exam #2 Flashcards
what elements are included on this map?
diagram
contour lines, map scale, north arrow, reference grid, forested terrain, stream channels, roads, urbanized areas
what are charts used for? an example?
to be worked on, or to help navigate. nautical maps
What are Ottawa, Paris, Miami and Lethbridge classified as under the Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification System
Ottawa: Dbf: cold boreal forest, warm summers, moist climate
Paris: Cbf: warm, warm summers, moist climate
Miami: Caf: warm, hot summers, moist climate
Lethbridge: Bsk: dry, summer = main dry season, semi-arid climate
What is Qup*?
QH?
QE?
QG?
Qup*= non-radiative heat transfer
QH: convective sensible heat flux into air
QE: convective latent heat flux into air
QG: conductive sensible heat flux into surface
what is the NTS
national topographic systems: maps produced for all areas of Canada
what are the atmosphere’s two specific zones?
ionosphere and ozonosphere
what are the STP values?
T = 15 degrees cesius
P = 101.325 kPa
D = 1.23 kg/m^3
how can you determine your position without GPS?
to determine latitude: use the north star
to determine longitude: take a clock with a fixed time (GMT) and measure distance of time between GMT and high noon wherever you are
why does the temperature profile change with height in the atmosphere? diagram
troposphere: T decreases as height increases because it is warmed by the ground’s surface
stratosphere: T increases with height because the stratosphere houses ozone which sits at the top of this layer and so it gets warmed from above through absorption of UV radiation by the ozone
mesosphere: T decreases with height as it’s warmed from below via contact with the stratosphere
thermosphere: T increases with height as it’s warmed via absorbing the solar radiation
….show what kind of slope?
1) widely spaced contours
2) narrowly spaced contours
3) uniformly spaced contours
1) gentle slope
2) steep slope
3) uniform slope
what do you have to consider with maps?
types, map elements, coordinate systems, projections, correct map?
what’s ITCZ and why is it tied to monsoon behaviour
ITCZ: intertropical convergence zone. winds from northern and southern hemispheres come together here.
What causes weather?
unequal heating of the atmosphere
What is a map?
generalized view of an area (a model)
what are the problems with a miller cylindrical projection?
super bad for measuring distance. polar regions represent a small amt of the world but the distortions created from stretching a round world onto a flat piece of paper result in polar regions looking the same size as equatorial zones.
what type of projection is a mercator map? what are its pros/cons?
Cylindrical projection
Pro: can see the whole earth
Con: can’t be used to measure distance as regions are stretched
define magnetic declination. what is the declination for lethbridge?
angle between true north and magnetic north.
13 degrees 29’ E
What percent does water exist in the atmosphere? What are its sources/sinks? What are the two elements that allow rain?
0.25%, source: evaporation, sink: condensation, gravity and sun allow rain
In terms of Q*, temperature and L, describe a desert and ocean surface **diagram
desert: Q* is low due to high albedo, T increase during the day is large (low specific heat, little moisture for evaporation, low heat conductivity), L up is high (large T decrease at night due to clear skies and dry conditions)
ocean: Q* is high due to low albedo, T increase during the day is low (high specific heat, lots of evaporation, convective mixing carries heat deeper into the water), L up is low (small T decrease at night)
which planets have atmospheres? were they present when the planets were formed? why or why not? what’s atmospheric thinning?
venus, earth, mars
no & hypotheses are:
1) outgassing (release of gases dissolved in rock) means the atmosphere came from inside the planet
2) comets and asteroids (atmosphere came from somewhere else)
atmospheric thinning: water vapour condenses into liquid water forming oceans and carbon dioxide is removed more slowly which creates chemical weathering and photosynthesis/burial of organic matter
what’s the net radiation equation?
Rn = Q down - Q up - I up + I down
= incoming sw radiation from the sun (insolation) - reflected sw radiation - lw radiation radiated by the earth - lw radiation reflected back towards the earth
How are maps categorized?
- scale
- function
- subject matter
which datum was previously used? which is currently used?
past: NAD27
current: NAD83
what are Lethbridge’s coordinates?
49 degrees 42’ N, 112 degrees 49’ W
what map would best be used to show how different ridings vote?
a thematic/special purpose map
between venus, earth and mars, rank…
1) atmospheric pressure
2) temperature
3) size
1) atmospheric pressure (kpa): mars @ 0.7 -> earth @ 101.325 -> venus @ 9200
2) surface temperature (degrees celsius): mars @ -53 -> earth @ 15 -> venus @ 474
3) radius (km): mars @ 3390 -> venus @ 6049 -> earth @ 6371
what does GIS stand for? what are the two ways you can represent data? what are they good for?
software to organize spatial and attribute data.
vector: lines defined by X, Y coordinates. good for anything with a definite shape/clear boundaries
raster: composed of grids and cells. good for remotely sensed images
what are the rules for contour lines?
1) never intersect
2) never split or divide
3) always closed
4) hill = concentric contours
5) depression = concentric hachured contour
6) river valley = V, base pointing upstream
7) ridge = U or V, base pointing downwards
what’s the difference between small/large scale maps? what’s the cutoff?
small scale: bird’s eye view of a large area. ex. 1:250,000
large scale: close up view of a small area. ex. 1:1,000
the cut-off is 1:50,000
what is meant by the concept of accurate generalization?
does your map accurately answer the question you’re asking? the level of generalization is important and it must fit the purpose.