Goals:1. Differentiate between latitude and longitude.

2. Understand that a topographic map is a 2-D model that displays 3D information

3. Describe map characteristics such as scales, legends, and contour lines.

4. Analyze topographic maps.

5. Construct landscape profiles

Mapping Our World

Question of the Day

August 30, 2011

Draw a map of your neighborhood, property (house and yard), or another familiar place.

Mapping Our World

Cartography is the science of mapmaking. Cartographers use an imaginary grid of

parallel lines and vertical lines to locate exact points on Earth.

Equator- an imaginary line that circles the Earth halfway between the north and south poles. It is a line of latitude

Latitude and Longitude

Lines of Latitude- Lines

running parallel to the equator.

Latitude- the distance in degrees north or south of the equator.

Equator - 0˚ latitude

Latitude

Poles - 90˚N and 90˚S

Locations north of the equator are referred to by degrees north latitude (N).

Locations south of the equator are referred to by degrees south latitude (S).

Latitude

Each degree of latitude equals 111 km on

Earth’s surface.

How do they know that?? Earth is 40,000 km in circumference.

Divide 40,000 by 360˚111 km

Latitude

Lines of longitude mark locations in east and west directions.

Prime Meridian- the reference point for longitude.

0˚ longitude

Longitude

Prime Meridian goes

through Greenwich England

Semi Circles- lines of longitude are NOT parallel.

Vertical Lines

Longitude

Both latitude and longitude are needed to

precisely locate positions on Earth.

Coordinates:

(degree latitude, degree longitude)

Coordinates

North or South

East or West

37˚20’ N, 79˚

31’ W

Bedford, VA

LatitudeLongitude

Read Pages 27-31 Fill in Graphic Organizer

Class Work

Latitude and Longitude

Latitude

Longitude

Detail

Picture

Detail

Picture

September 1, 2011

Maps are flat models of a 3-D object, Earth. However, Earth is curved, so it is difficult to represent on a flat piece of paper.

What kind of effect do you think this has on maps of the Earth?

Question of the Day

Since Earth is a sphere, it is difficult to

represent on a flat piece of paper.

Distortion: So, all flat maps distort either the shapes

or the areas of landmasses.

Types of Maps

Projections

A map projection is made by transferring points and lines on a globe’s surface onto a piece of paper.

3 types of Projections:1. Mercator Projection2. Conic Projection3. Gnomonic Projection

Types of Maps

Mercator Projections- a map that has parallel lines of latitude AND longitude.

(BTW- lines of longitude aren’t actually parallel, they cross at the poles)In effect: correct shapes of landmasses, but areas are distorted

Used for: navigation of planes and ships.

Mercator Projections

Mercator Projection

Conic Projection – made by projecting points and lines from a globe onto a cone. The cone touches the globe at a particular line of latitude.

In effect: little distortion along that line of latitude, but a lot of distortion near top and bottom.

Excellent for mapping small areas.Used for: road maps and weather maps.

Conic Projections

Conic Projection

Gnomonic- paper touches globe at a single point.

In effect: direction and distance between landmasses are both distorted.

Used for: planning long distance trips by air and by sea.

-Great Circles

Gnomonic Projections

Gnomonic Projections

Detailed maps showing the hills and valleys of

an area. Show changes in elevation.

Also show mountains, rivers, forests, bridges…etc

Use lines, symbols, and colors to represent changes in elevation and features on Earth’s surface.

Topographic Maps

Topographic Maps

What do these three maps have in common?

Contour line- connects points of equal

elevation. Contour lines NEVER CROSS because they

connect points of equal elevation.

Elevation- the distance above or below sea level.

Contour Lines

Contour Interval- difference in elevation between two side-by-side contour lines.

Index Contours- marked by numbers representing their elevations.

Depression Contour Lines- dashes inside a contour line that represent a lower elevation than the surrounding landscape.

Contour Line Terms

Map legend- explains

what symbols represent

Map scale- the ratio between distances on a map and the actual distances on Earth.

More mapping terms

Make a mind map for the three types of map projections.

Organize Information

1. What type of map is pictured

below?2. What are the lines on the map

called?

MILL MOUNTAIN ROANOKE

Steep Slopes: contour lines are very close together, indicating a quick change in elevation.

Identifying topographic features

Hills- usually one complete contour line within a small area, or a circle, marking the top of a hill.

Hills

Sometimes two hills are

connected by a saddle, and there are two distinct hills with contour lines surrounding them at their bases.

2 hills

The direction of stream

flow can be identified by looking at “V”s in the contour pattern.

The V’s always point UPSTREAM.

This stream is flowing south west, and then south

Stream Flow

What direction is this stream flowing?

____________

Stream FlowN

W E

S

1. What is the latitude of the north end of Blue

Lake? Use degrees and minutes.2. What is the contour interval of the map?3. What is the elevation of the top of White

Mountain?4. How many mountains are within the map?5. In what range of elevations is the town of

Dixon?6. About how many miles across is the map?7. What is the copyright of the map?

Topographic Map Reading

Creating a Landscape Profile