1. Map Skills

2. What is a map? Now what does that mean?
A map is a representation, usually on a flat surface, of the features of an area of the earth or a portion of the heavens, showing them in their respective forms, sizes, and relationships according to some convention of representation.
Now what does that mean?

3. A map is a representation, usually on a flat surface,
A map is a drawing or model
usually on a flat surface,
of a round Earth on a flat surface,
of the features of an area of the earth
that shows the landforms (mountains, rivers, etc.)
or a portion of the heavens,
or part of the sky in a particular region,
showing them in their respective forms, sizes, and relationships
drawn to scale
according to some convention of representation.
using an accepted form of drawing or model.

4. There are three basic types of maps:
PHYSICAL
POLITICAL
and
THEMATIC.

5. Physical Maps Physical maps show the natural features of the Earth.
Physical maps do not contain man made features.
For example, a physical map would be a map of what you would see if you were looking down on Earth from space.

6. When you look at this map, what do you see?
Notice you do not see country borders or city markings. These divisions are created by people. For example, there is no actual line dividing Texas from its bordering states.
Although some astronauts (with the use of binoculars believe it or not) are able to see roads, large ocean tankers, and even the Great Pyramids from space, at very high altitudes, none of these are visible and all you are left with are natural land formations.

7. Political Maps
Unlike physical maps, political maps show how humans have impacted the landscape. For example, city names, roads, country borders, etc. are all part of political maps.
Political maps change frequently (physical maps change very, very slowly through geologic processes) and must be redrawn often. A political map of the world that is 50 years old is no longer accurate.
Wars and ethnic conflict are two major causes political maps change.

8. Political Maps

9. Thematic Maps
Thematic maps can represent a variety of information including things like climate, precipitation, vegetation, elevation, population, life expectancy, etc.
Thematic maps are generally used when you are looking at a single piece of information.

10. Thematic Maps

11. Map Components
Title
Grid
Compass
Key or Legend
Scale

17. Identify the largest pieces of the world:1 4 7 B A 2
1= Asia
2= Africa D 6
3= Antarctica 5
4= North America
A= Atlantic Ocean
5= South America
B= Pacific Ocean
6=Australia
C= Arctic Ocean
7= Europe
D= Indian Ocean 3

18. The origin point (0,0) is where the equator intersects the prime meridian.
(0,0) is off the western coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.
So Where is (0,0)?

19. Positioning on the Earth’s Surface
East is the direction of rotation of the Earth
Equator
Latitude 0o
Latitude: (90oN to 90oS)
North Pole
South Pole
Prime Meridian
0o Longitude
Longitude: (180oE to 180oW)
Longitude 60o West
Longitude 30o West
Longitude 60o East
90o
Longitude 30o East
66½o
Latitude 23½o North
Tropic of Cancer
23½o
21st June
22nd December
22nd Sept
20th March
90oW
60oW
30oW
90oE
30oE
60oE
23½o
900
Latitude 23½o South
Tropic of Capricorn
Longitude 90o West
Longitude 90oEast
Latitude and Longitude together enable the fixing of position on the Earth’s surface.

20. Major lines of latitude
North Pole
Arctic Circle
Tropic of Cancer
Equator
Tropic of Capricorn
Antarctic Circle
South Pole

21. Longitude and Time
Local noon poses a problem for travelers because it is noon at different times in different locations. That means that timetables are useless.
To solve this problem time has been gauged from the Prime Meridian also called the Greenwich Meridian (since it passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England).

22. Longitude and Time
If you place meridians 15° apart starting with the Prime Meridian, you will divide the Earth into 24 zones. These correspond to the 24 hours in a day.

23. Longitude and Time
As you travel around the world to the east, you gain an hour in time for each zone you cross. If you travel to the west you lose an hour.

24. But…
If you traveled around the world to the east fast enough you would be a day older in a short time!
If you traveled west you could go back in the past!
To solve this problem it was agreed that the 180° meridian would signal the change of date point.
Travel east and the date goes back one day; travel west and you advance a day when crossing this meridian.

25. But…
To keep all of a country in the same time zone, the International Date Line does not follow the 180° meridian exactly.
Other time zones make the same accommodations for country or state boundaries.