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Globes and Maps

Projections

Determining Location

Reading a Map

Physical Maps

Political Maps

Thematic Maps

Geographic Information Systems

Geography Handbook

Globes and Maps

• A globe is a scale model of the Earth that presents the most accurate depiction of geographic information such as area, distance, and direction.

• A printed map is a symbolic representation of all or part of the planet.

Geography Handbook

• To create maps that are not interrupted, mapmakers, or cartographers, use mathematical formulas to transfer information from the three-dimensional globe to the two-dimensional map.

From 3-D to 2-D

Geography Handbook

• A great circle is an imaginary line that follows the curve of the Earth and represents the shortest distance between two points.

Great Circle Routes

• Traveling along a great circle is called following a great circle route.

Geography Handbook

• To create maps, cartographers project the round Earth onto a flat surface — making a map projection.

Projections

• Distance, shape, direction, or size may be distorted by a projection.

• The three basic categories of map projections are planar, cylindrical, and conic.

Geography Handbook

Projections (cont.)

Planar Projection

A planar projection shows the Earth centered in such a way that a straight line coming from the center to any other point represents the shortest distance. Also known as an azimuthal projection, it is most accurate at its center. As a result, it is often used for maps of the Poles.

Geography Handbook

Projections (cont.)

Cylindrical Projection

A cylindrical projection is based on the projection of the globe onto a cylinder. This projection is most accurate near the Equator, but shapes and distances are distorted near the Poles.

Geography Handbook

Projections (cont.)

Conic Projection

A conic projection comes from placing a cone over part of a globe. Conic projections are best suited for showing limited east-west areas that are not too far from the Equator. For these uses, a conic projection can indicate distances and directions fairly accurately.

Geography Handbook

Common Map Projections

Most general reference world maps are the Winkel Tripel projection. It provides a good balance between the size and shape of land areas as they are shown on the map. Even the polar areas are depicted with little distortion of size and shape.

Geography Handbook

Common Map Projections (cont.)

An interrupted projection resembles a globe that has been cut apart and laid flat. Goode’s Interrupted Equal-Area projection shows the true size and shape of Earth’s landmasses, but distances are generally distorted.

Geography Handbook

Common Map Projections (cont.)

The Robinson projection has minor distortions. The sizes and shapes near the eastern and western edges of the map are accurate, and outlines of the continents appear much as they do on the globe. However, the polar areas are flattened.

Geography Handbook

Common Map Projections (cont.)

The Mercator projection increasingly distorts size and distance as it moves away from the Equator. However, Mercator projections do accurately show true directions and the shapes of landmasses, making these maps useful for sea travel.

Geography Handbook

• The basic tool for answering the question “Where?” is location.

Determining Location

• A grid system on maps and globes helps you find exact places on the Earth’s surface.

• A hemisphere is one of the halves into which the Earth is divided. Most places are located in two of the four hemispheres.

Geography Handbook

LatitudeLines of latitude, or parallels, circle the Earth parallel to the Equator and measure the distance north or south of the Equator in degrees. The Equator is measured at 0° latitude, while the Poles lie at latitudes 90°N (north) and 90°S (south). Parallels north of the Equator are called north latitude. Parallels south of the Equator are called south latitude.

Determining Location (cont.)

Geography Handbook

LongitudeLines of longitude, or meridians, circle the Earth from Pole to Pole. These lines measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian at 0° longitude. Meridians east of the Prime Meridian are known as east longitude. Meridians west of the Prime Meridian are known as west longitude. The 180° meridian on the opposite side of the Earth is called the International Date Line.

Determining Location (cont.)

Geography Handbook

The Global GridEvery place has a global address, or absolute location. You can identify the absolute location of a place by naming the latitude and longitude lines that cross exactly at that place. For example, Tokyo, Japan, is located at 36°N latitude and 140°E longitude. For more precise readings, each degree is further divided into 60 units called minutes.

Determining Location (cont.)

Geography Handbook

Northern and Southern Hemispheres

The diagram shows that the Equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Everything north of the Equator is in the Northern Hemisphere. Everything south of the Equator is in the Southern Hemisphere.

Determining Location (cont.)

Geography Handbook

Eastern and Western Hemispheres

The Prime Meridian and the International Date Line divide the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Everything east of the Prime Meridian for 180° is in the Eastern Hemisphere. Everything west of the Prime Meridian for 180° is in the Western Hemisphere.

Determining Location (cont.)

Geography Handbook

Reading a Map Title Key

Cities

Capitals

Boundary Lines

Scale Bar

Compass Rose

Geography Handbook

• All maps are drawn to a certain scale.

Using Scale

• Scale is a consistent, proportional relationship between the measurements shown on the map and the measurement of the Earth’s surface.

Geography Handbook

Using Scale (cont.)

