MODULE 1

The global heat budget- the global heat budget is an atmospheric system which involves inputs,
storage and outputs
Long wave radiation- the infrared (thermal) radiation of the earths surface, atmosphere, and
clouds.
Short wave radiation- (SW) is radiant energy with wavelengths in the visible (VIS), near-
ultraviolet (UV), and near-infrared (NIR) spectra.
Albedo- Albedo is the fraction of solar energy (shortwave radiation) reflected from the Earth
back into space.
Jet stream- A high-speed, meandering wind current, generally moving from a westerly direction
at speeds often exceeding 400 kilometers (250 miles) per hour at altitudes of 10 to 15
kilometers (6 to 9 miles).
Rossby waves- The movement of ridges and troughs in the upper wind patterns, primarily the jet
stream, circling the earth.
Absolute humidity- The amount of water vapor present in a unit volume of air, usually expressed
in kilograms per cubic meter.
Relative humidity- A type of humidity that considers the ratio of the actual vapor pressure of the
air to the saturation vapor pressure.
Lapse rate: environmental - the rate of change of any meteorological factor with altitude,
especially atmospheric temperature, which usually decreases at a rate of 0.6C per 100 metres.
Lapse rate: adiabatic- Unsaturated air loses about 1C per 100 m (dry adiabatic lapse rate),
whereas saturated air loses an average 0.5C per 100 m (saturated adiabatic lapse rate)
Atmospheric stability- A measure of the degree to which the atmosphere resists turbulence and
vertical motion.
Atmospheric instability-
Conditional instability- Any layer in the atmosphere where the rate of actual temperature
decreases with height is between the moist and dry adiabatic lapse rate.
Anticyclones- a weather system with high barometric pressure at its centre, around which air
slowly circulates in a clockwise (northern hemisphere) or anticlockwise (southern hemisphere)
direction.
Depressions- a large body of rotating and rising air below normal atmospheric pressure, which
often brings rain.
Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)- the zone of deep convection and heavy rainfall in the
tropics, especially along or near the equator.
Synoptic chart- a chart showing the distribution of meteorological conditions over a wide region
at a given moment.
Microclimate- are climates that exist over small areas, where the conditions of shelter,
temperature, precipitation, humidity, winds, pressure and clouds are different to the general
surroundings.
Tropical cyclone- A violent storm originating over tropical or subtropical waters, characterized by
violent rainstorms and high-velocity cyclonic winds.
Soil- the upper layer of earth in which plants grow a black or dark brown material typically
consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.
Soil profile- a vertical section of soil from the ground surface to the parent rock.
Soil texture- the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay in a soil.
Soil structure- the arrangement of soil particles in various aggregates differing in shape, size,
stability, and degree of adhesion to one another.
Agroforestry- A system of land use in which harvestable trees or shrubs are grown among or
around crops or on pastureland, as a means of preserving or enhancing the productivity of the
land.
Urban heat island- An area, such as a city or industrial site, having consistently higher
temperatures than surrounding areas because of a greater retention of heat, as by buildings,
concrete, and asphalt.
Storm surge- a rising of the sea as a result of wind and atmospheric pressure changes associated
with a storm.
Water balance- the ratio between the water assimilated into the body and that lost from the
body.
Air mass- a body of air with horizontally uniform levels of temperature, humidity, and pressure.
Greenhouse effect- the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere, due to the
greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared
radiation emitted from the planet's surface.
Field capacity- the maximum amount of water that a particular soil can hold.
Capillary action- The movement of a liquid along the surface of a solid caused by the attraction
of molecules of the liquid to the molecules of the solid.










MODULE 2
Primary economic activity- refer to the activity which involve the use/harvesting of physical
resources directly from the earth.
Secondary economic activity- involves the processing of raw materials and the manufacture of
goods.
Tertiary economic activity- services provided for others in exchange for money or product:
banking, nursing, and teaching.
Quaternary economic activity-encompass a range of intellectual activities, including the
processing and distribution of information.
Quinary economic activity- involve the creation, rearrangement and interpretation of new and
old ideas and information as well as innovation of methods in data interpretation.
Aquaculture- the rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food.
Hydroponics the process of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid, with added nutrients but
without soil.
Locational rent-
Recreation- activity done for enjoyment when one is not working.
Leisure- time when one is not working or occupied; free time.
Island tourism- is associated with highly structured activities concentrated on coastal areas e.g.
Caribbean.
Mainland tourism-is associated with highly structured activities concentrated on larger land
areas e.g. France and Switzerland.
Footlosse industry- one which could set up in many different locations. It is not tied to a fixed
location. It may locate where labour is cheaper, or where the government offers incentives.
Isodapanes- A line joining up places of equal total transport costs for industrial production and
delivery between the points where the raw materials are located and the markets.
Economic man an imaginary individual created in classical economics and conceived of as
behaving rationally, regularly, and predictably in his economic activities with motives that are
egoistic, acquisitive, and short-term in outlook.
Sub-optimum location-
Industrial inertia- The best location for a firm in order to maximize profits.
Package tour- a holiday organized by a travel agent, with arrangements for transport,
accommodation, etc., made at an inclusive price.
Deindustrialization- the decline of a country's traditional manufacturing industry due to
exhaustion of raw materials, loss of markets and competition from NICs.
Factory farming- a system of rearing livestock using highly intensive methods, by which poultry,
pigs, or cattle are confined indoors under strictly controlled conditions.
Import substitution industrialization- An economic theory employed by developing or emerging
market nations that wish to increase their self-sufficiency and decrease their dependency on
developed countries.
Land degradation- Deterioration in the quality of land, its topsoil, vegetation, and/or water
resources, caused usually by excessive or inappropriate exploitation.























MODULE 3
Development- The systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge to meet specific
objectives or requirements.
Underdevelopment- state of inadequate development; "much poverty can be traced to the
underdevelopment of industry".
Sustainable development- Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Poverty- Condition where people's basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met.
Absolute poverty- measures poverty in relation to the amount of money necessary to meet
basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Relative poverty- poverty in relation to the economic status of other members of the society.
Gross domestic product- the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country
during one year.
Human development index- A tool developed by the United Nations to measure and rank
countries' levels of social and economic development based on four criteria: Life expectancy at
birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling and gross national income per
capita.
Age dependency ratio- is a measure of the age structure of the population.
Life expectancy- the average period that a person may expect to live.
Gender- the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural
differences rather than biological ones).
Infant mortality rates- infant death rate: the death rate during the first year of life
Gross national product- the total value of goods produced and services provided by a country
during one year, equal to the gross domestic product plus the net income from foreign
investments.
Nodal region- A region characterized by a set of places connected to another place by lines of
communication or movement.
Gender development index (GDI) - is a composite indicator that measures the development of
states according to the standard of living in a country.
Human poverty index (HPI) - is an indicator of the standard of living in a country developed by
the United Nations (UN). It relates to life expectancy, malnutrition in children, literacy, and
access to health services and potable water.