Welcome to World Geography!

Using Maps

Basic Map Components•Compasss Rose/Directional Indicator•Legend/Key•Scale

Compass Rose

AKA: directional indicator

Shows cardinal directions◦N, S, E, W

Often indicates intermediate directions◦NE, SE, SW, NW

Legend

AKA: KeyTells about

symbols used on the map

Scale

Tells about the size of a map in relation to the size of the real world

How?◦Gives the ratio

between distances on the map and actual distances on the earth

Shown in both miles (mi) and kilometers (km)

The Global Grid

Parallels of Latitude Meridians of longitude

The Global Grid

Latitude and longitude are imaginary lines forming a grid covering the whole globe

Every place on earth has a unique position on the grid

Lines of Latitude

AKA: ParallelsWhy?

◦The lines run parallel to the EQUATOR

Every place has a specific latitude

0 degrees latitude= Equator

Lines of Longitude

AKA: MeridiansRun from pole to poleCross the lines of

latitude

Every place on earth has a specific longitude

0 degrees longitude=Prime Meridian

(Greenwich Meridian)

Latitude and Longitude Practice

What does a map legend indicate?Tells the user about the symbols used on the map.What are the four cardinal directions?North, South, East, and WestIn what directions do meridians of longitude run?North and SouthLines of latitude?East and West

Displaying Information

Globe: the MOST ACCURATE method of showing the entire surface of the earth

What are possible problems of carrying a globe around with you?

Terms

Cartographers◦mapmakers

Map projections◦Ways of showing the earth on a flat page

Distortion◦A twisting out of normal shape or form. ◦A lack of correspondence of size or intensity in

an image or object

What problem do cartographers face?Representing our round planet on a flat page.What are map projections?Efforts to make the best possible representation with the least distortion.

Great Circle Routes

Great Circle◦An imaginary line that

circles the earth, creating two EQUAL hemispheres

Airplanes often use great circle routes to save fuel and to reduce travel time.

Trivia Time!

loxodrome curve cutting the meridians of a sphere at a constant nonright

angle. Thus, it may be seen as the path of a ship sailing always oblique to the meridian and directed always to the same point of the compass. Pedro Nunes, who first conceived the curve (1550), mistakenly believed it to be the shortest path joining two points on a sphere (see great circle route). Any ship following such a course would, because of convergence of meridians on the poles, travel around the Earth on a spiral that approaches one of the poles as a limit. On a Mercator projection such a line ( rhumb line) would be straight. Rhumb lines are used to simplify small-scale charting

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Mercator vs. Robinson Projection

Mercator Projection

One of the most simple yet most distorted projections

Why?◦ Images at the poles are

spread in order to flatten the globe

◦ This makes areas at the poles larger than they really are

Shapes are more accurate, but areas and sizes are not

Robinson Projection

Less size and shape distortion

Areas at the poles appear flatter than they really are

Land on eastern and western edges are fairly accurate in size and shape

What is the most accurate way to display information about the earth?A globe.What is another name for a cartographer?Mapmaker.What route do pilots take in order to save fuel and reduce travel time?Great circles.What is the advantage of a Robinson projection?Maps have less size and shape distortion.

Types of Maps

Types of Maps

General Purpose Special Purpose

Show information that is most often used by readers◦ Physical◦ Political

AKA: Thematic MapsRelay information

about specific types of data◦ Climate◦ Vegetation◦ Natural resource

use/economic activities◦ Population density◦ Population distribution

Physical Maps

AKA: Relief mapsShow physical

features of an area◦Mountains◦Rivers◦Lakes

Relief-the changing elevation of the land

Colors used:◦Green for lower relief◦Brown for higher

relief◦Blue for water bodies

Political Maps

Show political features

Political features are determined by people◦State boundaries◦National boundaries◦Cities◦Capitals

Special-Purpose Maps

Climate◦General

temperature and precipitation patterns

◦Usually shown in various colors on the map key

Special-Purpose Maps

Economic Activities/Natural Resources◦Symbols show key

locations of activities and resources

Economic activities-ways in which people produce and distribute goods and services

Special Purpose Maps

Population Density◦The average number

of people living in a given area

◦Listed per sq mi or sq km

How does a natural resources map show where different resources are found?By using symbols to show key locations of activities and resources.

What is the difference between an economic activity and a natural resource?Economic activities-ways in which people produce and distribute goods and servicesNatural resource-item in the environment that people need and value