Log entry: environmental studies: earth science
tkrmAJ
week1lab1.pptxWeek 1
ES 101 Laboratory
2
Important features of the scientific process
Curiosity
Skepticism
Peer review
Reproducibility
Openness to new ideas
Advances by proving new concepts
Conducted by humans
2
2
3
Goals of science
Science seeks to understand the general principles governing the universe
Scientists discover how things work; knowledge is achieved when they can successfully predict what will happen
Science seeks to understand the world by identifying general principles that are explanatory and predictive
3
3
Which hypothesis is the best?
Goal: figure out the hypothesis that best increases our understanding of the universe
Bring order and harmony to facts
Systematizes & unifies our knowledge
Best explains the facts beyond a reasonable doubt
Explains but not necessarily proves
4
Week 1 Activities
Determining location on the Earth’s surface: latitude & longitude
How time zones are organized
Using map scales
Map projections
Isolines: lines of equal value
Latitude & longitude
Latitude lines are parallel and include the Equator
Longitude lines are not parallel—they converge at the poles
Latitude measured north or south with respect to the Equator (0o)
Longitude measured east or west with respect to the Prime Meridian (0o)
Latitude goes from 0o to 90o
Longitude goes from 0o to 180o
Degrees are divided into minutes (60 minutes per degree), and minutes are divided into seconds (60 seconds per minute)
Time
Earth rotates through 360o in 24 hours, or 15 degrees per hour (15o/hr)
Time zones are based on central meridians spaced 15o apart
Standard time zone is 15o of longitude wide
But actual boundaries adjusted by various political entities
International agreement established 24 time zones
Earth rotates from west to east, so later in Eastern US than in Western US
If can determine longitude for two locations, then can calculate time difference between them using 15o/hr
International Date Line: fly from western U.S. to Asia, time gets earlier because going west, but then day advances one when cross the International Date Line at the 180o meridian
Daylight Savings Time (some locations) and sunset/sunrise times
Map scale
How to transfer large distances into real world onto small paper that we can use?
Scale is the relationship between the distance shown on a map and the actual distance it represents on Earth
Two types of scales
Graphic: bar graph found on the map
Fractional: unitless ratio of map distance to actual distance (same units in numerator and denominator)
See page 18 of Lab Manual for how to calculate distances with fractional scales
Equal area: a coin on the map covers the same amount of surface area no matter where you place it on the map; e.g., map used for world climates
Conformal: true shape; equal area sacrificed; scale changes; e.g., map used for navigation
Making a map for one property sacrifices the other property on that map
Different map projections were designed for different purposes
“The best projection is always determined by its intended use.”
Map projections
Polar: normally centered on either N or S pole; equator forms outer edge; used for weather in polar regions
Mercator: navigator’s map developed in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator
straight line drawn anywhere gives you constant compass direction;
meridian is true north/south line;
used for navigation, weather data;
false information on shortest distance;
must cut off at arbitrary parallel due to increasing parallel spacing at high latitudes
10
Map projections (cont.)
Winkel Tripel: developed in 1921 by Oswald Winkel as a compromise to minimizing deficiencies of other projections
It doesn’t eliminate distortions of area, direction or distance, it just tries to minimize the sum of all three.
Interest has increased since National Geographic Society adopted it in 1998;
Best suited to world maps (not local, state or regional maps)
Many other types of projections, each with advantages and disadvantages
Comparison of projections
Comparison (cont.)
Comparison (cont.)
14
Used to show the spatial pattern of a variable of interest on a map (e.g., temperature, rainfall, elevation, etc.)
Bring order to data
Show patterns not easily visible
See rules on isolines on page 27 of Lab Manual; they include
Connect points of equal value of the feature of interest
Isolines can’t cross (can’t have two different readings for the same parameter at the same place and same time)
Closely spaced lines indicate rapid horizontal change
Label each line with numeric value of points being connected
Remember
To do your Environmental Events Log by 11:55 pm on Saturday night
Study for next week’s lab quiz
16
