Mapping and Geographic Skills

Compass Rose A compass rose, sometimes called a windrose, is a figure on a map or nautical chart used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions, — north, south, east, and west. It is also the term for the graduated markings found on the traditional magnetic compassmapnautical chart cardinal directionsmagnetic compass

Modern Compass Rose

Replica of a 32-point compass rose from a chart by Jorge de Aguiar (1492), the oldest personally signed and dated Portuguese nautical chart

Compass Rose The compass rose is an element of a map used to show direction, showing cardinal directions and frequently intermediate direction. Naming all 32 points on the rose is called boxing the compass.boxing the compass The "rose" term arises from the fairly ornate figures used with early compasses. A fleur-de-lis figure, evolved from the initial T in the north wind's name Tramontane, is sometimes used to indicate the north direction. Similarly, on old maps the east was marked with an L for Levante, or with a Christian cross indicating the direction of Jerusalem from the point of view of circa Mediterranean countries. [1]compassesfleur-de-lisTramontaneChristian cross Jerusalem[1]

NorthN0 North-EastNE45 EastE90 South-EastSE135 SouthS180 South-WestSW225 WestW270 North-WestNW315 Cardinal PointAbbr.Direction

Latitude Lines of latitude appear horizontal with varying curvature in this projection; but are actually circular with different radii. All locations with a given latitude are collectively referred to as a circle of latitude. The equator divides the planet into a Northern Hemisphere, a Southern Hemisphere and has a latitude of 0°.horizontalcircle of equator Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere

Latitude Lines of Latitude are the imaginary horizontal lines shown running east-to-west (or west to east) on maps (particularly so in the Mercator projection) that run either north or south of the equator. Technically, latitude is an angular measurement in degrees (marked with °) ranging from 0° at the equator (low latitude) to 90° at the poles (90° N or +90° for the North Pole and 90° S or −90° for the South Pole). The latitude is approximately the angle between straight up at the surface (the zenith) and the noonday sun when it is at the equinox. The complementary angle of a latitude is called the colatitude.Mercator projection angular measurementdegreeslow latitudeNorth PoleSouth Polezenithequinox complementary angle colatitude

Longitude Longitude (λ)Lines of longitude appear vertical with varying curvature in this projection, but are actually halves of great ellipses, with identical radii at a given latitude.Longitude vertical

Types of Maps Africa Physical

US Physical

Africa Political

America Political

Population

Vegetation map

Map Scales The proportion chosen for a particular map is its scale. Selecting the appropriate scale depends on the size of the sheet of paper and the accurate placement of features. Ground area, rivers, lakes, roads, distances between features, and so on must be shown proportionately smaller than they really are.

Maps are often known as large scale or small scale. –A large scale map refers to one which shows greater detail because the representative fraction) is a larger fraction than a small scale map which would have.

Precipitation Map of Africa

Cut out Precipitation Map of South Africa

Precipitation Map of the United States

Another Precipitation map of the United States

Satellite Images