|
 |
 |
 |
Glossary Search Results
C |
- Cadastral map
- A map showing the boundaries of property ownership, including tracts or parcels of land, and/or governmental administrative units.
- Calves
- Young cattle ranging in age from newborn to one year.
- Canopy
- The more-or-less continuous cover of branches and foliage formed by the crown of adjacent trees.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- A greenhouse gas that comes from the natural decay of materials and the respiration of plant and animal life. The major human-driven contributor to climate change, CO2 is released into the atmosphere through human activities related to the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, gasoline and coal) for industrial purposes, transportation, heating and cooling buildings and operating businesses, and is also released through deforestation. It is removed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and sinks. (Source: Government of Canada Climate Change Site, Glossary of Climate Change Terms)
- Cardinal direction
- A verbal expression of direction. One of the astronomical directions on the Earth's surface: North, South, East, or West.
- Carolinean vegetation
- The Carolinean vegetation zone is one of the eight vegetation areas into which North America is divided. Each of the areas contains vegetation unique to it on the basis of climate. The Carolinean region covers much of the Northern United States and extends into Canada mainly in areas bordering Lake Erie.
- Cartesian coordinate system
- A coordinate system consisting of intersecting straight lines called axes, in which the lines intersect at a common origin. Usually it is a 2-dimensional surface in which a "x,y" coordinate defines each point location on the surface. The "x" coordinate refers to the horizontal distance and the "y" to vertical distance. Coordinates can be either positive or negative, depending on their relative position from the origin. In a 3-dimensional space, the system can also include a "z" coordinate, representing height or depth. The relative measurement of distance, direction and area are constant throughout the surface of the system.
- Cartogram
- A diagram or abstract map, not to scale, showing quantitative data, by distorting or exaggerating the size of areas.
- Cartographic convention
- Traditional or established cartographic methods which have been adopted as standards by those experienced in the field of cartography. For example, by convention, north is understood to be at the top of a map.
- Cartographic license
- The freedom to make adjustments to map content, layout and appearance in order to improve legibility or emphasize some information of particular interest, without sacrificing accuracy.
- Cartography
- The art, science, and technology of map design and production. Cartography applies the fundamental scientific procedures of accurate measurement, classification, and the identification of relationships, to create visual models of our complex world. Traditional or conventional cartography refers to the preparation of maps through manually prepared overlays. Computer assisted (automated) cartography is less precisely defined but involves the extensive use of computer software and hardware in the preparation of map overlays. (See Automated cartography).
- Cartouche
- A decorative frame or graphic ornamentation on or surrounding a map, mainly associated with the title or legend. Used frequently on old maps and charts, but rarely used on maps today.
- Case
- (See Aspect)
- Census Agglomeration
- A census agglomeration (CA) is a large urban area (known as the urban core) together with adjacent urban and rural areas (known as urban and rural fringes) that have a high degree of social and economic integration with the urban core. A CA has an urban core population of at least 10 000, based on the previous census. However, if the population of the urban core of a CA declines below 10 000, the CA is retired. Once a CA attains an urban core population of at least 100 000, based on the previous census, it is eligible to become a CMA. CAs that have urban cores of at least 50 000, based on the previous census, are subdivided into census tracts. Census tracts are maintained for CAs even if the population of the urban cores subsequently fall below 50 000. A CA may be consolidated with adjacent CAs if they are socially and economically integrated. This new grouping is called consolidated CA and the component Cas are called primary census agglomerations (PCAs). (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census Division
- Census Division (CD) is the general term applied to areas established by provincial law which are intermediate geographic areas between the municipality and the province levels. Census divisions represent counties, regional districts, regional municipalities and other types of provincially legislated areas. In Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, provincial law does not provide for these administrative geographic areas. Therefore, census divisions have been created by Statistics Canada in cooperation with these provinces for the dissemination of statistical data. In the Yukon Territory, the census division is equivalent to the entire Territory. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census Family
