G-6
Glossary
lines one-dimensional vector objects.
longitude imaginary lines on a globe east and
west of the Prime Meridian that serve as a basis of
measurement in GCS.
map a representation of geographic data.
Map Algebra combining datasets together using
simple mathematical operators.
map projection the translation of locations on a
three-dimensional (3D) Earth to a two-dimensional
(2D) surface.
map scale a metric used to determine the
relationship between measurements made on a map
and their real-world equivalents.
Map Services pre-made basemaps and layers that can
be used in creating Web mapping applications.
map template a pre-made arrangement of items in a
map layout.
mashup the combination of two or more map layers
into one new application.
MCE Multi-Criteria Evaluation—the use of several
factors (weighted and combined) to determine the
suitability of a site.
metadata descriptive information about geospatial
data.
micrometer a unit of measurement equal to onemillionth of a meter. Abbreviated m.
Mie scattering scattering of light caused by
atmospheric particles the same size as the wavelength
being scattered.
MIR (middle infrared) the portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths between
1.3 and 3.0 micrometers.
MISR the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer
instrument onboard Terra.
MLS the Microwave Limb Sounder instrument
onboard Aura.
MODIS the Moderate Resolution Imaging
SpectroRadiometer instrument onboard Terra and
Aqua.
MOPITT the Measurements of Pollution in the
Troposphere instrument onboard Terra.
Morning Constellation a set of satellites (including
Terra, Landsat 7, EO-1, and SAC-C) that pass the
Equator in the morning during their orbits.
MSAS a Satellite Based Augmentation System that
covers Japan and nearby regions.
MSS the Multi-Spectral Scanner aboard Landsat 1
through 5.
multipath effect an error caused by a delay in the
signal due to reflecting from surfaces before reaching
the receiver.
multispectral imagery remotely sensed imagery
comprised of the bands collected by a sensor capable
of sensing several bands of energy at once.
multispectral sensor a sensor that can measure
multiple different wavelength bands simultaneously.
NAD27 the North American Datum of 1927.
NAD83 the North American Datum of 1983.
nadir the location under the camera in aerial
photography.
nanometer a unit of measurement equal to onebillionth of a meter. Abbreviated nm.
NASA the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, established in 1958; it is the United
States government’s space exploration and aerospace
development branch.
NASA Earth Observatory a Website operated by
NASA that details how EOS is utilized with numerous
global environmental issues and concerns.
NASA NEO the NASA Earth Observations
Website, which allows users to view or download
processed EOS imagery in a variety of formats,
including a version compatible for viewing in Google
Earth.
NASA World Wind a virtual globe program from
NASA, used for examining various types of remotely
sensed imagery.
National Map an online base map of downloadable
geospatial data maintained and operated by the USGS
and part of the National Geospatial Program.
Natural Breaks a data classification method that
selects class break levels by searching for spaces in the
data values.
NAVSTAR GPS the United States Global Positioning
System.
NCGE the National Council for Geographic
Education, a professional organization dedicated to
geographic education.
NDGPS the National Differential GPS—it consists
of ground-based DGPS beacons around the United
States.
Glossary
lines one-dimensional vector objects.
longitude imaginary lines on a globe east and
west of the Prime Meridian that serve as a basis of
measurement in GCS.
map a representation of geographic data.
Map Algebra combining datasets together using
simple mathematical operators.
map projection the translation of locations on a
three-dimensional (3D) Earth to a two-dimensional
(2D) surface.
map scale a metric used to determine the
relationship between measurements made on a map
and their real-world equivalents.
Map Services pre-made basemaps and layers that can
be used in creating Web mapping applications.
map template a pre-made arrangement of items in a
map layout.
mashup the combination of two or more map layers
into one new application.
MCE Multi-Criteria Evaluation—the use of several
factors (weighted and combined) to determine the
suitability of a site.
metadata descriptive information about geospatial
data.
micrometer a unit of measurement equal to onemillionth of a meter. Abbreviated m.
Mie scattering scattering of light caused by
atmospheric particles the same size as the wavelength
being scattered.
MIR (middle infrared) the portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths between
1.3 and 3.0 micrometers.
MISR the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer
instrument onboard Terra.
MLS the Microwave Limb Sounder instrument
onboard Aura.
MODIS the Moderate Resolution Imaging
SpectroRadiometer instrument onboard Terra and
Aqua.
MOPITT the Measurements of Pollution in the
Troposphere instrument onboard Terra.
Morning Constellation a set of satellites (including
Terra, Landsat 7, EO-1, and SAC-C) that pass the
Equator in the morning during their orbits.
MSAS a Satellite Based Augmentation System that
covers Japan and nearby regions.
MSS the Multi-Spectral Scanner aboard Landsat 1
through 5.
multipath effect an error caused by a delay in the
signal due to reflecting from surfaces before reaching
the receiver.
multispectral imagery remotely sensed imagery
comprised of the bands collected by a sensor capable
of sensing several bands of energy at once.
multispectral sensor a sensor that can measure
multiple different wavelength bands simultaneously.
NAD27 the North American Datum of 1927.
NAD83 the North American Datum of 1983.
nadir the location under the camera in aerial
photography.
nanometer a unit of measurement equal to onebillionth of a meter. Abbreviated nm.
NASA the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, established in 1958; it is the United
States government’s space exploration and aerospace
development branch.
NASA Earth Observatory a Website operated by
NASA that details how EOS is utilized with numerous
global environmental issues and concerns.
NASA NEO the NASA Earth Observations
Website, which allows users to view or download
processed EOS imagery in a variety of formats,
including a version compatible for viewing in Google
Earth.
NASA World Wind a virtual globe program from
NASA, used for examining various types of remotely
sensed imagery.
National Map an online base map of downloadable
geospatial data maintained and operated by the USGS
and part of the National Geospatial Program.
Natural Breaks a data classification method that
selects class break levels by searching for spaces in the
data values.
NAVSTAR GPS the United States Global Positioning
System.
NCGE the National Council for Geographic
Education, a professional organization dedicated to
geographic education.
NDGPS the National Differential GPS—it consists
of ground-based DGPS beacons around the United
States.