Stoner's Guide: How High Am I?

Cannabis is a complex plant with many compounds that can affect your body in different ways. While the effects of cannabis vary from person to person, there are some common signs that may indicate whether someone is experiencing a marijuana high. These can include physical signs such as red eyes, poor muscle coordination, delayed reaction times, and increased appetite. A shift in mood, such as sudden relaxation or anxiety, or sensations of an altered sense of time and perception, may also be indicators of a high. However, there is currently no reliable method to determine exactly how high someone is, and the effects of cannabis can be unpredictable, especially for new users.

How to find my elevation

There are a variety of ways to find your elevation, whether you are using an iOS or Android device.

If you are using an Android device, you can open the Google Maps app, search for a location or use your current location, and swipe up from the bottom of the screen to view details about the location, including its altitude. Alternatively, you can use the Compass app, which displays your altitude at the bottom of the screen. You can also try third-party apps such as My Altitude, Altimeter GPS, or My Elevation, which uses web services to provide your precise surface elevation based on your current location.

If you are using an iOS device, you can open Apple Maps, tap the "i" button in the lower-right corner, and select "Show Elevation" to view the altitude of your current location. Similar to Android, you can also use apps such as My Altitude or Altimeter GPS, which allow for manual calibration.

In addition to smartphone apps, there are also web-based tools that can be used to find your elevation. For example, websites like whatismyelevation.com and freemaptools.com allow you to search for any location in the world and find its elevation. Similarly, Google Maps on a desktop computer can be used to find the elevation of any place, city, or address.

It is important to note that some methods of determining elevation may be more accurate than others. For instance, altimeters measure altitude by calculating differences in atmospheric pressure and can be more accurate than GPS-based readings in areas with poor reception. Additionally, the accuracy of tools like Google Maps may vary depending on the reliability and completeness of the data sources used.

Highest points on Earth

The Earth is not a perfect sphere; it is thicker at the equator due to the centrifugal force created by the planet's constant rotation. This means that the highest point above the Earth's centre is the peak of Ecuador's Mount Chimborazo, which is located just one degree south of the equator, where the Earth's bulge is greatest. The summit of Chimborazo is 6,268 meters (20,564 feet) above sea level. However, due to the Earth's bulge, the summit of Chimborazo is over 2,072 meters farther from the centre of the Earth than Everest's peak, making Chimborazo the closest point on Earth to the stars.

Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas on the border of Nepal and Tibet, is the highest mountain on Earth above sea level, reaching 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) at its summit. Everest was first climbed by New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953. Everest is a formidable mountain that attracts adventurers from around the globe, and unfortunately, as of November 2022, 310 people had died while attempting to summit the mountain.

The second-highest mountain in the world is K2, located in Pakistan. K2 is nicknamed the 'Savage Mountain' and is considered the most dangerous mountain on Earth, with a death rate of 13%. Other notable high mountains include Lhotse, which is often considered more visually attractive than Everest, and Annapurna, which is well-known but connected via a high ridge to a taller summit.

The tallest mountains on each continent are as follows:

• Asia: Mount Everest
• Europe: Mount Elbrus
• North America: Denali
• South America: Aconcagua
• Africa: Kilimanjaro
• Oceania: Puncak Jaya
• Antarctica: Vinson Massif

Lowest points on Earth

The lowest points on Earth are often referred to as the 'lowest places worth exploring'. Here is a list of some of the lowest points on Earth:

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth's superficial surface, at 414 metres (1,358 feet) below sea level. It is located between Israel and Jordan, in the Judean Desert. It is a hypersaline lake, with salinity over eight times that of the ocean, allowing people to float effortlessly.

Lake Assal

Lake Assal is a crater lake in Djibouti, Africa, with a salinity of 35%. It sits at 155 metres (509 feet) below sea level.

Turpan Pendi

The lowest point in China and the third-lowest terrestrial point in the world is found in the Turpan Depression at 154 metres (505 feet) below sea level.

