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Geography 120 > the geographers tool kit > Flashcards

the geographers tool kit Flashcards

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1
Q

relative location

A

referencing one place in comparison to another
for example Saskatoon is located north of Regina

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2
Q

absolute location

A

precise system of locating a place in space using latitude and longitude
for example, Saskatoon is located precisely at a latitude of 52.1579°N and a longitude of -106.6702°W

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3
Q

the geographic grid

A

consists of a set of intersecting circles; one set extends north and south and one set extends east and west
great circles bisect earth into 2 equal halves (prime meridian, north and south) and (equator, east and west)
represents the shortest distance between any 2 points on earths surface
smaller circles have smaller diameters (east west)

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4
Q

meridians of longitude

A

all great circles

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5
Q

parallels of latitude

A

equator is a great circle, all others are small circles

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6
Q

________ is an angular distance north or south of the equator measured from the centre of the earth, example 49°N, 12°S

A

latitude

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7
Q

Latitudinal geographic zones chart

A
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8
Q

____________ is an angular distance east or west of a point on earths surface measured from the centre of earth

A

longitude

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9
Q

a line connecting all points along the same longitude is a ____________ The prime _________ is a ___________ designated as 0°

A

meridian

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10
Q

a line connecting all points along the same latitudinal angle is a

A

parallel

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11
Q

in 1884 at the international meridian conference held in washington DC 22 countries voted to adopt the _____________ ____________ as the prime meridian of the world

A

Greenwich meridian

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12
Q

the international date line is located approximatley along the ______ meridian (180E=180W)

A

180th

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13
Q

Co-ordinate system chart

A
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14
Q

parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude allow all places on earth to be located precisely

A

example, Moncton is located at 46°N, -65°W

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15
Q

______ the basic tool of geographers

A

maps

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16
Q

maps represent

A

tools for geographic information storage and portrayal

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17
Q

map making is termed

A

cartography

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18
Q

cartography has become __________

A

geomatics - integration of map making and data analysis with computers

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19
Q

cartography focuses on ways to display __________________ so that it can be used and understood efficiently

A

spatial information

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20
Q

a _________ is the most visually complete and accurate way to represent the earth

A

globe

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21
Q

present spatial/temporal information about earths systems and inhabitants

A

position, size, shape, boundaries
motion, dispersal,
spatial, temporal variations
information associated with specific locations

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22
Q

spatial data are obtained by observation or sampling

A

direct observation “ground truth”
remote sensing

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23
Q

methods of map storage

A

hard copy: notebooks, air photos, digital or optical images
data sotred on various electronical media

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24
Q

spatial data can be displayed on maps in many forms

A

place names, written discriptions
symbols: points, lines, polygons
tables of numeric data

25
Q

spatial data displayed on maps

A

point data
line data
polygon data

26
Q

a reference map shows the location of features and places and is designed for

A

general use

27
Q

a thematic map shows one or a limited number of types of information or themes

A

dot maps
chlorpleth maps
isoline maps

28
Q

dot maps

A

suitable for displaying non-continuous or discrete data that vary from one place to another

29
Q

choropleth

A

represent data by using different colours or intensity of shading, used for that are sorted into classes

30
Q

isoline maps

A

isolines are lines connecting points of equal value on a map, there is various kinds
isobars: atmospheric pressure
isopachs: sediment thickness
isotherms: temperature
isohyets: precipitation
contours lines: elevation

31
Q

topographic maps

A

the closer the spacing of the contour lines, the steeper the slope
contour lines that form closed circles represent hills. closed circles with hatch marks indicate depressions
where contour lines cross streams, they form V’s pointing upstream
contour lines never touch or cross because each contour line represents a specific value at every point on that line

32
Q

_________ is a critical part of cartography

A

map scale
it relates to the size of features on a map to their actual size in the real world
relates the distance between features on a map to the distance on earth

33
Q

three map scales:

A

representitive fraction, written scale, and graphic scale

there is one advantage associated with the graphic scale, because if a map is enlarged or reduced, the graphic scale enlarges or reduces along with the map.

