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Earth Science 2023-24 > Unit: Remote Sensing/ Topography > Flashcards

Unit: Remote Sensing/ Topography Flashcards

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1
Q

What is remote sensing?

A

Process of gathering data about Earth using instruments mounted on satellites, airplanes, or ships

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2
Q

What are the five types of Remote sensing?

A

Landsat, Topex, Poseidon, sea bean, GPS, GIS

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3
Q

What does Radar stand for?

A

Radio and detection and ranging

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4
Q

What does sonar stand for?

A

Sound of navigation and ranging

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5
Q

What type of waves do radar use

A

They are electromagnetic waves because they are diminished in water, mainly used for atmospheric and ground observations

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6
Q

What type of waves do Sonar use?

A

Acoustic because it travels easily through water- used for navigation and measurements under water

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7
Q

What do landsat satellites do?

A

They record reflected wavelengths of energy from Earth’s surface. These include wavelengths of visible and infrared radiation

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8
Q

How does landsat satellite work??

A

It is equipped with a moving mirror that scans the surface. The mirror has rows of detectors that measure the intensity of energy received from Earth

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9
Q

What is Topex Poseidon? What does it stand for?

A

Is a satellite designed to measure ocean surface topography with accuracy… Stands for topographic experiment

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10
Q

How does Topex Poseidon Work?

A

Uses radar high frequency signals that are transmitted from the satellite to the surface of the ocean, a receiving device and pick up the returning echo as it is reflected off the water

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11
Q

What is Sea Beam?

A

Used to map the ocean floor used on a ship and not a satellite

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12
Q

How does sea beam work?

A

A sound wave is sent from a ship toward the ocean floor a receiving device and picks up the returning echo. When it bounces off the ocean floor computers on the ship. Calculate the distance from the ship to the ocean floor using the speed of sound in the water

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13
Q

What is GPS stand for

A

Global positioning system

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14
Q

What is GPS

A

Is a satellite navigation system that allows users to locate their approximate position on Earth. They’re about 30 satellites orbiting the earth for use

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15
Q

What are uses for GPS?

A

Navigation for airplanes and ships, Detecting earthquakes create maps and track wildlife, Locate lost people and find program destinations

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16
Q

What is GIS?

A

Geographic information system

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17
Q

How does GIS work?

A

Uses a database of information gathered by scientists, professionals and students to create layers or themes of information that makes a comprehensive map

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18
Q

What are uses of gis?

A

Scientists use GIS technology for tracking volcano, mapping to track pollution

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19
Q

What are 4 important rules to reading topographic map?

A
  1. The closer the lines, the steeper the slope
  2. Contour line spend when they cross a river
  3. Contour lines form closed loops are extend to the edge of a map
  4. Sometimes lines are drawn with small marks or hatcher’s pointing inward
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20
Q

What do closer lines indicate

A

that the elevation is changing Quickly!

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21
Q

What does closer lines mean?

A

The close of the lines are together the greater the change in elevation

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22
Q

What happens when contour lines cross a river?

A

They bend upstream+ the point is always upstream)

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23
Q

How can you find elevation on map?

A

The highest elevation of a hill you can find can be calculated by the last or highest contour line

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24
Q

What are lines with small lines?

A

Represent a depression or hole ( called hacthers)

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25
Q

What is formula for gradient?

A

Change in elevation over distance

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26
Q

What is a field map?

A

Map that shows the elevation of specific points in an area

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27
Q

what is a map?

A

diagram or representation of and area of land or water that shows the physical features of an area

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28
Q

cartography

A

science of making maps

29
Q

How do we describe location on Earth?

A

use a coordinate system

30
Q

coordinate uses 2 numbers

A
  1. north/south
  2. east/ west
31
Q

latitude

A

coordinate specifies east/west

32
Q

how do latitude lines run

A

horizontally

33
Q

center of earth latitude

A

equator 0 degrees

34
Q

equator splits what?

A

earth in to 2 halves= Northern/ Southern hemispheres

35
Q

what is highest northern latitude

A

90 N degress corresponds to north pole

36
Q

what is highest southern latitude?

A

90 S degrees corresponds with southern pole

37
Q

where is tropic of cancer?

A

23.5 N degrees

38
Q

where is Tropic of Capricorn?

A

23.5 S degrees

39
Q

where does the prime meridian run through?

A

Greenwich, England

40
Q

Where is the international dateline?

A

exactly opposite of where the prime meridian is

41
Q

what is the international dateline?

A

where day begins/ends

42
Q

what is celestial navigation

A

use of stars to navigate

43
Q

Where is polaris?

A

located directly above north pole; this is a stagnant (90 N)

44
Q

What is altitude of a star

A

is the angle of the star above the horizon

45
Q

What is zenith?

A

term used to describe highest point in the sky (is the point directly above you)

46
Q

where can you see polaris?

A

only in northern hemisphere- is at north pole

47
Q

what are the 5 types of projections

A

Mercator, conic, topographic, geologic, gnomonic

48
Q

what is a mercator projection?

A

parallel lines of latitude and longitude

49
Q

How is it used?

A

navigation of ships and planes

50
Q

what are the distortions

A

land near poles is distorted

51
Q

What is a conic projection?

A

made by points and lines from a globe onto a cone where the cone touches the globe at a particular point

52
Q

what are conic projections used for ?

A

used for road and weather maps

53
Q

Where on conic projections distorted?

A

the top and bottom are dstorted

54
Q

what are gnomonic projections?

A

projecting points and lines from a globe onto a piece of paper that touches the globe at a single point.

55
Q

What are gnomonic projections used for?

A

Great circle routes

56
Q

Where is gnomonic projections distorted?

A

direction/ distance between landmasses

57
Q

What are Geologic maps?

A

projections that show the type of rocks below the surface in a given area

58
Q

What are geologic maps’ distortions?

A

depends on type used

59
Q

What are topographic maps?

A

shows elevation and changes of land in the area

60
Q

How are Topographic maps distorted?

A

depends on type used

61
Q

What are contour lines?

A

lines on topographic maps used to show change in elevation; drawn in intervals

62
Q

What is a topographic profile?

A

picture of what the land would look like from the side, it is a cross section of the land

63
Q

What is a map legend?

A

explains symbols on the map

64
Q

what is the map scale?

A

the ratio between distances on a map and actual distances on the surface of Earth

65
Q

What are the 3 types of map scales?

A

fractional, verbal, graphic

66
Q

verbal scale?

A

expresses distance as a statement

67
Q

graphic scale?

A

a line that represents a certain distance

68
Q

fractional scale

A

expresses distance as a ratio

Earth Science 2023-24 (8 decks)

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