Maps and Map SkillsMaps and Map Skills

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Globe Globe

• is a better model of is a better model of Earth than a map, but a Earth than a map, but a globe has disadvantages globe has disadvantages that a map does not that a map does not havehave

Kinds of MapsKinds of Maps

1.1. General Reference General Reference MapsMaps

1.1. Thematic MapsThematic Maps

• Provide the reader Provide the reader general information general information about an area or place.about an area or place.

• Provide more specific Provide more specific information about an information about an area or place than area or place than general reference general reference maps.maps.

General referenceGeneral reference

Thematic MapThematic Map

Reading MapsReading Maps

1.1. Map PartsMap Parts

2. Map orientation 2. Map orientation

•TitleTitle•Legend or KeyLegend or Key•Grid SystemGrid System•DirectionDirection•ScaleScale

This has to do This has to do with directionwith direction

Scale

Title

Compass

Large Scale and Small Scale Large Scale and Small Scale MapsMaps

1. 1. large-scale maplarge-scale map

2. 2. small-scale mapsmall-scale map

Small Area = Large ScaleSmall Area = Large Scale

Large Area = Small ScaleLarge Area = Small Scale

• shows a small area shows a small area such as a such as a neighborhood street in neighborhood street in great detail.great detail.

• shows a large area shows a large area such as a country or a such as a country or a continent in continent in comparatively lesser comparatively lesser detail.detail.

Large ScaleSmall Scale

Small Area = Large ScaleSmall Area = Large ScaleLarge Area = Small ScaleLarge Area = Small Scale

CompassCompass

• Is used to orient a map toward northIs used to orient a map toward north

Latitude and LongitudeLatitude and Longitude

• LatitudeLatitude • The set of lines crossing the The set of lines crossing the Earth’s surface horizontally, Earth’s surface horizontally, Circling east and west. Circling east and west.

• Each line of latitude is always Each line of latitude is always an equal distance from the next.an equal distance from the next.

• They are also known as They are also known as parallels. All latitude lines are parallels. All latitude lines are parallel to each otherparallel to each other.

• LongitudeLongitude - A set of lines that run - A set of lines that run vertically along Earth’s vertically along Earth’s surface from the North Pole surface from the North Pole to the South Poleto the South Pole

Global GridGlobal Grid• When lines of latitude and longitude cross a grid is When lines of latitude and longitude cross a grid is

formed. The grid is used to located certain places on formed. The grid is used to located certain places on earthearth

• Each line has an Identifying number called Each line has an Identifying number called degreesdegrees, or parts of a circle. (41, or parts of a circle. (4100

))

• DegreesDegrees, can be further divided into minutes, or , can be further divided into minutes, or parts of a degree. There are 60 minutes, or parts parts of a degree. There are 60 minutes, or parts of a degree. (10’)of a degree. (10’)

• Minutes can be divided into even smaller parts Minutes can be divided into even smaller parts called seconds. There are 60 seconds in each called seconds. There are 60 seconds in each minute. (10”)minute. (10”)

• 41410010’10”10’10”

414100

10’10’

10”10”

DegreesDegrees

MinutesMinutes

SecondsSeconds

DirectionDirection

• Cardinal Cardinal directionsdirections

• Intermediate Intermediate directionsdirections

north, north, south, south, east,east,west.west.

-NortheastNortheast-NorthwestNorthwest-SoutheastSoutheast-SouthwestSouthwest

Using Latitude & Longitude to Using Latitude & Longitude to Locate PlacesLocate Places

• Lines of latitudeLines of latitude

• equator’s latitudeequator’s latitude

• are numbered based on how far are numbered based on how far north or south they are from an north or south they are from an imaginary line called the equatorimaginary line called the equator

• This line circles the Earth exactly This line circles the Earth exactly halfway between the NP and SP.halfway between the NP and SP.

• The degree is 0The degree is 000

..