Qattara Depression

This is a vast expanse of salt lakes, marshes, and sand dunes in northwestern Egypt, sculpted by relentless winds and erosion.

Vpadina Akchanaya

An arid region within the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, Vpadina Akchanaya offers a glimpse into a unique ecosystem.

Bentley Subglacial Trench

The Bentley Subglacial Trench in Antarctica is deeper and larger than any other trench, at a depth of 2,540 metres (8,330 feet). It is covered by the largest glacier in the world and would be covered by the sea if the ice melted.

Mariana Trench

The deepest natural point on Earth, the Mariana Trench is located in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines. It measures more than 1,500 miles long and 43 miles wide on average.

These places showcase the incredible range of elevations on Earth, shaped by tectonic and volcanic activity, erosion, winds, and other natural forces.

How elevation impacts climate

Elevation, or altitude, is the distance above sea level. Areas are often considered high-altitude if they reach at least 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) into the atmosphere. The higher the elevation, the colder the temperature. For every 100-meter increase in elevation, the average temperature decreases by 0.7°C. This is due to the thinning of the atmosphere as elevation increases, which causes a decrease in air pressure. At sea level, standard air pressure is 1013.25 millibars. Denver, Colorado, nicknamed the "Mile High City", is located at an elevation of around 5,300 feet above sea level and has a lower atmospheric pressure of around 850 millibars.

The implications of elevation on a location's climate are influenced by physics rather than geometry. The geographic context of a location can affect precipitation through orographic lift, where moist air masses are forced upward by mountain ranges, cool, and condense. As a result, the windward side of a mountain will receive more precipitation, while the leeward side will experience drier conditions, known as a rain shadow effect. For example, during a drive through Washington's Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, one can experience a range of climates, from areas with high rainfall to dry cities, due to changes in elevation.

Topographical differences can create disparities in temperature change, as seen in the cities of Phoenix and Flagstaff in Arizona. Phoenix, with a low elevation of 1,086 feet, experienced a record-high temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit, while Flagstaff, a mountainous city, has never exceeded 97 degrees Fahrenheit.

In summary, elevation significantly influences climate characteristics, with higher elevations leading to colder temperatures, lower air pressure, and varying levels of precipitation.

How elevation impacts human settlements

The elevation of a region is a critical factor influencing human settlement patterns. It plays a role in shaping the weather conditions, vegetation, and other natural factors that contribute to the region's habitability. Higher elevations, such as mountainous regions, present challenges due to limited flat land and steep slopes, making construction difficult. The cold temperatures at higher altitudes also hinder agricultural activities.

The availability of oxygen decreases with increasing elevation, making it challenging for humans to adapt. La Rinconada in Peru, located at 16,728 feet above sea level, is the world's highest inhabited city. The presence of a nearby gold mine attracted people to settle in this high-altitude area. In contrast, lower elevations offer warmer temperatures, more fertile soils, and better access to water, making them more suitable for human settlements.

The natural environment, including topography, temperature, humidity, vegetation, barometric pressure, and river networks, directly impacts human health and population distribution. Urbanization, characterized by high-density infrastructure and modern buildings, can lead to a homogeneous natural environment within cities, reducing scholars' attention to urban natural environments.

Climate change poses significant risks to human settlements, particularly in low-lying coastal areas. Projected increases in rainfall intensity and sea-level rise will result in more frequent and severe flooding and landslides, threatening cities on rivers and coasts. Climate change will also impact settlements dependent on agriculture, forestry, or fisheries, as well as those built on permafrost, which is vulnerable to thawing.

The expansion of human settlements, driven by population growth, poses challenges to human development, environmental change, resource allocation, and disaster prediction and prevention. The distribution of settlements is influenced by elevation, slope, climate, and proximity to water sources. As human settlements continue to grow and expand, it is crucial to consider the impact on the ecological environment and the well-being of citizens.

Frequently asked questions