Basic Earth Science

Question 1

What is Geomorphology?

Answer 1

The study of the physical features of the surface of the earth

Question 2

What are the Plate Boundaries?

Answer 2

Divergent (move apart), Convergent (come together), Transform (slide)

Question 3

What are the Fault Types?

Answer 3

Normal (slide down), Reverse (slide up), Strike-slip (slide side-to-side)

Question 4

What are USGS Topo Maps?

Answer 4

-Historical maps from 1884-2006
-Occasionally referred to as Quad Sheets
-formats: GeoTIFF, JPEG, KMZ

Question 5

What are USGS Quad Sheet Data Types?

Answer 5

-Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
-Digital Ortho Quarter Quad (DOQQ)
-Digital Line Graph (DLG)

Question 6

What are Digital Line Graph (DLG)?

Answer 6

Early GIS vector datasets derived from USGS topo maps. Stopped production in the 1990’s.

Question 7

What is Euclidean Distance?

Answer 7

Uses Pythagorean Theorem to measure 2D distance. Straight-line distance.

Question 8

What is Manhattan Distance?

Answer 8

Measures 2D distance. Can only move at right angles. Is the sum of the length of edges.

Question 9

What is Geodesic Measure of Length?

Answer 9

The shortest distance between two points, taking into consideration the curvature of the Earth.

Question 10

What is Planar Measure of Length?

Answer 10

2D measurement. Only valid for a projected map.

Question 11

What is Azimuth (Direction)?

Answer 11

-North Azimuth: Clockwise from north
-South Azimuth: Clockwise from south

Question 12

What is Polar (Direction)?

Answer 12

Counterclockwise from the positive x-axis (due east)