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Glossary Search Results
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- MAB Programme
- UNESCO’s Programme on Man and the Biosphere develops the basis, within the natural and the social sciences, for the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity, and for the improvement of the relationship between people and their environment globally. The MAB Programme was founded in 1971. Source: UNESCO MAB Programme http://www.unesco.org/mab/about.htm
- Magnetic declination
- (See Declination)
- Major Source of Income
- Refers to that component which constitutes the largest proportion of an income recipient’s total income. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Mammogram
- A breast X-Ray designed to detect cancer. While mammography may not show all breast cancers, it is able to show tumors or abnormalities that are often too small to be felt by physical examination.
- Manuscript, map
- The original drawing of a map as compiled from various sources of information, including air photo, base map, thematic and toponymic data. It may be a single drawing, or consist of several overlays of information all in register and on the same base. (See Registration).
- Map
- A graphic representation (most commonly on a flat surface) of the spatial organization of any part of the physical universe at any scale, which symbolizes a wide variety of information, both static and dynamic.
- Map projection
- The process of systematically transforming positions on the Earth's spherical surface to a flat map while maintaining spatial relationships. This process is accomplished by the use of geometry or, more commonly, by mathematical formulas. Map projection can be best visualized by imagining a light bulb placed at the centre of a transparent globe and having its lines of longitude and latitude cast upon either a flat sheet of paper or a sheet of paper rolled into a cylinder or cone placed over the globe.
- Map scale
- A ratio representing the relationship between a specified distance on a map and the actual distance on the ground. For example, at the scale of 1:50 000, 1 unit of measurement on the map equals 50 000 units of the same measurement on the ground. Map scale is frequently expressed as a representative fraction and graphically as a bar scale. (See Bar scale, Representative fraction and Verbal scale).
- Map series
- A set of maps covering a particular region and organized around a specific theme, usually topographic or reference. A family of maps with a uniform scale and common projection, having the same specifications and style. Map series are often produced entirly by one organization, for example, the 1:50 000 and 1:250 000 scale National Topographic System (NTS), produced by Geomatics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, providing topographic map coverage for all of Canada.
- Map sheet
- A single map, often one of a large scale map series. (See Map series).
- Mapping
- The process of making maps, including the collection of geographic information, design and production. (See Cartography).
- Market
- The potential for sales in a defined area.
- Market Income
- This refers to the 'income before government transfers'. Market income is the sum of earnings plus income from investments and retirement pensions. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Marshes
- Marshes are wetlands which are either permanently or periodically flooded by water. They are split into channels by stands of sedge (a tall grass-like plant), grasses, rushes and reeds. Other plants common in marshes are cattails, arrowheads and water lilies.
- Massif
- The dominant, central mass of a mountain ridge that is more or less defined by longitudinal or transverse valleys. (Source: A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms / Compiled and Edited by Paul W. Thrush and the staff of the U.S.Bureau of Mines).
- Mean
- The average value or middle location representing a set of values. The mean value is calculated by dividing the sum of all the values in the set by the number of values. (See Median).
- Mean sea level
- The average elevation of the ocean surface for all stages of the tide. Mean sea level approximates the reference surface (vertical datum) used to depict elevation on topographic maps. (See Vertical datum).
- Measurement
- The process or result of observing an event or object in order to determine its extent or quantity by comparison with a known unit and then assigning it a numerical value.
- Median
- The value or location of the central number or individual in a population, (set of numbers) arranged in order of size. (See Mean).
- Median Income of Census Families and Non-family Persons 15 Years of Age and Over
- The median income of a specified group of census families or non-family persons 15 years of age and over is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, i.e. the incomes of the first half of the families or non-family persons are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Median Income of Economic Families and Unattached Individuals 15 Years of Age and Over
- The median income of a specified group of economic families or unattached individuals 15 years of age and over is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, i.e. the incomes of the first half of the families or unattached individuals are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Median Income of Households
- The median income of a specified group of households is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, that is, the incomes of the first half of households are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Median Income of Individuals
- This variable is a derived statistic, based on the income data collected of the population 15 years of age and over with income, excluding institutional residents, where responses were in dollar values.
The median income of a specified group of income recipients is that amount which divides their income size distribution into two halves, i.e. the incomes of the first half of individuals are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Medium-scale map
- There is no universally accepted standard classification of maps according to scale. However, a map at a scale between 1:50 000 and 1:500 000 is considered a medium-scale map. (See Large-scale map and Small-scale map).
- Member of an Indian Band or First Nation
- Refers to those persons who reported being a member of an Indian Band or a First Nation of Canada. (Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census)
- Mercator projection
- A cylindrical map projection introduced in 1569 by the famous Flemish mathematician and geographer Gerhard Mercator. Originally named Gerhard Krämer (meaning "trader" in German), his name was latinized (a fashionable practice among scholars of the day) to Mercator, meaning "world-trader". This conformal projection is still commonly used for world maps, on which rhumb lines are represented as straight lines, making this projection very useful for navigation. (See Conformal and Rhumb line).
- Meridian
- A line of longitude on a spherical grid reference system. Meridians also form great circles passing through the North and South Poles. Meridian is often used as a synonym for "line of longitude" thus, 100th meridian, or Greenwich Meridian. (See Central meridian and Greenwich Meridian).