34
Q

3D maps

A

globes

35
Q

a globe is a real map that portrays spatial data on a 3D surface

A

requires a framework for placement of information on a map, the geographic grid,
true shape and area of objects are preserved

36
Q

map projections

A

transfer of spatial data from three to two dimensions (to create flat maps of a three dimensional reality) results in the distortion of the shape and or area of objects, or distances between objects displayed on a map

37
Q

types of map projections

A

light-source-type
cartographically derived

38
Q

conformal map projections

A

Conformal(true angle)
maintains angles but area of objects is distorted, example Mercator projection
straight line drawn on map represents a line of constant compass bearing: useful for navigation
map scale varies: distortion increases towards the poles
Equivalent (equal area) maintains true area/size of objects is distorted
more accurate portrayal of the geographic grid
example eckert equal area projection

39
Q

planar

A

meridians are straight lines radiating from a central point
parallels are complete circles
useful for focusing on single regions
often used for accurate views of the poles

40
Q

conic

A

best suited for land masses with east-west orientations or small countries

41
Q

interrupted map projections

A

mathematically created map is interrupted over ocean basins to minimize distortion of land masses - an equivalent projections

42
Q

digital technology in geography
remote sensing

A

new approacj to spatial analysis: involves measuring properties of the enviroment without direct contact
started with aerial photography
-systematic photographs taken in succesion over linear flight lines at set intervals of time
-limiting because complete sets of photgraphs of large regions were only taken at irregular intervals of time
Later technology - satelite imagery
-sun-synchronous orbit, keeps pace with suns westward progress
-geostationary orbit remains permanently in one place above earth
sun-synchronous satellite platforms
- landsat operated jointly by NASA, NOAA, USGS
- employed in mapping coastlines, forests, and forest fires, vegetation identification, ground temperatures, and soil moisture
Advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHHR)
- measures cloud cover ad ground surface temperatures
geostaionary satelite platforms
geostationary
operational
enviromental
satellites
(GOES)
monitor weather phenomena
- cloud cover, tornadoes, hurricanes, hail, storms, flash flooding`
passive remote sensing
- instruments detect energy emitted from the surface of earth example camera and aerial photography
active remote sensing
- instuments emit their own radiation and then detect, and analyze, what is reflected back example: radar-radio detection and ranging, lidar - light detection and ranging

43
Q

Geographic information systems (GIS)

A

system for storing, analyizing, and manipulating spatially referenced data

(GIS) databases consost of series of individual data layers

a data layer contains measurements for a specific geographic variable, such as vegetation, soils hydrology, road networks, municipal infastructure, etc

44
Q

GIS map data

A

Map data(where) and attribute data(what) are displayed as either

vector data - use latitude and longitude to represent feathers as points, lines, and polygons

raster data use equal size cells to represent features

45
Q

each layer in GIS is assigned a variety of

A

detailed attributes

46
Q

each layer exists as a

A

distinct unit

47
Q

for analysis or display, layers are

A

overlaid or combined

48
Q

elements of GIS

A

data aquisition
data processing
data management
data manipulation
generate maps (virtual or real)

49
Q

key of GIS is common locational identifiers for all the information (georefrencing); commonly acquired with a global positioning system device

A
50
Q

Global positioning systems GPS

A

system of sattelites and receivers
24 satelites orbit earth every 12 hours
a radio signal, pseudorandom code PSR transmits in sequence of pulses
signal is received by GPS receiver
determine location in geographic grid through a system trileration (triangulation)

51
Q

trilateration/triangulation

A

signals from up to four satellites overlap to pinpoint

52
Q

what are two components of the geographic grid and how are they calculated?

A

latitude and longitude, calculated from a central point

53
Q

define the boundaries of latittudinal geographic zones

A
54
Q

indentify three type of thematic maps

A
55
Q

discuss the concept of map projection and why it is necessary when constructing maps

A
56
Q

which would the larger scale: a map showing the detail of vancouver or a map showing the position of vancouver within the province of british columbia?

A

the map of vancouver would be zoomed in and 1 unit would be equal to less area or distance for example 1:20
whereas the map of bc and vancouvers location would be 1 unit equal more distance for example 1:250

57
Q

define the concept of remote sensing

A

the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance

58
Q

what is the differnce between active and passive remote sensing

A

Active remote sensing instruments operate with their own source of emission or light, while passive ones rely on the reflected one.

59
Q

describe the character of a geographical information system

A

a computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information;

Geography 120 (4 decks)

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