Post by Amanita Vernia on Feb 12, 2005 9:59:55 GMT -5
Just some explorer terms I found, don't worry, this will not be on the test.
ALTITUDE
Altitude is the height of an area, measured from sea level.
ASTROLABE
An astrolabe is an instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects (like the sun) in the sky. It was first used around 200 B.C. by astronomers in Greece. The astrolabe was replaced by the sextant.
BUCCANEER
A buccaneer was a pirate from the Caribbean.
CAPE
A cape is a piece of land that that projects out into a large body of water.
CARTOGRAPHER
A cartographer is a map maker.
CARTOGRAPHY
Cartography is the study and the construction of maps.
CARAVEL
A caravel is a type of two- or three-masted sailing ship developed in the 1400s by the Portuguese.
CELESTIAL NAVIGATION
Celestial navigation is a method of navigating by using the stars or other objects in the sky.
CHRONOMETER
A chronometer is a very accurate time-keeping device that is used for determining one's longitude at sea.
CIRCUMNAVIGATE
To circumnavigate is to travel around the entire Earth (or around another given object).
COMPASS
A compass is a device that always points north. It is used for navigation.
COMPASS ROSE
A compass rose is a design on a map that shows direction. It points which way is north, south, east, west, and some intermediate directions on the map.
CONQUISTADOR
The conquistadors were Spanish conquerors/explorers who sailed to the Americas to obtain gold, silver, and other treasures. They were often brutal and resorted to any means to get what they wanted.
CONTINENT
The Earth's land masses are divided into 7 large landmasses called continents. The Earth's current continets are: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
DEAD RECKONING
Dead reckoning is a method of navigation that involves calculating one's position by noting one's speed, the speed and direction of the wind, ocean currents, and compass directions. Dead reckoning was used by sailors like Columbus.
DOLDRUMS
The doldrums are a belt of very still air near the equator that stalled sailing ships. The doldrums are located between 5 degrees north and 5 degrees south of the equator. The doldrums ar also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (or ITCZ).
EQUATOR
The equator is an imaginary circle around the earth, halfway between the north and south poles.
FATHOM
A fathom is a unit of measurement used on the seas to measure depth. A fathom is equal to 6 feet or 1.8 meters (it was originally the distance between a sailor's outstretched arms).
LANDFALL
Landfall means to approach, sight, or reach land.
LATITUDE
Latitude is the angular distance north or south from the equator to a particular location. The equator has a latitude of zero degrees. The North Pole has a latitude of 90 degrees North; the South Pole has a latitude of 90 degrees South.
LONGITUDE
Longitude is the angular distance east or west from the north-south line that passes through Greenwich, England, to a particular location. Greenwich, England, has a longitude of zero degrees. The farther east or west of Greenwich you are, the greater your longitude (east or west). The Midway Islands (in the Pacific Ocean) have a longitude of 180 degrees (they are on the opposite side of the globe from Greenwich).
NAUTICAL MILE
A nautical mile is a unit of distance that is used on the water; it is equal to 1.15 miles or one minute (1/60 of a degree) of longitude.
NAVIGATION
Navigation is process of plotting or directing the course of a vessel.
QUADRANT
The quadrant is an instrument used to measure altitude.
RAPIDS
Rapids are parts of a river that are shallow, rocky, and have strong currents.
SCURVY
Scurvy is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Many sailors on long trips got scurvy, which at first debilitates and then kills the victim. When the cause of scurvy was determined to be a dietary deficiency, limes and other foods high in vitamin C were brought on long sea journeys, putting an end to the problem of scurvy. Bringing limes aboard is why sailors used to be called "limeys."
SEXTANT
The sextant is an astronomical instrument that is used to determine latitude for navigation. It does this by measuring angular distances, like the altitude of the sun, moon and stars. The sextant was invented independently in both England and America in 1731. The sextant replaced the astrolabe. The word sextant comes from the Latin word meaning "one sixth."
SOUNDING
Sounding is a method of measuring the depth of a body of water by dropping a weight attached to a rope and letting it hit the bottom.
STRAIT
A strait is a narrow channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
SUMMIT
The summit is the highest point of a mountain (or other elecated area).