- Methane (CH4)
- The most significant naturally occurring greenhouse gas next to carbon dioxide. CH4 is released naturally when vegetation is burned, digested or decayed without oxygen. Large amounts of CH4 are released by garbage dumps, rice paddies and grazing cattle. (Source: Government of Canada Climate Change Site, Glossary of Climate Change Terms)
- Métis
- The word “Métis” is French for “mixed blood”. The Canadian Constitution recognizes Métis people as one of the three Aboriginal peoples. Historically, the term “Métis” applied to the children of French fur traders and Cree women in the Prairies, and of English and Scottish traders and Dene women in the North. Today, the term is used broadly to describe people with mixed First Nations and European ancestry who identify themselves as Métis. they are distinct from Indian people, Inuit, or non-Aboriginal people. (Many Canadians have mixed Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ancestry, but not all identify themselves as Métis.) (Source: Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development)
- Metre
- The basic unit of length in the metric system of measurement. A metre is equal to approximately 3.28 feet or 1.09 yards.
- Metric system
- A decimal system of measurement based on the metre as the unit of length, the kilogram as the unit of weight and the second as the unit of time. Also called SI (Système International d'Unités).
- Microorganisms
- Microscopic one or multi-celled organisms such as bacteria, viruses, yeasts, algae, fungi and protozoans.
- Migratory Bird Sanctuaries
- Established under the Migratory Convention Act (1917) and managed under the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations. These regulations prohibit all disturbances, hunting, and collection of migratory birds and their eggs within the MBS. These regulations however, only protect the migratory birds when they are present and do not provide protection of the habitat. There are 98 MBSs in Canada consisting of about 11.3 million hectares.
- Mile
- (See Statute mile or Nautical mile)
- Military Grid Reference System
- (See UTM Grid System, Universal Transverse Mercator)
- Minute
- (1) A unit of angular or circular-arc measurement equal to 1/60 of a degree and containing 60 seconds, used to express latitude and longitude in a spherical grid reference system.
(2) A unit of time equal to 1/60 of an hour and containing 60 seconds.
- Mixed forest
- Continuous forest in which there is a mixture of coniferous and broadleaf trees of up to 75 percent of one or the other.
- Mobility Status
- Refers to the relationship between a person’s usual place of residence on Census Day and his or her usual place of residence five years earlier. A person is classified as a non-mover if no difference exists. Otherwise a person is classed as a mover. (Source: Statistics Canada)
- Mock-up
- A preliminary drawing or model providing a visual impression of a proposed map by showing the layout, design and possible content.
- Modelling
- (See Spatial modelling)
- Modified projection
- A map projection based on any commonly known projection, to which changes have been made to reduce or modify the pattern of distortion, add more standard parallels, or change the orientation to an oblique aspect.
- Moire pattern
- In printing, the undesirable pattern of light and dark patches that occur when two or more overlapping dot screens are misaligned to each other at the wrong angle. To avoid this problem in colour process printing, the appropriate angles at which screens can be successfully overlapped to create the perfect rosette pattern are: black 45° , magenta 75°, yellow 90°, and cyan 105°.
- Monochrome map
- A map composed of a single hue (colour) or a percentage thereof.
- Monoculture
- Cultivation of a single crop or product on a piece of land to the exclusion of other products or crops.
- Montane
- Zone made of relatively moist cool upland slopes below timberline and characterized by the presence of large evergreen trees as a dominant life form. (Source: Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, c1971).
- Montane forest
- A forest located in a mountainous area.
- Monument
- A nearly permanent physical structure used to mark an accurately surveyed ground location and/or elevation. Monuments are often located along a boundary between regions or as a part of a basic survey control network.
- Morbidity
- State of ill-health produced by any departure, subjective or objective, from a state of physiological or psychological well-being. Morbidity rates usually provide measures of incidence or prevalence. Incidence rates refer to the number of cases of a disease or condition diagnosed or reported for a population during a defined period of time. Prevalence refers to the number of people in a population with a disease or condition at a particular time in history (regardless of when the illness began).
- Mortality
- Death. Numerous general and specific death or mortality rates have been devised. The crude death rate refers to the number of deaths in a year divided by the number in the population. A cause-specific death rate is similar but is limited to deaths caused by a stated illness or event. Age-specific mortality rates are provided by counting the deaths amongst persons of a specific age. In terms of reproductive health, age-specific mortality rates are computed for age groups such as: infant - 0 to 365 days; perinatal - 28 weeks gestational age to 7 days of age; early neonatal - 0 to 6 days; late neonatal - 7 to 27 days; and post neonatal - 28 to 365 days of age.
- Mosaic, aerial
- A set of aerial photographs arranged, aligned and assembled to form a continuous view of a portion of the Earth's surface. The edges of individual photographs are usually cut and peeled back in order to facilitate a smooth transition for the overlap with adjoining photos.
- Mother Tongue
- First language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the individual at the time of the census. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Mouse
- A hand-controlled computer hardware device used to interact with a computer terminal or enter data from a digitizer. By moving a mouse across the surface of a pad, a cursor is, at the same time moved across a computer screen, allowing for interaction with a graphic user interface.
- Multiplex
- (See Stereoplotter)
- Municipal water use database (MUD)
- This is a database of a federal and provincial inventory of municipal water works and water treatment facilities, compiled since 1975 at two-to-three year intervals.
- Municipality (in municipal water use statistics)
- Urban centres and other incorporated places with a population of 1000 or greater as used for the Municipal Water Use Database.
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