Landforms, Climate, and Human Geography
Landforms
Plateau
An elevated area of relatively flat land, formed by uplift or erosion. Often bordered by folded mountains.
Cárcava (Gully)
A landform created by running water eroding soft materials, frequently appearing in clay relief.
Karst
A landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, characterized by sinkholes, gorges, and caves.
Hoz (Gorge)
A narrow, deep valley carved by a river, typically in limestone, with almost vertical walls.
Climate and Weather
Climate
The long-term average weather conditions of a place, determined by factors like temperature, precipitation, latitude, atmospheric circulation, and relief.
Weather
The state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, characterized by temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and atmospheric pressure.
Albedo
The proportion of solar radiation reflected by a surface.
Insolation
The amount of solar radiation received by the Earth’s surface, varying with latitude, season, and time of day.
Temperature Range
The difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures in a given period.
Isotherm
A line connecting points of equal temperature.
Isobar
A line connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.
Anticyclone
A high-pressure weather system with clockwise winds (in the Northern Hemisphere), associated with stable weather.
Front
The boundary between two air masses, where denser air forces lighter air to rise.
Polar Front
The boundary between cold polar air and warmer air to the south, typically around 60°N latitude.
Borrasca (Low-Pressure System)
An area of low atmospheric pressure, causing unstable weather and often moving from west to east.
Humidity
The amount of water vapor in the air, expressed as a percentage of saturation.
Condensation
The process of water vapor changing to liquid.
Gota Fría (Cold Drop)
A weather phenomenon where a mass of cold air descends into a region of warm air, causing heavy precipitation.
Isohyet
A line connecting points of equal precipitation.
Orographic Rainfall
Rainfall caused by air being forced to rise over mountains, leading to condensation.
Convectional Rainfall
Rainfall caused by warm, moist air rising, cooling, and condensing.
Acid Rain
Rain containing dissolved sulfur and nitrogen oxides, causing environmental damage.
Aridity
Dryness or lack of rainfall.
Desertification
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of human activity.
Greenhouse Effect
The warming of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere caused by greenhouse gases trapping solar radiation.
Windward
The side of a mountain facing the wind.
Leeward
The side of a mountain sheltered from the wind.
Hydrography
The study of surface waters.
Catchment Area
The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.
Flow Rate
The volume of water flowing past a point in a river per unit of time.
Alluvial Fan
A fan-shaped deposit of sediment formed where a river flows from a mountain onto a plain.
Endorheic Basin
A closed drainage basin where rivers do not flow to the sea.
Flood
An overflow of water onto normally dry land.
Low Water
The lowest level of water in a river.
Rambla (Dry Riverbed)
A dry channel that occasionally carries water after heavy rain.
Wetland
An area of land saturated with water.
Delta
A landform created by the deposition of sediment at the mouth of a river.
Albufera (Lagoon)
A coastal lagoon separated from the sea by a sandbar.
Estuary
The tidal mouth of a river, where fresh water mixes with salt water.
Ecosystems
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms and their physical environment.
Endemism
The state of being unique to a particular geographic location.
Maquis (Maquia)
A type of dense, evergreen shrubland found in the Mediterranean region.
Garrigue
A type of low, open shrubland found in the Mediterranean region.
Sclerophyllous Forest
A type of forest with hard-leaved, drought-resistant trees.
Holm Oak
An evergreen oak tree with hard wood and acorns.
Heathland
An open habitat with low-growing shrubs, typically found in temperate regions.
Protected Natural Area
An area of land or water protected for its natural or cultural value.
Human Geography
The study of human activity and its relationship with the Earth’s surface.
Census
An official count of a population, including demographic, social, and economic data.
Demographic Transition
The historical shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.
Birth Rate
The number of live births per 1,000 people per year.
Fertility Rate
The average number of children born to a woman during her reproductive years.
Mortality Rate
The number of deaths per 1,000 people per year.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person is expected to live.
Natural Population Growth
The difference between the birth rate and the mortality rate.
Immigration
The movement of people into a new country or region.
De Jure Population
The population legally residing in a particular area.
Commuter Migration
Daily movement of people between their residence and workplace.
Population Density
The number of people per unit of area.
Working Population
The number of people employed or seeking employment.
Unemployment Rate
The percentage of the working population that is unemployed.
Urban Population
The population living in urban areas.
Municipality
A local government unit.
Dispersed Settlement
A settlement pattern where houses are scattered across the landscape.
Urban Hierarchy
A ranking of cities based on their size and functions.
Urban System
The network of cities within a region or country.
Grid Plan
A city layout with streets intersecting at right angles.
Radiocentric Plan
A city layout with streets radiating from a central point.
Garden City
A planned urban development combining city and country living.
Linear City
A city planned along a major transportation route.
Ensanche (Urban Expansion)
A planned expansion of a city, typically in the 19th century.
Central Business District (CBD)
The commercial and business center of a city.
Commuter Town
A town primarily inhabited by people who work in a nearby city.
Shantytown
A slum area with makeshift housing.
Metropolitan Area
A large urban area including a central city and its surrounding suburbs.
Conurbation
A continuous urban area formed by the merging of several cities.
Social Housing
Affordable housing provided by the government.
Agriculture
Openfield System
An agricultural system with open fields and no fences.
Bocage System
An agricultural system with enclosed fields and hedges.
Agribusiness
Large-scale, industrialized agriculture.
Subsistence Agriculture
Farming for personal consumption.
Extensive Agriculture
Farming over large areas with low yields.
Intensive Agriculture
Farming with high inputs and yields per unit of land.
Polyculture
Growing multiple crops in the same area.
Crop Rotation
Alternating different crops in a field to maintain soil fertility.
Fallow
Leaving land unplanted to restore its fertility.
Land Lease
Renting land for agricultural use.
Sharecropping
A system where a tenant farmer pays a portion of the crop as rent.
Minifundio (Smallholding)
A small farm.
Land Reclamation
Bringing land into agricultural use.
Mechanization
The use of machinery in agriculture.
Disentailment
The seizure and sale of church lands.
Land Consolidation
Combining small plots of land into larger ones.
Industry and Economy
Secondary Sector
The sector of the economy that processes raw materials into finished goods.
Renewable Energy
Energy from sources that are naturally replenished.
Wind Energy
Energy generated from wind.
Hydroelectric Energy
Energy generated from flowing water.
Refining
The process of purifying crude oil.
Infrastructure
The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society.
Capital Goods
Goods used to produce other goods.
Basic Industry
Industry that processes raw materials.
Industrial Restructuring
The process of changing the structure of an industry.
Industrial Development Poles
Areas designated for industrial development.
Industrial Region
A region with a high concentration of industry.
Autarky
Economic self-sufficiency.
Stabilization Plan
A plan to stabilize an economy.
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Businesses with a limited number of employees.
Oligopoly
A market dominated by a small number of firms.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Tertiary Sector
The service sector of the economy.
Tertiarization
The increasing importance of the service sector in an economy.
Seasonal Tourism
Tourism concentrated in specific seasons.
Imports
Goods brought into a country from another country.
Shopping Malls
Large retail complexes.
Hypermarket
A very large supermarket.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The total value of goods and services produced in a country.
Informal Economy
Economic activity that is not taxed or regulated.
Euro
The currency of the Eurozone.
European Union (EU)
A political and economic union of 27 European countries.