1º Eso. Geography. Unit 2.

Unit 2: The Representation of the Earth.Contents1. Latitude and longitude

1.1. Parallels and Meridians1.2. Latitude and longitude1.3. Geographical Coordinates

2. The representation of the Earth2.1. Types of maps2.2 Elements on a map

3. Learn to work with maps

VocabularyParallel

Meridian

Latitude

Longitude

Coordinates

Scale

Topographic

Degree

1.1. Parallels ans MeridiansWe draw imaginary lines on the globe to locate

any place on the Earth’s surface called

Parallels: Are lines drawn east-west around the Earth. Parallel 0º is the Equator.

The other lines are numbered from 0º to 90º.

Other important parallels are the Tropic of Cancer, the Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle.

Meridians: Are north-south semicircles drawn from pole to pole. The prime meridian or 0º is the Greenwich meridian.

The other lines are numbered from 0º to 180º. Both to the east and to the west of Greenwich.

1.2. Latitude and longitudeLatitude: Is the distance between any point

on the Earth’s surface and parallel 0º (the Equator)

It is measured in degrees, minutes, seconds.

It can be north or south.

Its maximum value is 90º, which corresponds to the poles.

1.2. Latitude and longitudeLongitude: Is the distance between any

point on the Earth’s surface and the 0º meridian (Greenwich)

It is measured in degrees, minutes, seconds.

It can be east or west.

Its maximum value is 180º.

1.3. Geographical CoordinatesWhen we add the details from latitude and

longitude, we have the geographical coordinates.

It gives us the exact position.

In a map, the numbers at the top and the bottom of the map indicate longitude.

The numbers on the right and left of the map indicate latitude.

HomeworkChoose a city you would like to visit at some

point in your life. 

Indicate and explain their situation in the world map using geographic coordinates. 

Tell us why you love this city, what strikes you and what type of weather according to the situation on the world map.

2. The representation of the EarthIn Ancient Times, people thought the Earth was flat.

Later, geographic discoveries showed that it was spherical.

To represent the spherical Earth on a flat map, we use projections.

The most common is the cylindrical projection, best known as Mercator Projection.

A cylinder is wrapped around the Earth at the Equator and the resulting projection is rectangular.

This type is generally used to represent the whole world.

2.1. Types of mapsA map is a representation on a plane of part

of the Earth’s surface. In general, geographers work with two

types of maps:Topographic maps: They represent in

detail the physical and human aspects of the territory: relief, water, flora, communication routes, land use…They are characterized by contour lines. There are two ways to represent the relief.

With colors

With contour lines

With colors and contour lines

What can you identify here?

What can you identify here?

What can you identify here?

What can you identify here?

Thematic maps: Show a particular aspect of an area. The most commom are:

o Political maps

o Climate maps

o Economic maps

o Population maps

o Road maps

o Relief maps

2.2. Elements on a mapSCALEMaps are reduced representations of reality. Scale indicates the difference between the size

of something in the real world and its size on a map.

Scale can be indicated in two ways: Numerical scale: Expressed by a fraction.

Numerator represents the unit on the map. Denominator represents its real size. For example, the scale 1:50000 means that one unit on the map (e.g. 1 cm) is equal to 50000 real units (50000 cm).

Linear or graphic scale: using a graduated ruler, on each segment (or on the whole ruler) the equivalent to ground distance is indicated.For example, if the ruler indicates 500 kms and it is 5 cms long, this means that 5 cms on the map are equivalent to 500 kms in reality.

CONVENTIONAL SIGNS

Symbols or colours.

Meanings of conventional Signs appear in the key (leyenda).

Normally the key is at the bottom of the map.

3. Learn to work with mapsPlease, bring your rule (regla) with

you tomorrow.