- Refers to a now-married couple (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without never-married sons and/or daughters of either or both partners) or a lone-parent of any marital status, with at least one never-married son or daughter living in the same dwelling. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census Family Living Arrangements
- Refers to the classification of persons in terms of whether they are members of a family household or a non-family household, and whether they are family or non-family persons. This variable is designed to provide data on household living arrangements at the population level. It may be classified as follows:
-Total persons in private households
-Total persons in family households
-Spouses, common-law partners or lone parents
-Never-married sons and/or daughters in families of now-married couples
-Never-married sons and/or daughters in families of common-law couples
-Never-married sons and/or daughters in lone-parent families
-Non-family persons
-Living with relatives only
-Living with relatives and other persons
-Living with non-relatives only
-Total persons in non-family households
-Living with relatives only
-Living with non-relatives only
-Living with relatives and other persons living alone
(Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census Family Structure
- Refers to the classification of census families into families of now-married couples (with or without never-married sons or daughters of either or both spouses), families of common-law couples (with or without never-married sons or daughters of either or both partners) and lone-parent families by sex of parent. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census farm
- An agricultural operation producing at least one product for sale.
- Census map
- A map showing the boundaries of census divisions, subdivisions, or enumeration areas. Used in the collection of statistical information for the study of human population (demography). This information is used as a basis for many thematic maps. (See Choropleth map).
- Census Metropolitan Area (CMA)
- A census metropolitan area (CMA) is a very large urban area (known as the urban core) together with the adjacent urban and rural areas (known as urban and rural fringes) that have a high degree of social and economic integration with the urban core. A CMA has an urban core population of at least 100 000, based on the previous census. Once an area becomes a CMA, it is retained as a CMA even if the population of its urban core declines below 100 000. All CMAs are subdivided into census tracts. A CMA may be consolidated with adjacent census agglomerations (CA) if they are socially and economically integrated. This new grouping in known as a consolidated CMA and the component CMA and CA are known as the primary census metropolitan area (PCMA) and primary census agglomeration(s) (PCA). A CMA may not be consolidated with another CMA. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census of Population
- A compilation of information about the Canadian population carried out every five years, 1991, 1996, 2001, etc. It includes complete coverage of basic demographic information and a 20 per cent sample coverage of economic and social measures.
- Census of Population
- The Census of Population and Housing (hereafter called the census) collects data on every person in Canada based on where he/she lives. The basic unit of measurement is the dwelling. In other words, the census begins by locating all places of residence in Canada. For each “private occupied” dwelling, there is one household which consists of one or more persons. (Special procedures have been put in place to deal with persons who do not live in a dwelling.) For subsequent tabulation purposes, each dwelling is given a series of geographic identifiers. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census Subdivision (CSD)
- Census subdivision is the general term applying to municipalities (as determined by provincial legislation) or their equivalent (for example, Indian reserves, Indian settlements and unorganized territories). In Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, the term also describes geographic areas that have been created by Statistics Canada in cooperation with the provinces as equivalents for municipalities for the dissemination of statistical data. According to the national hierarchy, census subdivisions add together to form census divisions. The CDs form provinces and territories. Two additional levels are defined in the national hierarchy to facilitate special data analysis. A special aggregation of census subdivisions called census consolidated subdivision (CCS) provides a level of geography between the CSD and CD which facilitates data analysis. In the rural context, the CCS is a grouping of smaller municipalities, usually contained within a larger municipality. For instance, a town located within a surrounding township will be grouped together with the township to form a CCS. In urban areas, CCSs are formed by contiguous groupings of CSDs. A principal user of the CCSs is the Census of Agriculture. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Census Subdivision Type
