Geography Tools… Page 14-19

Geography Review – Back to the Basics… Compass Rose NE SE NW SW

Geography Skills – Back to the Basics… Cardinal Directions – The main directions (North, South, East, West) Intermediate Directions – The directions half way between the cardinal directions (NE, SE, SW, NW) Writ e This dow n

Maps and Globes Maps: A flat drawing of the Earth’s surface. Cartographers, or mapmakers, use mathematical formulas to transfer information from the round globe to the map. Globe: A round model of the Earth that shows its shape, lands and direction as they truly relate to each other.

Map Projections… No one map will ever be as accurate as a globe since it presents a model of Earth as it is – a sphere. Projection- a representation of the Earth’s rounded surface on a flat piece of paper. While certain map projections come pretty close, all maps involve some form of distortion. Distortion-a misrepresentation of a true shape or size of a place.

Reading a Map Scale- a size of an area on a map as compared with the area’s actual size. Key-the section of the map that explains the symbols for the map features; also called the legend.

How Are Maps Made & Used? Interpreting Maps & Globes

Map vs. Globe – Accuracy? Which is more accurate? The Map or the Globe? Why?

BOTH??? Globes and maps serve different purposes and each has advantages and disadvantages.

Globes Represent true land shape, distances & directions Cannot show detailed info Difficult to carry Maps Show small areas in great detail Display different types of information, such as population densities or natural resources Transport easily Distort, or change the accuracy of shapes and distances AdvantagesDisadvantages

Why? Think of an orange peel… Once spread out…an orange peel can never become a perfect rectangle. The same is true when we try to make the globe a map; when we transfer Earth’s curved surface into a flat piece of paper!

Interrupted Projection Accurate size and shape of continents, but distorted sizes of oceans…

Equal – Area Projection Area on map proportion to area on globe. Shapes may be distorted

Peters Projection Land, ocean, direction is accurate Distorts shapes

Gerhardus Mercator 1568 –mathematician & cartographer Before this time navigation did not correctly account for the recently proven fact that the world was round. Mercator’s equations allowed cartographers to produce charts from which sailors could easily navigate. Good for navigation.

Mercator Projection Mercator’s projection good for navigation. Shows the true shapes of landmasses and true directions, but it distorts their correct sizes farther from equator. Poles not accurate. Ex: Greenland appears much larger than it is

Robinson Projection Has minor distortions Continents and oceans are close to their sizes and shapes, but the North and South poles appear flattened.

What is accurate?What is distorted? Interrupted ProjectionReal size shape continentsDistance and size of oceans Equal Area Projection Area on map proportion to area on globeShape of landmass Peters ProjectionLand, oceans, direction shape of landmass Mercator Projection Good for navigation Closer to equator Further away from center Poles distorted Robinson Projection Closer to equator Size of countries Shape of countries Flat at poles Outer edges