Specialised Concept Terms

• Adaptation 


  Responses to environmental change which aim to modify human behaviour and economic systems permanently.
• Casualty 


  The relationship between cause and effect. A casual agent creates change in a dependent variable - For example, torrential rainfall (causes) leads to widespread flooding (effect)
• Equilibrium 


  The state of stability in a system achieved when a balance exists between inputs and outputs.
• Feedback 


  An automatic internal response to a change in systems. Negative feedback restores a system to balance; positive feedback amplifies change, which causes further disequilibrium.
• Globalisation 


  The multiple interconnections and linkages between nations, groups of people, businesses and individuals which make up the modern world system.
• Identity 


  How something is recognised. For geographers the concept of identity is closely associated with place.
• Inequality 


  The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, well-being etc. within society.
• Interdependence 


  At global scale, the mutual dependence of two or more countries in which there is a reciprocal relationship.
• Representation 


  The ways by which meanings are given to the world.
• Mitigation 


  Action which is taken to lessen the impact of natural hazards on people, economy and society.
• Resilience


  The ability of countries, communities, households and environmental systems to resist, absorb and recover from the effects of shocks or stresses such as earthquakes, drought or violent conflict.
• Risk 


  The probability of a range of possible outcomes resulting from specific events such as economic shock or hazard.
• Sustainability 


  The use of resources that is environmentally and economically viable in the long term.
• Systems 


  Are groups related objects, whether physical or human. The relationship between components bind it together so that the change in one component often has far-reaching impacts throughout the system.
• Thresholds 


  Critical 'tipping points' in a system, which if exceeded result in massive and irreversible change.