- Census subdivisions (CSDs) are classified into various types, according to official designations adopted by provincial or federal authorities. The type indicates the municipal status of a census subdivision. The following list indicates the abbreviations used for census subdivision types:
BOR Borough
C = City - Cité
CC = Chartered Community
CM = County (Municipality)
COM = Community
CT = Canton (Municipalité de)
CU = Cantons unis (Municipalité de)
DM = District Municipality
HAM = Hamlet
ID = Improvement District
IGD = Indian Government District
LGD = Local Government District
LOT = Township and Royalty
M = Municipalité
MD = Municipal District
NH = Northern Hamlet
NT = Northern Town
NV = Northern Village
P = Paroisse (Municipalité de)
PAR = Parish
R = Indian Reserve - Réserve indienne
RC = Rural Community
RGM = Regional Municipality
RM = Rural Municipality
RV = Resort Village
S-E = Indian Settlement - Établissement indien
SA = Special Area
SCM = Subdivision of CountyMunicipality
SET = Settlement
SM = Specialized Municipality
SRD = Subdivision of Regional District
SUN = Subdivision of Unorganized
SV = Summer Village
T = Town
TI = Terre inuite
TP = Township
TR = Terres réservées
UNO = Unorganized - Non organisé
V = Ville
VC = Village cri
VK = Village naskapi
VL = Village
VN = Village nordique
(Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Centrality
- An index that measures the level of service employment in a city relative to the amount predicted on the basis of the population and level of income.
- Central meridian
- A line running North and South, at the centre of a graticule, along which all points have the same longitude. Also the axis of symmetry for the geometric properties of the graticule. (See Meridian).
- Centre
- (1) The point from which angles or distances are measured.
(2) The point on a circle or in a sphere which is at equal distance from all other points on the object.
(3) In map projection, the point of perspective, from which straight lines or rays of light originate; which then pass through points on the Earth, to another surface (plane, cone, or cylinder), to determine by intersection, the corresponding points on the other surface.
(4) The point in an object, at which the object is balanced under the force of gravity, regardless of its orientation.
- Centroid
- The middle point of a geometric figure. The coordinates of a point in a figure, which are at the average distance from the coordinates of all points on the surface of the figure. If the figure is 2-dimensional, the applicable term is, centre of area, if 3-dimensional the terms are, centre of volume, or centre of mass.
- Charged particles
- A particle whose charge is positive or negative: electron, proton, alpha particle, etc.
- Chart
- A class of map designed primarily for use in air or water navigation. The term also applies to astronomical maps.
- Chart Datum
- Chart Datum is the plane of vertical reference to which all charted depths and drying heights are related. In non-tidal waters, it is also the vertical datum for elevations and clearances. It is chosen to show the least depth of water found in any place under "normal" meteorological conditions; it shall be a plane so low that the water level will seldom fall below it. The surface of the chart datum will vary from place to place with the range of tide or, in non-tidal waters, with the slope of the river at low stage. In non-tidal lakes, the chart datum is normally a single level surface over the whole lake. (Source: Hydrographic Dictionary, International Hydrographic Organisation; and the Canadian Tidal Manual, Canadian Hydrographic Service, Fisheries and Ocean Canada)
- Chemical bases
- Chemicals which are basic in nature (the opposite to acidic). Source: Environment Canada
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- = Fluorocarbons. Carbon-fluorine compounds that often contain other elements such as hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine. Common fluorocarbons include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and related compounds, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and perfluorcarbons (PFCs). They have been used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, cleaning solvents, as well as in the manufacture of plastic foam. CFCs in particular are suspected of causing ozone depletion in the stratosphere. HFCs, which were introduced as alternatives to CFCs and are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and in manufacturing, are powerful greenhouse gases. (Source: Government of Canada Climate Change Site, Glossary of Climate Change Terms)
- Chord
- A line joining two points on a curve.
- Choropleth map
- A thematic map in which areas are coloured or shaded to create darker or lighter areas in proportion to the density or a particular characteristic of the theme subject in that area.