There are 90 degrees between it and each of the poles.There are 90 degrees between it and each of the poles.Area between the equator and NP is “north” latitude Area between the equator and NP is “north” latitude

(22(2200

N)N)Area between the equator and SP is “south” latitude Area between the equator and SP is “south” latitude

(22(2200

S)S)

Using Latitude & Longitude to Using Latitude & Longitude to Locate PlacesLocate Places

• Lines of longitudeLines of longitude

• Prime Meridian’s Prime Meridian’s longitudelongitude

• are numbered based on how far are numbered based on how far east or west they are from east or west they are from another imaginary line.another imaginary line.

• degree is 0degree is 000..

Area east of the PM is known as “east” longitude. Area east of the PM is known as “east” longitude.

(120(12000

E)E)Area west of the PM is known as “west” longitude. Area west of the PM is known as “west” longitude.

(120(12000

W)W)

Prime Meridian & International Prime Meridian & International Date LineDate Line

• prime meridianprime meridian

• international date international date lineline..

• does does not not circle the globe as circle the globe as the equator does.the equator does.

• PM runs from the NP to SPPM runs from the NP to SP

• Runs from NP to SP 180Runs from NP to SP 18000 on on the other side of the globethe other side of the globe

HemispheresHemispheres• The earth can be divided into halves. Each of these The earth can be divided into halves. Each of these

halves is called a hemispherehalves is called a hemisphere.

Hemispheres at the Equator Hemispheres at the Equator

• The ½ north of the equator The ½ north of the equator is called the northern is called the northern hemispherehemisphere

• The ½ south of the equator The ½ south of the equator is called the southern is called the southern hemispherehemisphere

Hemispheres at Prime Hemispheres at Prime Meridian and International Meridian and International

Date LineDate Line• Earth can also be divided into hemispheres Earth can also be divided into hemispheres

at the circle formed by the prime meridian at the circle formed by the prime meridian and International date lineand International date line

• The ½ east of the prime meridian is called The ½ east of the prime meridian is called the eastern hemisphere.the eastern hemisphere.

• The ½ west of the prime meridian is called The ½ west of the prime meridian is called the western hemisphere.the western hemisphere.

Making MapsMaking Maps

• Gathering InformationGathering Information

• Problem of DistortionProblem of Distortion

• Map PropertiesMap Properties

• Map ProjectionsMap Projections

• Cartographers (Mapmakers)Cartographers (Mapmakers)

Gathering InformationGathering Information

• SurveyingSurveying• Aerial Photography (Air Planes)Aerial Photography (Air Planes)• Remote Sensing (Satellites)Remote Sensing (Satellites)

Problem of DistortionProblem of Distortion• Features are stretched to put Features are stretched to put

Earth’s information onto a map.Earth’s information onto a map.

Map PropertiesMap Properties

• No map can have all of the properties at onceNo map can have all of the properties at once• Equal areasEqual areas• ConformalityConformality• Consistent ScaleConsistent Scale• True-Compass DirectionsTrue-Compass Directions

• Equal areasEqual areas• Places shown have the same proportions as they do Places shown have the same proportions as they do

on Earth. on Earth. • Example: Greenland 1/8 land area of S. AmericaExample: Greenland 1/8 land area of S. America

• ConformalityConformality• Having correct shapes.Having correct shapes.• Shows true shapes.Shows true shapes.• Can show larger areas as closely as possible to Can show larger areas as closely as possible to

their true shapestheir true shapes

• Consistent ScaleConsistent Scale• Uses the same scale for all parts of the map.Uses the same scale for all parts of the map.• Shows the true distances between places on EarthShows the true distances between places on Earth• In most Cases maps showing large areas cannot be In most Cases maps showing large areas cannot be

consistent-scale maps.consistent-scale maps.

••True-Compass DirectionTrue-Compass Direction• Parallels and meridians Parallels and meridians

appear as straight lines.appear as straight lines.• By following these lines By following these lines

you will be following the you will be following the cardinal directions of cardinal directions of N,S,E,&W.N,S,E,&W.