Small-Scale Maps

A small-scale map, like this political map of France, can show a large area but little detail.

Geography Handbook

Large-Scale Maps

A large-scale map, like this map of Paris, can show a small area with a great amount of detail.

Using Scale (cont.)

Geography Handbook

Absolute and Relative Location

• Absolute location is the exact point where a line of latitude crosses a line of longitude.

• Relative location is the location of one place in relation to another.

Geography Handbook

Physical Maps

• A physical map shows the location and the topography, or shape of the Earth’s physical features.

• A study of a country’s physical features often helps to explain the historical development of the country.

Geography Handbook

Physical Maps (cont.)

Political Features

Relief and Elevation

Water Features

Landforms

Geography Handbook

Political Maps

• A political map shows the boundaries and locations of political units such as countries, states, counties, cities, and towns.

• Many features depicted on a political map are human-made, or determined by humans rather than by nature.

• Political maps can show the networks and links that exist within and between political units.

Geography Handbook

Political Maps (cont.)

Nonsubject Area

Physical Features

Human-Made Features

Geography Handbook

Thematic Maps

• Maps that emphasize a single idea or a particular kind of information about an area are called thematic maps.

• There are many kinds of thematic maps, such as climate, natural vegetation, population density, and economic activities maps.

Geography Handbook

Qualitative Maps

Qualitative maps use colors, symbols, lines, or dots to show information related to a specific idea. Such maps are often used to depict historical information.

Thematic Maps (cont.)

Geography Handbook

Flow-Line Maps

Flow-line maps illustrate the movement of people, animals, goods, and ideas, as well as physical processes like hurricanes and glaciers. Arrows are usually used to represent the flow and direction of movement.

Thematic Maps (cont.)

Geography Handbook

Geographic Information Systems

• Most cartographers use computers with software programs called geographic information systems (GIS).

• A GIS is designed to accept data from different sources — maps, satellite images, printed text, and statistics.

• Cartographers then program the GIS to process the data and produce maps.

• This technology allows cartographers to make maps—and change them—quickly and easily.

Geography Handbook-End

Vocab1

globe

a spherical representation of the Earth

Vocab2

map

a representation, usually on a flat surface, of the whole or part of an area

Vocab3

cartographer

one that makes maps

Vocab4

great circle route

an imaginary line that follows the curve of the Earth and represents the shortest distance between two points

Vocab5

map projection

a mathematical formula used to represent the curved surface of the Earth on the flat surface of a map

Vocab6

planar projection

a map created by projecting an image of the Earth onto a plane

Vocab7

cylindrical projection

a map of Earth created by projecting Earth’s image onto a cylinder

Vocab8

conic projection

a map of the Earth created by placing a cone over part of an Earth model

Vocab9

interrupted projection

a map of the Earth in which the Earth’s surface appears cut along arbitrary lines, each section projected separately

Vocab10

location

a specific place on the Earth

Vocab11

grid system

pattern formed as the lines of latitude and longitude cross one another

Vocab12

hemisphere

half of a sphere or globe, as in the Earth’s Northern and Southern Hemispheres

Vocab13

latitude

distance north or south from the equator measured in degrees

Vocab14

longitude

distance measured by degrees or time east or west from the Prime Meridian

Vocab15

Prime Meridian

the meridian of 0 degrees longitude from which other longitudes are calculated

Vocab16

absolute location

the exact position of a place on the Earth’s surface

Vocab17

Northern Hemisphere

the half of the Earth that lies north of the Equator

Vocab18

Southern Hemisphere

the half of the Earth that lies south of the Equator

Vocab19

Eastern Hemisphere

the part of Earth east of the Atlantic Ocean including Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa; longitudes 20°W and 160°E often considered its boundaries

Vocab20

Western Hemisphere

the part of Earth west of the Atlantic Ocean comprising North and South America and surrounding waters; longitudes 20°W and 160°E often considered its boundaries

Vocab21

scale

the size of a picture, plan, or model of a thing compared to the size of the thing itself

Vocab22

relative location

location in relation to other places

Vocab23

physical map

map that shows the location of natural features such as mountains and rivers; it can also show cities and countries

Vocab24

topography

shape of the Earth’s physical features

Vocab25

political map

a map that shows the boundaries and locations of political units such as countries, states, counties, cities, and towns

Vocab26

human-made

made by humans rather than by nature

Vocab27

thematic maps

map that emphasizes a single idea or a particular kind of information about an area

Vocab28

qualitative maps

maps that use colors, symbols, lines, or dots to show information related to a specific idea

Vocab29

flow-line maps

map that shows the movement of people, animals, goods, ideas, and physical processes like hurricanes and glaciers

Vocab30

geographic information systems (GIS)

computer tools for processing and organizing details and satellite images with other pieces of information

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