- Chroma
- The term used to describe the saturation, purity, or intensity of colour. A scale of chroma ranges from neutral grey to pure hue, without changing value. (See Hue and Value).
- Cinder cone
- Cone formed by the piling of material ejected by the volcano and deposited on tilt layers.
- Cirque
- Deep steep-walled hollow with a semi-circular shape located on a side of a mountain. Cirques are produced by the erosive action of a glacier.
- Classification
- The process of placing items into groups or categories, according to a set of rules. For example, maps and map projections may be classified according to their use, scale, properties or appearance.
- Clearcutting
- A forest management method that involves the complete felling and removal of a stand of trees.
- Climate
- The average weather conditions of a place or region throughout the seasons. The climate of a specified area is represented by the statistical collection of its weather conditions during a specified interval of time, usually 30 years. It usually includes the following weather elements: temperature, precipitation, humidity, sunshine and wind velocity. (Source: Government of Canada Climate Change Site, Glossary of Climate Change Terms)
- Climate change
- A long-term shift or alteration in the average weather and weather extremes of a particular location, or more broadly, of the Earth itself. The shift is measured by changes in all the features associated with weather, such as temperature, wind patterns and precipitation. (Source: Government of Canada Climate Change Site, Glossary of Climate Change Terms)
- Climate Models
- Large and complex computer programmes used to mathematically simulate global climate. They are based on mathematical equations that seek to represent the physical processes that govern the earth-atmosphere system. (See “General Circulation Models”.) (Source: International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), Climate Change A Glossary of terms, 3rd Edition, January 2001. London, 2001.)
- Climate normals
- Climate normals are used to summarize or describe the average climatic conditions of a particular location.
- Cloudiness
- The part of the sky covered by clouds, usually measured in tenths of the visible area of the sky.
- Colour
- The perception of the human eye to the visible spectrum of light radiation. White light contains radiation at all wavelengths of the visible spectrum. Particular colours or hues occur when the reflected radiation contains only wavelengths from a limited part of the spectrum. (See Hue, Chroma, Tint, Tone, and Value).
- Colour proof
- A multicolour copy of a map, prepared by photomechanical (superimposition film proof), or by lithographic (press paper proof) process, for the purpose of quality control inspection and editing. The colour proof is usually the first time a map in preparation is viewed in a complete form with close approximations of the final colours both screened and solid. (See Press proof).
- Colour separation
- The photographic or electronic scanning process used to separate multicolour original copy into single colour negatives by using colour-filters. (See Colour separation (manual)).
- Colour separation (manual)
- The manual process of preparing separate drawings, engravings (scribes), or open-window negatives for each colour layer of information required to print a map. (See Colour separation).
- Commercial Activity Index
- A measure of the attractiveness of an urban area to commercial services. It incorporates both the location advantage and the relative level of income. The Commercial Activity Index compares the actual commercial service employment of a city to the total employment predicted on the basis of its population.
- Commercial Polygon
- A bounded commercial area composed of at least 25 stores and/or 50 000 square feet of floor area in the case of malls. Analysts defined the boundaries of each polygon on the map by hand in order to best separate commercial and non-commercial land uses.
- Commercial Services
- Those activities that perform task for business or consumers, as opposed to those that provide goods.
- Commercial Structure
- The spatial distribution of commercial activity within a metropolitan area. This includes the number, size, and location of various kinds of commercial polygons such as downtown, shopping centres or pedestrian-oriented strips.
- Commercial water use
- In the Municipal Water Use Database, water used by business, government, schools, hospitals and other institutions. This category also includes water used by apartment buildings, because these are normally operated by businesses. However, it is not possible to provide a good estimate of how much of total commercial water use is by apartment buildings.
- Common-law partners
- Common-law partners are two persons of opposite sex who are not legally married to each other but live together as husband and wife in the same dwelling. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Common-law Status
- Refers to two people who live together as husband and wife but who are not legally married to each other. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Statistics Canada)
- Compass
- An instrument for drawing and measuring circles, consisting of two legs connected at one end by a movable joint. (See Cardinal direction, Compass point and Compass rose).
