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SWGEONET Modules Glossary
ABCDE FGHIJ KLMNO PQRST UVWXY Z

A

B

C

D

DEM (Digital Elevation Model) Displays x,y,z (e.g., latitude, longitude, elevation) data of a given region.

Disaster Occurs when a hazard catastrophically affects humans (loss of life, property destruction, etc.).

E

Earthquake The sudden release of stress accumulated along a fault.

Epicenter The location on the earth's surface directly above the position the earthquake occurred (focus).


F

Fault A break in rocks along which movement occurs.


G

Geology The study of earth through time.


H

Hazard Risk plus exposure-- the possibility that an event (i.e., earthquake, etc.) may affect humans.

I

Igneous rocks Rocks produced either as a result of volcanism or the solidification of magma below the surface of the earth.


J

K

L

Landslide Generalized term for mass wasting: the downslope movement of earth materials. Materials may be wet or dry, and may move quickly or slowly.

M

Metamorphic rocks Rocks produced as a result of heat and/or pressure.


N

O

P

Q

R

Relief The difference in elevation between the highest point and the lowest point for a given area.

Resolution The smallest object that can be discerned for a given dataset or pixel. For example, a pixel with 30m resolution indicates that the dimensions are 30m by 30m, and that objects smaller than those dimensions will not be visible.

Risk Results when human lives or structures are exposed to hazards.


S

Sedimentary rocks Rocks produced either chemically (by secretion from animals or precipitation from a solution) or by cementing weathered (broken down) pieces of other rocks.


T

Topography The arrangement of the landscape-- basically the shape and relief of landscape features.


U

V



W

X

Y

Z
Modules Home

Module 1-- Introduction
Geology
Topography
Module 2-- Hazards
Earthquakes
Landslides
Module 3--Remote Sensing
ASTER
NDVI
Module 4-- Geophysics
Gravity

Tools
Downloads
Glossary
Geologic Time

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Last Modified: July 25, 2004