Cartography

Greek Carto meaning "map“

Graphein meaning "write“

the study and practice of making maps

Lines of

longitude only

Equator added

Other lines of

latitude added

Cross-

section

s

through

lines of

latitude

Cross-section

through line of

longitude

Orange cut

through

lines of

longitude

Orange cut through lines of latitude

Latin Words YAY!

Latitude

-Latus – “wide”

Longitude

-Longus – “length”

Lat vs. Long

Latitude Lines are also known as “parallels” since they don’t ever cross or touch each other

- Range from 90°S – 90°N (no negatives)

Longitude lines are also known as “meridians” with the 0 being the Prime Meridian.

- Range from 180°W-180°E (no negatives)

East West, North South on The Earth

Let the X axis be the Equator.

Let the Y axis be the Prime Meridian

that runs through Greenwich outside

of London.

Lat/Long are the 2 grid points by

which you can locate any point on

earth.

Y

X

Prim

e M

erid

ian

The first method divides each degree into 60 minutes (1° = 60'),

then each minute into 60 seconds (1' = 60").

The symbol for degrees is ° , for minutes is ', and for seconds is ". The second method states the fraction as a decimal of a degree.

Using the Coordinate System

Step one – Find the Latitude which is the North/South from 0° which is the Equator.

Step two – Find the Longitude which is West/East from the 0° which is the Prime Meridian.

** please note this is backwards from your (x,y) coordinate system you are use to so it will be unnatural at first.

East West, North South on the Earth

Let each of the four quarters then be designated by North or South and East or West.

N

S

EW

East West, North South on the Earth

That means all points in North

America will have a North latitude and a West longitude because it is North of the Equator and West of the Prime Meridian.

(N, W)

Prime Meridian

What is Latitude?Latitude is the distance from the

equator along the Y axis.

All points along the equator have a value of 0 degrees latitude.

North pole = 90°N

South pole = 90°S

Values are expressed in terms of degrees.

Y

X

90°S

90°N

What is Latitude?

Each degree of latitude is divided into

60 minutes. (‘)

Each minute is divided into 60 seconds.(“)

Y

X

90°S

90°N

This is also true of longitude.

What is Longitude?

Longitude is the distance from the prime meridian along the X axis.

All points along the prime meridian have a

value of 0 degrees longitude.

The earth is divided into two parts, or

hemispheres, of east and west longitude.

Y

X

180°W 180°E

What is Longitude?

The earth is divided into 360 equal slices

(meridians)

180 west and 180 east of the prime meridian

Y

X

180°W 180°E

What is Latitude?

Our latitude and longitude might be: (hint, hint)

29° 58’ 45’’N

95° 30’ 23’’W

Y

X

90°S

90°N

So Where is (0,0)?The origin point (0,0) is where the equator intersects the

prime meridian.

(0,0) is off the western coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.

Equator Latitude 0o

Latitude: (90oN to 90oS)

Latitude 23½o NorthTropic of Cancer

Latitude 23½o SouthTropic of Capricorn

Longitude 30o East

Longitude 60o East

Longitude 30o West

Longitude 60o West

Positioning on the Earth’s Surface

East is the direction of rotation of the Earth North Pole

South Pole

23½o

23½o

66½o90o

900

21st June

22nd December

22nd Sept

20th March

30oE60oE90oE90oW30oW60oW

Longitude 90oEastLongitude 90o West

Prime Meridian

0o Longitude

Longitude: (180oE to 180oW)

Latitude and Longitude together enable the fixing of position on the Earth’s surface.

Remote Sensing

The acquiring of information about an object or phenomenon without physical contact. Aka observation only.

Could be a measurement light, heat, reflectivity of sound, or other energy specta.

Ex. Radar, SONAR, lasers, radiometers, photographs, telescopes and satellites

Geological Processes

These four processes we look for on other celestial bodies(planets/moons) while we are looking for Life as we know it. Looking for patterns that we know are caused by certain materials.

1. Aeolian Processes – Wind/Atmosphere

2. Impact Processes – meteors/complex elements

3. Fluvial Processes – Water/body of water

4. Volcanic Processes – Hot Interior/Possible Plate Tectonics

There will be a number of Features associated with each. (Practice Wed/Thur)