East Kilbride, which offers new housing and jobs
overspill - population forced to move out of an area because of a urban renewal scheme
park 'n' ride - a scheme where car parks are set up at the edge of a town and people travel to work by car or train
renovation - the modernisation of buildings
suburbs - the outskirts of a town
urban decay - the poor condition of part of a town
urban fringe - where the town meets the countryside
urban regeneration - improvements to housing, jobs, leisure and the environment in a town
urban renewal - a scheme to improve the condition of a town
urban sprawl - the spreading of towns into the countryside

Key Idea 9 Farming

agribusiness - the organisation of a farm as a business
arable farm - one that grows crops
cash crop - a crop that is grown for sale
cereal crop - grain crop e.g. wheat
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - the European Union's farming policy that looks after the farmers in Europe
crofting - part time farming found in the north of Scotland
crop rotation - the swapping around of crops to help look after the soil
diversification - trying different ways to earn money in the countryside
extensive farm - one that has few inputs for its area - e.g. hill sheep farming
factory farming - the very intensive rearing of animals, often indoors e.g. chickens
fodder crops - crops that are grown for animals to eat
horticulture - is growing flowers, fruit and vegetables
inputs - these are needed in order to farm e.g. land, workers, equipment
Intensive farm - one that has high inputs for its area e.g. a market garden
market gardening - a small farm in which the produce is sent directly to market e.g. flowers, vegetables
mixed farm - one that grows crops and keeps animals
organic farming - one that does not use artificial chemicals
outputs - what the farmer produces e.g. wheat, potatoes, milk
pastoral land - land that is left as grass for the animal to eat
permanent pasture - land that is always used as pasture
rough grazing - poor quality grazing land

Key Idea 10 Industry

assisted area - an area that receives government help to attract industry
capital intensive - an industry that spends a lot of money on equipment and machinery, and employs few workers
enterprise zone - a small area that receives special government help to attract industry e.g. Clydebank
extractive industry - quarrying and mining
footloose Industry - one that is not tied to a particular location
greenfield site - land that has not previously been built on
heavy industry - making large, heavy goods using raw materials such as coal and iron e.g. shipbuilding
high tech industry - one that uses advanced equipment to make goods e.g. computer chips
industrial estate - a planned industrial area, often with ready made factory units
industrial inertia - when an industry stays in an area after the reasons for it being there have gone
labour-intensive - an industry that requires a lot of workers
light industry - making small goods with small amounts of raw materials e.g. jewellery
primary industry - one which collects resources provided by nature e.g. farming, forestry, fishing and mining (Take)
quaternary industry - one which provides information and advice e.g. research laboratory
raw materials - items used to make another product
secondary Industry - a manufacturing industry (make)
service industry - provides a service to people or other industries e.g. transport, retail. Also known as tertiary industry (serve)
sunrise industry - a new, growing industry e.g. electronics
sunset industry - an old, declining industry e.g. shipbuilding

Key Idea 11 Economic Change

economic effects - the money effects on jobs and wages
environmental effects - the effects on the landscape and the environment
multiplier effect - the 'knock-on' effect of an industry opening or closing on other industries or services
restored land - derelict land that has been made useful again e.g. by landscaping or renovating buildings
social effects - the effects on the quality of life of the people e.g.
standard of living, services, community spirit

Key Idea 12 Population Distribution

economic factors - factors connected with jobs and money
empty lands - areas with low population density
environmental factors - factors connected to the natural environment e.g. climate, relief, soil
political factors - factors to do with the government and the European Union
population density - how crowded an area is - the number of people per square kilometre of land
population distribution - the way in which a population is spread throughout an area
population pyramid - a bar graph which shows the age and sex structure of a population