• Straight line between two Straight line between two points on map determines points on map determines exact directions and set exact directions and set course. (Navigators use course. (Navigators use these maps)these maps)

Map ProjectionsMap Projections

• Cylindrical ProjectionsCylindrical Projections• MercatorMercator• Robinson ProjectionRobinson Projection• Goode’s InterruptedGoode’s Interrupted

• Conic ProjectionsConic Projections• Albers Equal Area ProjectionAlbers Equal Area Projection

• Planer ProjectionsPlaner Projections• Flat Plane ProjectionsFlat Plane Projections• Gnomonic ProjectionGnomonic Projection

Cylindrical ProjectionsCylindrical Projections• Straight lines of latitude and Longitude are Straight lines of latitude and Longitude are

PerpendicularPerpendicular• Little distortion near the equatorLittle distortion near the equator• Best Known:Best Known:

• Mercator –Mercator –

• conformal and true-compass direction map, but conformal and true-compass direction map, but distortion near poles makes size of land and water areas distortion near poles makes size of land and water areas inaccurate. Land shapes correct – areas distorted – inaccurate. Land shapes correct – areas distorted – valuable to navigatorvaluable to navigator

Robinson ProjectionRobinson Projection• Equal areas Equal areas – shown with high degree of – shown with high degree of

accuracyaccuracy

• Conformal except near edges of map where Conformal except near edges of map where distortion increasesdistortion increases

• Valuable for showing entire world.Valuable for showing entire world.

Goode’s InterruptedGoode’s Interrupted• High degree of accuracy in area and shapeHigh degree of accuracy in area and shape• Distorted direction and scale.Distorted direction and scale.• Valuable for showing Land masses.Valuable for showing Land masses.

Conic ProjectionsConic Projections• Cannot map the entire world.Cannot map the entire world.• Used for middle latitudes betweenUsed for middle latitudes between 303000 and 60and 6000 north north

latitudes, and betweenlatitudes, and between 303000 and 60and 6000 south latitudessouth latitudes• Best Known:Best Known:

• Lambert Conformal ConicalLambert Conformal Conical • Important because it shows the true shapes of Important because it shows the true shapes of

areas.areas.• Albers Equal Area ConicalAlbers Equal Area Conical

• Consistent scale and is used when the size of Consistent scale and is used when the size of land and water areas must be accurate. (military land and water areas must be accurate. (military and engineering maps)and engineering maps)

Flat Plane ProjectionsFlat Plane Projections

• Used to map areas of the North and South Used to map areas of the North and South poles. Areas near that point show little poles. Areas near that point show little distortiondistortion

• Farther away from the point the greater the Farther away from the point the greater the distortion of area, shape, and scale.distortion of area, shape, and scale.

• Shows no more that ½ of the Earth at one Shows no more that ½ of the Earth at one time.time.

• Also called Also called Azimuthal ProjectionAzimuthal Projection

Gnomonic ProjectionGnomonic Projection• Circles of latitude lines and straight longitude lines Circles of latitude lines and straight longitude lines

form a wheel-like pattern.form a wheel-like pattern.

• Especially useful to Especially useful to navigators because the shortest navigators because the shortest distance between two placesdistance between two places on the map is found by on the map is found by drawing a straight line between them {this line is drawing a straight line between them {this line is actually a part of a actually a part of a --great circlegreat circle – any imaginary – any imaginary line that circles Earth and divides it into 2 equal line that circles Earth and divides it into 2 equal partsparts

• Navigators use these along with true-compass Navigators use these along with true-compass direction maps to make their travel plans.direction maps to make their travel plans.

Points to RememberPoints to Remember

• The projection one chooses to use depends The projection one chooses to use depends on the information one wants.on the information one wants.

• All Maps are projections All Maps are projections – they transfer – they transfer Earth’s features from the globe to a flat Earth’s features from the globe to a flat surface (map).surface (map).

• When large areas of Earth are mapped, When large areas of Earth are mapped, distortion is more serious.distortion is more serious.

• When mapping small areas like cities, When mapping small areas like cities, distortion is not usually evident.distortion is not usually evident.