Key Terms in Geography and Agriculture: Definitions

Rururbanized Area

A rururbanized area is an indeterminate, transitional zone between the town and the country, featuring characteristics from both. It mixes uses, functions, and agricultural and urban activities.

Aridity

The aridity of a region is defined by the ratio of evapotranspiration, precipitation, and soil absorption. A territory is arid or dry if precipitation does not compensate for water losses due to other factors.

Lease

A lease is an agreement where the landlord gives the exploitation of land to the peasants in return for payment of a certain amount by a specific date. The farmer can grow whatever they want.

Poultry

Within the primary sector, poultry refers to the activity focused on developing farms where birds are bred and exploited. Usually, eggs and meat are obtained on the farm.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth.

Balance of Trade

The balance of trade measures the difference between imports and exports of all kinds of products, such as mineral raw materials or energy.

Balance of Payments

The balance of payments records the economic transactions that take place between economic agents resident in the country and the rest of the world, within a specific period, usually one year.

Barlovento

Barlovento is the side from which the wind blows.

Barrancos

Barrancos are torrents formed by water erosion from the rains.

Residential Neighborhoods

Residential neighborhoods are areas of primary or, in some cases, secondary homes, that have been transformed into the main house. They are occupied by upper-middle classes and are characterized by buildings of two or three stories or single-family houses, surrounded by gardens.

Biomass

Biomass is a type of renewable energy based on wood, dung, and agricultural residues.

Trade Block

A trade block is a group of countries coming together to promote trade among themselves.

Borrasca

A borrasca is a center of low atmospheric pressure of less than 1014 millibars. The stormy air mass is warm or warmer than its surroundings and is therefore unstable. Inside, the air rises and moves in the opposite direction of clockwise. The passage of a storm is accompanied by fronts that trigger rain and cloud formation.

Deciduous Forest

Deciduous forests prevail in the Eurosiberian domain. In autumn, they shed their leaves and prepare to survive the winter, going into a resting state. In spring, when conditions become favorable, they recover their foliage and revive their activity.

Evergreen Forest

The trees in evergreen forests are adapted to withstand periods of drought. The leaves have reduced their size to minimize water loss through transpiration. Species are evergreen (do not lose their leaves) because the tree cannot afford to lose leaves due to a shortage of water or nutrients. Some of these species can be considered sclerophyllous.