Chapter 2: Mapping Our World Flashcards
What is Cartography?
The science or art of making maps.
What is the Equator?
An imaginary circle around the middle or the Earth, halfway between the North Pole and South Pole, 0 degrees.
What is Latitude?
Distance North or South of the Equator, measured in degrees.
What is Longitude?
Distance East or West of the Prime Meridian, measured in degrees.
What is the Prime Meridian?
The Prime Meridian, designated at 0 degrees longitude, which passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.
What is the International Date Line?
An arc that for the most part follows 180° longitude, although it deviates in several places to avoid dividing land areas. When you cross the International Date Line heading east (toward America), the clock moves back 24 hours, or one entire day. When you go west (toward Asia), the calendar moves ahead one day.
What is a Topographic Map?
Maps that use isolines to represent constant elevations. If you took a topographic map out into the field and walked exactly along the path of an isoline on your map, you would always stay at the same elevation.
What is a Contour Interval?
On a topographic map, tells the difference in elevation between adjacent contour lines.
What is an Electromagnetic Spectrum?
All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
What is a Contour Line?
A line on a topographic map that connects points of equal elevation
What is Frequency?
How many wave peaks pass a certain point per given time
What states are in Eastern Time?
New York, Vermont, South Carolina
What states are in Mountain Time?
Colorado, Arizona
What states are in Central Time?
Indiana, Kansas
What states are in Pacific Time?
Washington, California
What latitude are the North and South Poles at?
90 degrees
How many kilometers are in between each degree of latitude?
111 km
What are the degrees of latitude broken down into?
60 minutes and 60 seconds
What degrees are points East of the Prime Meridian?
0-180 degrees East Longitude
What degrees are points West of the Prime Meridian?
0-180 degrees West Longitude
How do you write coordinates?
Latitude first and then Longitude
Ex: New Orleans 29 57’N, 90 04’W
How many time zones is Earth divided into?
24 Time Zones
How many degrees wide is each Longitude?
15 Degrees (Earth rotates at 15 degrees per hour)
What are the names of the time zones in the continental United States?
Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern
What are maps?
Models of 3D objects
What are Mercator Projections?
Parallel latitude and longitude lines (Navigation plans and ships)
What are Conic Projections?
Projected on a cone shape of paper, used for road and weather maps, very little distortion
What are Gnomonic Projections?
Based on one point, much distortion, used for air and sea long distance.
What is a Map Legend?
Explain what symbols on a map represent
What is a Map Scale?
Explain how to measure distances on a map
What is remote sensing?
Process of collecting data about Earth from far above the Earth’s surface
What is a Wavelength?
The actual size of in a measure of the wave from one crest to the next
What are Landsat Satellites?
Devices which receive reflected wavelengths of energy emitted by Earth’s surface
What are Topex/Poseidon Satellites?
They transmit high frequency signals to the surface of the ocean. The distance to the waterrs’ surface is calculated using the known speed of light
What are Seabeams/Sonars?
Use sound waves to map the ocean floor
What is GPS (Global Positioning System)?
Radio-navigation system of 24 satellites that allows its users to determine their position on Earth