TRADE WINDS
The trade winds (also called the trades) are strong easterly winds that blow through the tropics and subtropics. They blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere.
website borrowed from: www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/glossary.shtml
ALTITUDE
Altitude is the height of an area, measured from sea level.
ASTROLABE
An astrolabe is an instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects (like the sun) in the sky. It was first used around 200 B.C. by astronomers in Greece. The astrolabe was replaced by the sextant.
BUCCANEER
A buccaneer was a pirate from the Caribbean.
CAPE
A cape is a piece of land that that projects out into a large body of water.
CARTOGRAPHER
A cartographer is a map maker.
CARTOGRAPHY
Cartography is the study and the construction of maps.
CARAVEL
A caravel is a type of two- or three-masted sailing ship developed in the 1400s by the Portuguese.
CELESTIAL NAVIGATION
Celestial navigation is a method of navigating by using the stars or other objects in the sky.
CHRONOMETER
A chronometer is a very accurate time-keeping device that is used for determining one's longitude at sea.
CIRCUMNAVIGATE
To circumnavigate is to travel around the entire Earth (or around another given object).
COMPASS
A compass is a device that always points north. It is used for navigation.
COMPASS ROSE
A compass rose is a design on a map that shows direction. It points which way is north, south, east, west, and some intermediate directions on the map.
CONQUISTADOR
The conquistadors were Spanish conquerors/explorers who sailed to the Americas to obtain gold, silver, and other treasures. They were often brutal and resorted to any means to get what they wanted.
CONTINENT
The Earth's land masses are divided into 7 large landmasses called continents. The Earth's current continets are: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
DEAD RECKONING
Dead reckoning is a method of navigation that involves calculating one's position by noting one's speed, the speed and direction of the wind, ocean currents, and compass directions. Dead reckoning was used by sailors like Columbus.
DOLDRUMS
The doldrums are a belt of very still air near the equator that stalled sailing ships. The doldrums are located between 5 degrees north and 5 degrees south of the equator. The doldrums ar also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (or ITCZ).
EQUATOR
The equator is an imaginary circle around the earth, halfway between the north and south poles.
FATHOM
A fathom is a unit of measurement used on the seas to measure depth. A fathom is equal to 6 feet or 1.8 meters (it was originally the distance between a sailor's outstretched arms).
LANDFALL
Landfall means to approach, sight, or reach land.
LATITUDE
Latitude is the angular distance north or south from the equator to a particular location. The equator has a latitude of zero degrees. The North Pole has a latitude of 90 degrees North; the South Pole has a latitude of 90 degrees South.
LONGITUDE
Longitude is the angular distance east or west from the north-south line that passes through Greenwich, England, to a particular location. Greenwich, England, has a longitude of zero degrees. The farther east or west of Greenwich you are, the greater your longitude (east or west). The Midway Islands (in the Pacific Ocean) have a longitude of 180 degrees (they are on the opposite side of the globe from Greenwich).
NAUTICAL MILE
A nautical mile is a unit of distance that is used on the water; it is equal to 1.15 miles or one minute (1/60 of a degree) of longitude.
NAVIGATION
Navigation is process of plotting or directing the course of a vessel.
QUADRANT
The quadrant is an instrument used to measure altitude.
RAPIDS
Rapids are parts of a river that are shallow, rocky, and have strong currents.
SCURVY
Scurvy is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Many sailors on long trips got scurvy, which at first debilitates and then kills the victim. When the cause of scurvy was determined to be a dietary deficiency, limes and other foods high in vitamin C were brought on long sea journeys, putting an end to the problem of scurvy. Bringing limes aboard is why sailors used to be called "limeys."
SEXTANT
The sextant is an astronomical instrument that is used to determine latitude for navigation. It does this by measuring angular distances, like the altitude of the sun, moon and stars. The sextant was invented independently in both England and America in 1731. The sextant replaced the astrolabe. The word sextant comes from the Latin word meaning "one sixth."
SOUNDING
Sounding is a method of measuring the depth of a body of water by dropping a weight attached to a rope and letting it hit the bottom.
STRAIT
A strait is a narrow channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
SUMMIT
The summit is the highest point of a mountain (or other elecated area).
TRADE WINDS
The trade winds (also called the trades) are strong easterly winds that blow through the tropics and subtropics. They blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere.
website borrowed from: www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/glossary.shtml
