Section B - Physical Geography and Spatial Inquiry

Tool to determine location

• global positioning system (gps)

Tools for cartography (2)

• geographic grid

• map scale

Remote sensing is used for:

imaging earth

Other tools used for spatial phenomena (2)

• geographic information systems (GIS)

• models and statistics

What is absolute location?

a precise system of locating a place in space, usually using latitude and longitude

What is relative location referencing?

a place in comparison to another place

What is global navigation satellite system (GNSS)?

system of satellites and receivers

How many satellites orbit earth every 12 hours?

24

Where is the equatorial plane (equator)?

parallel of 0 degrees latitude

Where is the rotation axis?

imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole

North and South Poles are natural reference points for:

measuring and describing locations on earth’s surface

What is the latitude angle?

90 degrees N - 0 degrees - 90 degrees S

1 degrees of latitude = _ km

111

What are the seven significant latitudes + degrees?

1. North Pole - 90 degrees N

2. Arctic Circle - 66.5 degrees N

3. Tropic of Cancer - 23.5 degrees N

4. Equator - 0 degrees

5. Topic of Capricorn - 23.5 degrees S

6. Antarctica Circle - 66.5 degrees S

7. South Pole - 90 degrees S

What is Winnipeg’s maltitude?

• midlatitude

  • 40 degrees N

High latitudes (2)

• 55 degrees N to North Pole

• 55 degrees S to South Pole

Arctic

66.5 degrees N to North Pole

Subarctic

55 degrees N to 66.5 degrees N

Midlatitudes (2)

• 35 degrees N to 55 degrees N

• 35 degrees S to 55 degrees S

Subtropical (2)

• 23.5 degrees N to 35 degrees N

• 23.5 degrees S to 35 degrees S

Equatorial/ Tropical

23.5 degrees N to 23.5 degrees S

Low latitudes

35 degrees N to 35 degrees S

What is the longitude angle?

180 degrees E - 0 degrees - 180 degrees W

Meridian lines connect the _

poles

1 degrees of longitude at the equator is _ kms

111

1 degrees of longitude at the poles is _ km

0

Prime meridian is _ degrees longitude east or west of Greenwich

0

Meridians are furthest at the _ and closest at _

• equator

• poles

The international date line falls on the _th meridian

180

Boundary from which each calendar day starts: cross west vs east

• west: one day later

• east: go back a day

Cartography

art and science of map making

Cartographer

focuses on ways to display capital information so it can be used and efficiently

The most visually complete and accurate way to represent the earth

a globe

Thematic map

• shows one or a limited number of types of information or themes

  • map of soils and of COVID-19

What are isolines?

lines connecting points of equal value on a map

Isobars

atmospheric pressure

Isotherms

temperature

Isohytes

precipitation

Contours

elevation (topographic map)

What is a map scale?

the relationship between the length measured on a map and the actual distance that length represents on earth

_ is a relationship between area on map and area on earth

Scale

Significance of map scales?

helps to understand areal distances on maps

How to find map scale:

map scale = map distance/ earth distance

Types of map scale: (3)

• graphic map scale

• fractional map scale

  • map distance: ground distance → 1:50,000

• verbal map scale

  • 1cm = 10 km

Small scale map (3) + example

• shows large area

• things shown are small

• few details

• i.e. globe

Large map scale (3) + example

• shows small area

• things shown are large

• lots of details

• i.e. U of M campus

Map projections

a system in which the spherical surface of earth is transformed for display on a flat surface

Inevitable distortion of map projections

• shape

• size

Three basic types of map projections

• cylindrical

• conic

• azimuthal/ planar

Equivalence strive to preserve:

size

Conformality strive to preserve the:

shape

Compromise strive to preserve:

shape and size

Mercator projection (4)

• type of conformal map

• preserves the relative shape of landmasses

• distorts the size of landmasses near poles

• scale often changes from one area to another (enlarging the high latitudes)

Ecker equal-area projection (4)

• type of equivalent maps

• preserves the relative size of landmasses

• distorts the shape of landmasses near the poles and equator

• advantage: misleading impressions of size avoided

Robinson Projection (2)

• type of compromise map

• attempt to preserve both equivalence and conformality

What does remoting sensing involve?

measuring properties of the environment without direct contact

What is passive remote sensing?

• instruments detect energy emitted from the surface of earth

  • e.g. camera

Active remote sensing

• instruments emit radiation and detect and analyze what is reflected back

  • e.g. radar or sonar

Kilauea Glows, Jan. 11, 2023 (2)

• the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8

• infrared (red) signature of the lava is highlighted (red)

What is Geographic Information system? (2)

• system for storing, analyzing and manipulating spatially referenced data

• GIS databases consists of series of individual data layers

GIS data layer contains measurements for a specific geographic variable, such as: (5)

• vegetation

• soils

• road networks

• municipal boundaries

• hydrology

Layer of GIS (3)

• each layer is assigned a variety of detailed attributes

• each layer exists as a distinct unit

• for analysis or display, layers are overlaid or combined