What happens to the circles in the Mercator projection (and, therefore, to the landmasses) as latitude increases? What causes this distortion of the circles away from the equator? (Hint: Compare parallels and meridians with those on the globe.)

What will be an ideal response?


Circles become larger at higher latitudes, so landmasses appear much larger than reality. Distance between parallels and meridians becomes greater toward poles (stretching).

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Which of the following conditions refers to a maritime polar air mass that reaches the Pacific Coast?

A. warm air B. absolutely unstable air C. moist air D. absolutely stable air

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Explain why Mercury, Venus, and Mars lack plate tectonics. What will be an ideal response?

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The dry conveyor belt

A) initially flows toward the west. B) brings the cyclone its warmest air. C) does not merge with the general wind flow of the other belts. D) begins in the upper levels of the troposphere.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

What element was found to be enriched in a thin clay layer marking the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at several sites around the world?

A) calcium B) uranium C) iridium D) niobium

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences