GEOG 104 Lab 3
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Geography
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Feb 20, 2024
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GEOG 104 Physical Geography Lab 3
This week you are introduced to mapping and a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software application. Map Scale & ArcGIS Here is a link to videos “
Understanding Map Scale: Large Scale Versus Small Scale Maps
(
5:18 min) by Geography Realm.
And ArcGIS Overview
(2:48 min) by Ersi. Part 1
Dastrup’s Phys. Geog. Lab Manual section 1.2, "Distance and Scale"
Do section 1.2 in Dastrup’s Physical Geography Lab Manual (below is the opening image, click on it to go to the exercise). You will follow the instructions (the “steps”) and answer the questions shown in blue print below. This online manual has links to ArcGIS software that will run through your browser. Here are the questions repeated for your conveince.
1.
Which major city in New Hampshire can you reach in less than an hour?
2.
How long would it take to get to Providence, R.I.?
3.
What city is located less than 50 miles from Boston (as the crow flies), but cannot be
accessed in a 120-minute commute? Hint: water contributes to the time.
4.
The travel time is so long because you have to drive around Cape Cod Bay. (T/F)
5.
What is the relationship between the drive time and population density?
6.
How are major roads and population distributions related?
7.
Travel is faster through more densely populated regions than less densely populated
areas because of the high-volume transportation networks that are most commonly found there. Access to major roads, even if they are congested, enables faster commutes.
Don’t forget to watch the ending video in the manual, “The Importance of Maps” (1:50 min).
Part 2
Dastrup’s Phys. Geog. Lab Manual section 1.3, "Topography and Our National Parks"
Do section 1.3 in Dastrup’s Physical Geography Lab Manual (below is the opening image, click on it to go to the exercise). Use the link above or the linked image to go to it. There is free use of the online ArcGIS software on this site. Answer the questions in blue.
Here are the questions to answer from the online manual:
1.
What do the smooth brownish parallel lines around the map represent?
2.
What do the blue squiggly lines represent?
3.
The most visible landform on the map is a valley, where the elevation numbers get smaller toward the Merced River. (T/F)
4.
What patterns do topo lines make around hills and mountains?
5.
What is the pattern of topo lines for very steep areas like this cliff?
6.
Why does this area not have concentric circles or parallel lines that are close together?
7.
What do index contours have periodically along their lengths that other lines do not?
8.
What is the elevation of this area in feet?
9.
How many lines are there between the two index contours?
10.
What is the elevation of the topo line atop Half Dome?
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11.
Measure the distance from the top of Half Dome to where the trail meets the river. How far is it?
12.
Looking at Half Dome, which side of the hill would be easiest to climb?
13.
Which stream would be less strenuous to hike from the campground: a couple of miles up Tenaya Creek to the north of Half Dome, or a couple of miles up the Merced to the south of Half Dome?
14.
Which way is the stream flowing?
15.
Which of the upriver canyons might be more likely to flash floods?
Part 3
Lab Exercise 3 (LE3): Using Topographic Maps
Maps are an essential tool for geographers. We use maps to locate phenomena, to show relationships, to prove ideas and to ask questions. You have probably looked at and used maps before, but the following is designed to help you look at maps with a geographer's eye. The following introduces the essential elements of scale, resolution, themes, and coordinate systems used to describe our world.
Topographic maps reveal aspects of earth's surface, its hills and valleys, lakes and streams, towns and roads. The most common way of representing three-dimensional topography on a two-dimensional map is through the use of contour lines. A contour line is a continuous line of the same elevation. Learning how to read topographic maps is an exercise in learning how to read contour lines. With practice, you can look at a topographic map and, through its contour lines, visualize the landscape. Try this: Focus on Figure 1a, below. Figure 1a. Figure 1a is a sample topographic map; as such, you are looking down on the map as if you were way above, perhaps in an airplane at 15,000-20,000 ft. in altitude. You can only “see” two dimensions, unless you are practiced at reading contour lines. Once you become familiar with how contour lines work you will be able to “see”—or, visualize—
the actual ups and downs in the landscape; you can visualize the topography, shown clearly in the oblique view (Figure 1b) of the same area pictured in Figure 1a, above.
Figure 1b. Learning Outcomes
After completing this exercise, you should be able to:
use a topographic map to read the shape of the land
find point elevations
find and specify locations
measure distances, state and use the map scale
convert fractional scales to written scales
specify the compass directions
find the contour interval
tell which way uphill and which way is down from any given point
tell which way streams and rivers are flowing
distinguish ridges from valleys
distinguish steep slopes from flatter areas
draw a topographic profile, and
measure and calculate gradients.
Preparation
Before beginning this exercise, you should read the short article from Greenbelly.co, “
Contour Lines and Topo Maps
” and watch this introductory video on how to read a topographic map: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoVcRxza8nI&t=14s
After having watched the video, you should familiarize yourself with the USGS (United
States Geological Survey) website--
https://www.usgs.gov/
--particularly its topographic map collections and how to access them. Much of what you need to know about how to use topographic maps to understand concepts in physical geography is included at appropriate points within this exercise. As you do this exercise you may need to refer to the USGS Topographic Map Symbols sheet found in the file “topomap-
symbols.pdf” in the Lab3 folder on CANVAS.
Key Terms, Phrases and Concepts . . .
in your own words!
After studying the formal definitions of the terms, phrases and/or concepts below, paraphrase the formal (textbook or dictionary) definition using your own words
. In some cases, you may not find a clear definition for the exact phrase or concept listed; in that case, you should simply construct your own interpretation—
in your own words
—of its meaning in the context of the subject matter of the lesson. In certain chapters—
particularly those involving the study of observable features—you will be asked to search your online textbook or the internet for a good quality image of the term you have defined and directed to copy and paste it into a box labeled “image”.
Relief
Click or tap here to enter text.
Contour line
Click or tap here to enter text.
Index contour
Click or tap here to enter text.
Benchmark
Click or tap here to enter text.
Isoline
Click or tap here to enter text.
Large scale map
Click or tap here to enter text.
Small scale map
Click or tap here to enter text.
Base line (USPLSS)
Click or tap here to enter text.
Principal meridian (USPLSS)
Click or tap here to enter text.
Congressional Township (USPLSS)
Click or tap here to enter text.
Range (USPLSS)
Click or tap here to enter text.
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