- Compass bearing
- The horizontal angle of direction measured from magnetic north as indicated by a compass and expressed in terms of cardinal direction, and degrees of a quadrant, (no greater than 90°). This term indicates a direction which is not corrected for magnetic declination.
- Compass (direction)
- An instrument, which indicates the direction of magnetic North, by means of a pivoting magnetic needle mounted on a circular dial or card. The dial or card indicates the cardinal directions, and can also have directions shown as compass points (up to 32) or in degrees (360°).
- Compass point
- A unit of compass direction. One of the 32 divisions of the circular dial or card of a compass, equal to 11°15' or 11.25° of a circle.
- Compass rose
- A circle drawn on a map, (usually a navigational chart) which is subdivided in a clockwise direction from 0° to 360° , with 0° indicating true North. On older maps and charts, it was a decorated diagram of cardinal directions, divided into 32 points, originally called rosa ventorum, or "rose of the winds".
- Compilation, map
- Map compilation is the preparation of new or revised maps by assembling data extracted from existing maps, aerial photographs, surveys and thematic research. The result is called a map manuscript or fair drawing.
- Composition of Income
- The composition of the total income of a population group or a geographic area refers to the relative share of each income source or group of sources, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate total income of that group or area. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Computer-aided design (CAD)
- A computer-based system (digital technology) for the design, development and drafting of graphical information related to engineering.
- Computer assisted cartography
- (See Automated cartography)
- Concentric circles
- A family of circles on the same plane, all having the same centre.
- Condition of Dwelling
- Refers to whether, in the judgement of the respondent, the dwelling requires any repairs (excluding desirable remodelling or additions. Regular maintenance refers to painting, furnace cleaning, etc. Minor repairs refers to missing or loose floor tiles, bricks or shingles, defective steps, railing or sliding, etc. Major repairs refers to defective plumbing or electrical wiring, structural repairs to walls, floors or ceilings, etc. (Source: Statistics Canada)
- Conductivity
- A physical property of materials which is their ability to conduct heat from a warmer to a cooler object.
- Conductor
- A wire, a cable or some other form of metal object used to carry electric current between sources of power, electrical equipment or ground.
- Conformal
- A map projection is conformal, orthomorphic or equiangular when at any point the scale is the same in every direction, and the shapes of small areas are preserved. An example is, the Lambert Conformal Conic Projection.
- Conic map projections
- A group of map projections which are derived from the concept of projecting the parallels and meridians of a globe on to a tangent or secant cone which is then cut lengthwise and unrolled into a flat map. The principal scale is preserved along the standard parallels.
- Coniferous forest
- Continuous forest in which at least 75 percent of the forest canopy is composed of coniferous forest (softwood trees).
- Consolidated Census Metropolitan Area
- If a census agglomeration sends at least 35 per cent of its commuters to a neighbouring census metropolitan area, the two (or more) are combined in a consolidated census metropolitan area.
- Constant Dollars
- To allow for historical comparisons, income data for all years are expressed in the dollar values of the most recent year, and is referred to as income in constant dollars. Constant dollars show income adjusted using the Consumer Price Index. In simpler terms, the value of $5 000.00 in 1984 is the same as $7 462 in 1997 constant dollars. (Source: 1996 Census Dictionary, Cat. No. 92-351-XPE, Statistics Canada)
- Contact exposure
- In traditional cartography, the photographic process of copying an image at the same scale by placing the emulsion of the image in direct contact with the emulsion side of the unexposed copying material. The best contact exposure results when a vacuum frame is used. (See Emulsion and Vacuum frame).
- Contiguous
- The term used to describe a family of objects that are located next to each other, touching or adjoining. For example, polygons sharing a common border.
