Class notes

Introduction to the Biophysical Environment (GEOG 1300) - Lab Notes

96 views 0 purchase

Course
GEOG 1300 (GEOG1300)

Institution
University Of Guelph (U Of G )

All of the lab notes from GEOG 1300 - Introduction to the Biophysical Environment, taught at the University of Guelph. All typed notes.

[Show more]

Preview 2 out of 6 pages

View example

Uploaded on April 19, 2020
Number of pages 6
Written in 2019/2020
Type Class notes
Professor(s) Unknown
Contains All classes

lab notes
geog 1300
university of guelph
geography
lab
study
review
science
environment
environmental science
notes
exam

studyingwithcass Member since 5 year 72 documents sold

CA$5.18

Add to cart

Add to wishlist

100% satisfaction guarantee
Immediately available after payment
Both online and in PDF
No strings attached

GEOG 1300 - Lab Notes
Map Interpretation (Lab 1)
● Coordinate Systems:
○ Lines of latitude (parallels)
■ Measured in degrees (°), minutes (‘), and seconds (‘’) north or south of the
equator
○ Lines of longitude (meridians)
■ Measured in degrees (°), minutes (‘), and seconds (‘’) east or west of
Greenwich, England
○ There are 60 minutes in 1 degree
● Rectangular Grid System:
○ Arbitrary numbers (grid lines begin at an arbitrarily chosen point)
○ Numbers increase west to east (left to right)
○ Numbers increase south to north (bottom to top)
○ Common grid system is the Universal Transverse Mercator System (UTM)
● Compass Quadrant Bearings:
○ Always measure from either north or south
● Azimuth:
○ Always start from zero degrees (North) and measure clockwise
● Looking North:
○ True North:
■ Geographic north pole
■ This is where the meridians (longitudinal lines) converge
○ Magnetic North:
■ Direction a compass points
■ Controlled by the Earth’s magnetic field
○ Grid North:
■ Direction of the vertical lines on a topographic map
● Magnetic Declination:
○ The angle between true north and magnetic north
○ Magnetic north varies with time and location
○ On the map you are given the angle between magnetic north and grid north
● Calculating Magnetic Declination:
○ Use the angle between true north and magnetic north
○ Angle between grid north and magnetic north - angle between grid north and true north
○ Annual rate of change x (current year - map publication year)
● Map Scale:
○ Representative Fraction: is a ratio of similar units
○ How to make a representative fraction from a scale of mixed units:
■ Reduce to a common unit
■ A representative fraction is always 1: a number
■ Make sure you show your work and how the units cancel
● Topographic Maps:
○ Contour Lines - lines of equal altitude above mean sea level
■ Contour interval and index contours
■ The closer the lines the steeper the slope

Energy at the Earth’s Surface (Lab 2):

, ● Energy reaching the earth’s surface can be endogenic (arises from within) or exogenic
(externally derived)
● Amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface at a given location varies throughout the
year due to the Earth’s tilt and rotation around the sun
● Sun Angle - the position of the noon sun over the Earth
○ Influences the amount of energy from the Sun (insolation) that is received at the
Earth’s surface
○ Equinox - sun’s rays are perpendicular to equator
■ Occurs around March 21st and September 22nd
○ Solstice - Sun’s rays are perpendicular to either of the tropics
■ Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees N) on June 22nd
■ Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees S) on December 22nds
○ Declination - latitude that receives direct overhead (perpendicular) insolation on a given
day
○ Equation for calculating noon sun angle:
■ Sun angle = 90 degrees - (latitude of observation +/- declination)
■ Add if the latitude of observation and declinate are in different hemispheres
■ Subtract if latitude of observation and declination are in the same hemisphere
■ You will never have a sun angle greater than 90 degrees
● The Energy Budget:
○ Albedo is the reflective quality of a surface
○ Albedo is the percent of insolation that is reflected
○ Albedo = reflected shortwave radiation / incoming shortwave radiation

○
● Net Radiation:

○
○ Rn = net radiation
○ Q = direct (beam) shortwave radiation
○ q = indirect (diffuse) shortwave
○ Alpha = albedo
○ L↓ = incoming longwave radiation from the air (the atmosphere)
○ L↑ = outgoing longwave radiation from the Earth’s surface
○ Unit are W/m2
● Heat Balance:
○ The surplus radiation is available to do work
○ Generally converted to heat
○ Heat is then transferred to an from the surface = heat fluxes
○ Rn = H + G + LE
○ H (Sensible heat) = transfer of energy back and forth between the air and the Earth’s
surface
○ LE (Latent heat of evaporation) = is the energy that is stored in water vapor as water

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller studyingwithcass. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for CA$5.18. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

53068 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now

Start selling

Class notes

Introduction to the Biophysical Environment (GEOG 1300) - Lab Notes

Document information

Subjects

Written for

Seller

Reviews received

Content preview