Download Maps and Globes are Models of Earth

Maps and Globes are
Models of Earth
Section 1.2
Maps and Globes
 A map is a flat model of the surface of the Earth
 It is the “Bird’s eye view” of an area
 Show natural AND human-made features
 A globe represents Earth as if you were looking at it
from Outer Space
 Shows relative sizes and shapes of Earth’s land and
water features
Land Features on Maps
 A Relief Map is a map that shows how high or low each feature is
on Earth
 A mapmaker uses pictures or satellite images to build the Three
Dimensional view of the surface
 Relief Maps show three main features:
 Mountains
 Plateaus
 Plains
Mountains
 Mountains stand taller than the land around them
 A group of mountains is called a mountain range
 The base of a mountain may cover several square
kilometers
 Name some well known mountain ranges:



Plateaus
 Have fairly level
surfaces but stand high
above sea level
 Often found near
mountain ranges
 Colorado Plateau spans
from Arizona, Colorado,
New Mexico and Utah
Plains
 Gently rolling or flat features
 The United States has two
types of plains:
 Coastal Plains near the
eastern and southeastern
shores
 Interior plains in the center
of the nation
 The interior Great Plains
covers the middle third of
the country
Map Symbols and Scale
 To read a map, you need to know who to read the scale
and key!
 The Map Scale relates distances on a map to actual
distances on Earth’s Surface
 The scale can be in a ratio, a bar, or equivalent units of
distance
 For example, a ratio of 1:25,000 means that 1 cm on the
map represents 25,000 cm (0.25 km) on Earth
Map Legend
 A map legend (also called a key) is a chart that
explains the meanings of each symbol on the map
 Symbols can stand for highways, buildings, parks, etc.
Compass
 A map usually includes a compass rose to show which
directions are North, East, South and West
 In general, north on a map points to the top of the page
Understanding Latitude and
Longitude
 Lines of latitude
and lines
longitude cross
one another.
 They form a grid
system around
the earth.
http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/globe.jpg
Latitude
 Lines of latitude are also
called parallels.
 They circle the earth parallel
to the Equator.
 They measure north and
south of equator in degrees.
 The Equator is at 0° latitude.
 The North Pole is at
90°N (north).
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Longitude
 Lines of longitude are also
called meridians.
 They circle the earth from
Pole to Pole.
 They measure east and west
of the starting line, at 0°
longitude or the Prime
Meridian.
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Absolute Location
 Only one place can be found
at the point where lines cross
one another.
 Use degrees (°) and
minutes (’) to give an exact
spot where one line of
latitude crosses one line of
longitude – an absolute
location.
http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/globe.jpg
Hemispheres
 The equator circles the middle of the Earth.
 It divides the earth into hemispheres or “half-spheres.”
 North of the equator is the Northern Hemisphere.
 South of the equator is the Southern Hemisphere.
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Hemispheres
 The Prime Meridian runs from north to south.
 It divides the earth into half spheres in the other
direction.
 East of the Prime Meridian for 180 degrees is the
Eastern Hemisphere.
 West of the Prime Meridian for 180 degrees is the
Western Hemisphere.
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Using Latitude and Longitude
Review your answers
is 15°N latitude and 150°W longitude.
is 45°N latitude and 90°W longitude.
is 15°S latitude and 60°W longitude.
is 0° latitude and 150°E longitude.
is 30°N latitude and 60°E longitude.
is 60°N latitude and 0° longitude.
is 45°S latitude and 90°E longitude.
Map Projections
 A Projection is a way of representing Earth’s curved
surface on a flat map
 Mapmakers use different projections, but all distort
Earth’s surface in different ways
 Cylindrical Projections
 Conic Projections
 Planar Projections
Cylindrical Projections
 Also called the
Mercator projection
 Useful for navigating at
sea or in the air
 Allows you to plot a
course easily
 Problem: Areas really
far away from the
equator appear much
bigger than they
actually are
Conic Projections
 Based on the shape of a cone
 The latitude lines are curved slightly, this allows for a
more accurate size and shape of some landmasses
 Good for mapping large areas in the middle latitudes
 However, landmasses near the equator or near the
north or south pole will be distorted
Planar Projections
 Developed to help people find the shortest distance
between two points
 Good for plotting ocean or air voyages and showing the
polar regions (both north and south)
 However, landmasses further away from center point
are distorted