- Continental crust
- Earth's crust which underlies the continents and the continental shelves. (Source: The Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Physical Geography, edited by Andrew Goudie et al. Blackwell Reference Ltd. Oxford, 1985.)
- Continental rift zone
- Zone of crustal fractures.
- Continuous tone image
- A photographic image which has not been screened and which displays a full range of tones from black to white, or dark to light colour. For example, pencilled or airbrushed relief shading, airphotos (both black-and-white and colour), and watercolour paintings. (See Halftone and Dot screen).
- Contour interval
- The difference in elevation between two adjacent contour lines.
- Contour line
- A line drawn on a map so that all points on it are at the same elevation above or below a specific datum. (See Isopleth).
- Convection
- Vertical movement of an air mass.
- Convective precipitation
- Precipitation caused by convective motion in the atmosphere.
- Convective storm
- Storm produced by a cloud which forms in an atmospheric layer made unstable by heating at the base or cooling at the top.
- Conventional cartography
- (See Cartography)
- Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
- The time disseminated by all countries of the world that is based on International Atomic Time (TAI). TAI is based on the atomic second, which is defined in terms of a transition in the ground state of the cesium 133 atom. TAI is calculated by the Bureau International de l'Heure in Paris, France, from a weighted average of the time of atomic clocks throughout the world. For navigation and survey purposes, UTC is stepped by integral seconds from TAI by the insertion or deletion of leap seconds to keep it within 0.9 seconds of the astronomical time UT1. The standard meridian for the UTC zone is the Greenwich meridian of 0 degree.
- Coordinates
- Numerical or angular values that identify the location of points on a surface in terms of distance from a fixed reference. The reference point is often known as the origin. A set of latitude and longitude values in a geographic coordinate system, an "x,y" location in a Cartesian coordinate system or an "x,y,z" location in a 3-dimensional coordinate system. (See Cartesian coordinate system and Origin).
- Coordinate system
- A system, based on mathematical rules, used to measure horizontal and vertical distance on a surface, in order to identify the location of points by means of unique sets of numerical or angular values.
- Correlation
- A statistical measure of the relationship between two or more variables.
- Co-seismic
- A feature associated with the occurrence of an earthquake. Co-seismic rupture is created by the instantaneous rupture of the fault that generates the earthquake. The term is used to distinguish it from rupture caused by non-tectonic phenomena (collapse, landslides, etc.) or by aseismic deformation (slow slip along a fault).
- Creep
- The gradual movement of soil and other materials down a slope due to the gravity.
- Cretaceous
- The final period of the Mesozoic era, after the Jurassic and before the Tertiary. It covers the span of time between 136 and 65 million years ago.
- Cropland
- Agricultural land cultivated for the production of crops. It may also include fallow land, feedlots, orchards, vineyards and nurseries.
- Crop year
- A crop year is the 12-month period in which a crop is marketed or sold, generally from the beginning of August to the end of the following July in Canada.
- Crown
- The ramifications and foliage which surmount the tree.
- Crystalline rock
- A rock consisting wholly of crystal or fragments of crystals. These rocks are igneous or metamorphic.
- Culture
- In cartography, this term refers to manmade features on the Earth, which are symbolized on maps. Examples are roads, buildings, and electricity transmission lines.
- Cursor
- A hand-controlled computer hardware device consisting of a graphic pointer or crosshairs and keys, used to point to locations on a computer terminal screen. In digitizing, a cursor is used to trace, record and store the location of analogue features in "x,y" coordinates.
- Cyclone
- Storm characterized by a giratory wind movement, converging and rising around a zone of low pressure
- Cylindrical map projections
- A group of map projections which are derived from the concept of projecting the parallels and meridians of a globe on to a tangent or secant cylinder which is then cut lengthwise and unrolled into a flat map. The principal scale is preserved along a line that represents a great circle.
|
|
|
Select the first letter
of the word you are looking for |
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z
|
|
|
|