Key Idea 13 Population Characteristics

birth rate - the number of births per 1000 people
census - a count of the number of people living in a country
death rate - the number of deaths per 1000 people
developed countries - ones with high living standards. Also known as the 'North'
developing countries - ones with low living standards. Also known as the 'South'
gross domestic product (GDP) - the value of all the goods and services produced by a country in a year
gross national product (GNP) - the GDP plus the value of services earned abroad
indicators of development - statistics that help indicate a countries standard of living
infant mortality - the number of infant deaths to every 1000 live births
life expectancy - the average age to which people live in a country
literacy rate - the percentage of people in a country who can read and write
standard of living - how well off the people in a country are
third world - another name for the countries of the developing world
vital registrations - events such as births, deaths, marriages and divorces

Key Idea 14 Population Change

active population - the number of people in a country of working age, usually 15 to 60 years
dependent population - the number of people in a country who are not working, i.e. children and elderly
guest workers - people allowed to live and work in a country for a short period of time
migration - the movement of people from one area to an other
natural Increase - the number of extra people in a country each year caused by having more births than deaths
overpopulation - too many people living in an area for the available resources, resulting in a low standard of living
pull factor - a reason that attracts people to live in an other area e.g. higher standard of living
push factor - a reason why people move away from an area e.g. poor housing
refugees - people forced to move from their home area due to e.g. war
shanty town - an area in a town or city where people have built their own poor quality houses; often lacking in services e.g. electricity, sewers

Key Idea 15 International Relations

European Union - a trade and social alliance of European countries
quota - a limit on the number of goods a country is allowed to export
selling alliance - a group of countries that agree the lowest price at which they will sell a product e.g. oil
social alliance - a group of countries which cooperate with each other in a number of ways e.g. sport, defence, aid, immigration
tariff - a tax on goods imported into one country
trade alliance - a group of countries between which free trade can take place

Key Idea 16 International Trade

consumer - a person, country or industry that uses a product
exports - goods sold to another country
imports - goods bought from another country
multinational company - a very large company that has branches in many countries e.g. IBM, General Motors
overproduction - more of something is made than can be sold, causing the price to fall
trade balance - the difference between the value of exports and imports
trade barrier - something that makes it more difficult to export goods e.g. tariffs and quotas
trade deficit - the amount by which the cost of the imports is greater than the value of the exports
trade surplus - the amount by which the value of the exports is greater than the cost of the imports

Key Idea 17 International Aid and Self Help

aid - help
appropriate technology - using equipment that is suited to the skills and finances of a country
barefoot doctor - a local person trained to treat the common local diseases and offer health advice
bilateral aid - aid from one country to another
high technology - advanced equipment, usually costing a lot of money.
intermediate technology - middle level technology, often the right level to be used in the development of a country
long-term aid - aid that usually takes years before it is of benefit to a country e.g. improved education or a tree planting scheme
low technology - primitive techniques and equipments
multilateral aid - aid from a group of countries to an agency that then distributes it to other countries
project aid - aid used for a large project e.g. a hospital or a hydro-electric dam
self help scheme - a scheme, usually small scale, which uses the skills of the local people to improve the local conditions
short term aid - emergency aid, needed after natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes
tied aid - aid with conditions attached e.g. the money must be spent on goods from the country giving the aid
United Nations - a world-wide organisation set up to improve the conditions in every country
voluntary aid - aid collected by charities such as Oxfam or Action Aid and then distributed to those that need the help

Exam words

compare - outline the similarities or differences
conflict - an argument or difference of opinion
describe - outline the main features or characteristics
distribution - the spread throughout a country or region
economic - to do with money and wages
explain - give reasons
gathering technique - a way of collecting information
hierarchy - a list in order of size or importance
human - to do with people
identify - point out and name
illustrate - give an example of
justify - give a good reason for
land use - the way the land is used
location - where something is
model - a simplified version of some feature, e.g. a city, in the real world
outline - describe the main features or characteristics
physical - natural
processing technique - reorganising information so it is more easily understood
questionnaire - a list of questions which have been devised to obtain information, opinions and/or ideas.
rank - put in order of size
relationships - links
sampling - taking a representative selection of measurements
state - name or give
suggest - put forward ideas or give an opinion
technique - a way of collecting or processing information