Globalisation, Earth's Structure, Urban Agglomerations and EU Institutions

Globalisation

Globalisation consists of the growing integration of national economies in a worldwide market economy.

Causes of globalisation

• Progress of telecommunications: provides information in real time and permits contact between people anywhere on the planet.
• Improvement of transport: facilitates the transfer of goods and people around the world.
• Widespread adoption of capitalism and neoliberal ideals: has helped economic relations throughout the world.

External Structure of the Earth

• Lithosphere: It includes the crust and the upper mantle. It is the solid part of the Earth.
• Hydrosphere: It includes all the waters on Earth.
• Atmosphere: Gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth.
  • Troposphere (0–10 km): Where weather phenomena take place.
  • Stratosphere (10–50 km): Where the ozone layer protects us against solar radiation.
  • Mesosphere (50–80 km): Temperature decreases to around −75°C.
  • Ionosphere (80–500 km):
  • Exosphere (above 500 km):

Internal Structure of the Earth

• Crust: Most external layer; it is solid and includes continents and oceans.
• Mantle: Intermediate layer; the lithosphere is formed by the crust and the mantle.
• Core: It is a thin layer of solid materials.

Urban Agglomerations

• Metropolitan area: It is when a big city merges with nearby cities which depend on it. The big city provides employment and services to the population from the satellite cities where there are residential areas, industries, housing and airports (e.g., Paris and London).
• Conurbation: It is an urban area formed by the growth of two or more cities with similar importance which have joined together (e.g., Liverpool and London).
• Urban region: An urban agglomeration on a regional scale. It is formed by the growth of several cities which are separate (e.g., the Ruhr Region).
• Megalopolis: A supra-regional urban area formed by a succession of different types of urban agglomerations (e.g., Boston and Washington).

The EU

Institutions of the EU

• European Council: Highest political institution formed by the heads of state, the President of the European Commission and an elected President.
  • Functions: Defining the general aims and priorities of the EU.
• The Council of the EU: Represents the member states. Formed by a minister from each country.
  • Functions: Approving community laws and the budget.
• The Parliament: Represents the citizens of the EU. Formed by 785 members elected.
  • Function: Approving EU proposed laws, making sure European laws are in compliance with the legislation, and managing the European budget.
• Courts of Justice: Formed by one judge from each country for six years.
  • Functions: Guarantee that EU laws are respected and applied with equality everywhere.