MAP SKILLS WG SOL 1a - e

Geographic Sources  Geographic information may be acquired from a variety of sources  Geographic information supports the process of inquiry into the nature of countries, cities, and environments  Geographic information may be acquired from a variety of sources  Geographic information supports the process of inquiry into the nature of countries, cities, and environments A. GIS – Geographic Information Systems B. Field Work C. Satellite Images D. Photographs E. Maps, globes F. Databases G. Primary Sources H. Diagrams

GIS – You use it all the time

Field Work

Satellite Images

Photographs

Maps & Globes Maps are great because they are FLAT and can go into ATLASES. They also can show whatever information you want to put on them. Globes are nice because they are ACCURATE in their shape of the world. BUT terrible to carry around and EXPENSIVE

Database CapitalPopulationLife Expectancy (years) Birthrate (per 1,000 pop.) Infant Mortality (per 1,000 live births) Doctors (per 100,000 people) INDIA New Delhi 1,002,142, UNITED STATES Washingto n, DC 315,422,

Primary Sources – provide new information

Diagrams

Parts of a Map  Absolute Location  Latitude  Longitude  Relative Location – Used to describe where a place is based on physical features or known places A. Scale (Large and small scale maps) – used to show detail B. Scale (used to measure distance) C. Compass Rose (used to find orientation D. Cardinal Directions (N, S, E, W) E. Intermediate Directions (NE, NW, SE, SW)

Scale can show distance Between two points or detail. Scale can show distance Between two points or detail.

Mental Maps A. Mental maps are maps in your head that you use to: A. Carry out daily activities B. Give directions to others C. Understand world events A. Mental maps can be refined by: A. Comparing sketch maps to maps in atlases B. Describing the location of places in terms of reference points, geographic features, or human characteristics

Types of Maps  Physical maps show landforms and elevation  Political maps show human made features such as cities, countries and roads  Contour maps show elevation using isolines  Thematic maps show specific information (THEMES)

Physical Maps

Examples of Thematic Maps A. Population B. Economic Activity C. Resource D. Language E. Ethnicity F. Climate G. Precipitation H. Vegetation

Map Projections A. All maps are distorted or inaccurate (shape, area, distance, direction) B. Mercator – (square) – used by ship navigators – distorted by shape, area, and distance (Top is too big, middle is too small) C. Polar – (round) – used by airline pilots because it shows shortest distance – distorted by area because it only shows one hemisphere D. Robinson – (rounded edges) – used to compare data in atlases – distorted all 4 ways, but not terribly (compromise) A. All maps are distorted or inaccurate (shape, area, distance, direction) B. Mercator – (square) – used by ship navigators – distorted by shape, area, and distance (Top is too big, middle is too small) C. Polar – (round) – used by airline pilots because it shows shortest distance – distorted by area because it only shows one hemisphere D. Robinson – (rounded edges) – used to compare data in atlases – distorted all 4 ways, but not terribly (compromise)

Mercator Projection

Polar Projection

Robinson Projection

How Maps Change A. Changing place names A. Formosa  Taiwan  Republic of China B. Palestine  Israel  West Bank/Gaza B. Perspective of place names B. Arabian Gulf vs. Persian Gulf C. Sea of Japan vs. East Sea D. Middle East vs. Southwest Asia

How Maps Change A. Boundaries A. Africa in 1914 and 1990s B. Europe before and after WWI and since 1990 C. Russia and the former Soviet Union D. Middle East before 1948 and after 1967 B. Disputed Areas A. Korea B. Western Sahara C. Former Yugoslavia D. Kashmir