• Map

• Reference point

• Cardinal directions

• Latitude

• equator

• A model or representation of the Earth’s surface

• Is a fixed point on the Earth’s surface from which direction and location can be described– Example: a landmark like the north or south pole

(because the Earth is round)

• North, south, east and west– More precise than left, right, and straight– True north: the geographic north pole – it never

changes, unlike the magnetic north pole

• Imaginary lines drawn around the Earth parallel to the equator– Called parallels– The distance north or south from the equator

measured in degrees

• A circle ½ between the poles that divides the Earth between Northern and Southern Hemispheres– 0° latitude

• Longitude

• Prime Meridian

• Using Latitude and Longitude

• Imaginary lines that pass through the poles– Called meridians– The distance east or west from the prime

meridian measured in degrees– Not parallel, touch at the pole and farthest

apart at the equator

• The meridian selected to be 0° longitude– Greenwich, England– Does not completely circle the globe– 180° is the opposite side– Eastern Hemisphere is between 0°-180° -

east of Prime Meridian– Western Hemisphere is between 0°-180° -

west of Prime Meridian

• Find the intersecting points on the map– The points make a grid, connect north &

south with east & west points

• Losing accuracy

• Mercator Projection

• Conic Projection

• Because the Earth is a sphere, accuracy is lost when information is transferred– Distortions in shape and distance

• A map projection where the contents of the globe are transferred onto a cylinder of paper.– Latitude and longitude lines are straight &

parallel– Widens the area near the poles

• A map projection made by transferring the contents of the globe onto a cone and unrolled– Touches each line of longitude, but only

one line of latitude– Distortion occurs along the lines of latitude

further away from the one touching the cone

– Best for East/West landmasses

• Azimuthal Projection

• Modern Map Making

• Information on Maps

• A map projection made transferring the globe onto one plane– Only touches one point, usually a pole– Little distortion at that point– Distortion occurs from that point on

• Aerial Photographs – give a bird’s-eye view

• Remote sensing – gathering information without actually being there (satellites)

• The keys to what is on any given map– Title – telling you what type of map it is– Scale – Earth surface vs. map surface

• Graphic scale – comparison ruler• Verbal scale – describes the scale• Representative fraction – ratio• Compass rose – shows North• Legend – shows symbols (key)• Date – when the map was accurate