1. Chapter 2 Portraying Earth
Physical Geography
A Landscape Appreciation, 9/e
Animation Edition
Victoria O. Alapo, Instructor
Geog 1150

2. Portraying Earth The Nature of Maps Map Projections Isolines
Global Positioning System
Remote Sensing
Geographic Information Systems

3. The Nature of Maps
A map is a 2 dimensional representation of earth; i.e. of spatial distribution of selected phenomenon. They are scaled drawings of a portion of the landscape.
Maps can also be 3 dimensional, if they’re globes.
See pg 31 for “Map Essentials” – things a good map MUST have. Sometimes these essentials occur in combination e.g. “U.S. Population, Census 2000”. Also, see Africa map (pg 33).

4. The Nature of Maps

5. Globes vs. Maps Advantages & Disadvantages: Globes –
- They are correct representations
- They are cumbersome
- You can only see one half at a time
Flat Maps –
- The whole world can be viewed all at one time
- Easy to carry and manage into publications
- They offer even at best, only distorted views of the Earth

6. Map Scale Types of Scale (see next slide, and pg 31)
A scale is the relationship between the length measured on a piece of paper (map) and the corresponding distance on the ground. In other words, how much of the earth is being shown on a piece of paper.
Types of Scale (see next slide, and pg 31)
Graphic Scale
Verbal Scale
Representative Fraction or Ratio Scales
Large and Small Scales:
A large scale map has a small denominator and shows more detail e.g. an architect’s blueprint
A small scale map is the opposite e.g. a globe
Which is small and large scale on next slide?

7. Examples of Map Scales

8. Map Projections
A system whereby the rounded surface of Earth is transferred onto a flat piece of paper. “Orange peel”.
No projection is perfect, but some are better than others.
Main types:
Interrupted (Goode’s)
Cylindrical / Mercator – many old school maps
Robinson – compromise btw the first 2; found a lot in textbook (and National Geographic). See pg 36, and inside covers
Conic
Plane

9. Interrupted Projection

10. Cylindrical Projection

11. Conic Projection

12. Plane Projection

13. Conformality (shape) vs. Equivalence (size)
A cartographer has to decide if shape or size has to be sacrificed. You can’t have both. It’s impossible.

14. Isolines
From Greek, “Isos”, meaning, “equal”. It is any line that joins points of equal value of something e.g., Elevation/contour lines.
See pg 41. Contours always have intervals btw them. And the “closer” the lines, the “steeper” the slope, and vice-versa. Also, see Zorinsky Lake.
See pg 39 for other examples of Isolines.

15. Isolines Average Annual Precipitation See pg 40 (Figure 2-16a)

16. Global Positioning System (GPS)
Satellite-based system originally developed by the military for guiding missiles, etc. Now used for civilian purposes as well.
It uses longitudes and latitudes to determine positions.
Pilots use it for navigation, so does On*Star, car & phone GPSes. Pg 42, Fig -18

17. Remote Sensing
Any measurement or acquisition of information about the Earth by a recording device that is NOT in physical contact with it.
The earliest ones were taken by balloons (France, 1858; U.S., 1860)
Later airplanes
Various types:
Aerial Photographs
Orthophoto Maps
Color and Color-Infrared Sensing
Thermal Infrared Sensing
Microwave, Radar, and Sonar Sensing
Multispectral Remote Sensing

18. Aerial Photographs
These can be vertical or oblique. See next slide and pg 43.
They usually overlap
They used to be black & white, but now come in color
Of great importance to City Planning Offices

19. Aerial Photographs

20. Orthophoto Maps
These are multi-color distortion-free photographic image maps.
In other words, they’re prepared from aerial photos, and a lot of the distortions have been removed.

21. Reddest areas are most recent cuts
This is color Infra-red sensing (from Landsat).
Thermal infra-red uses “heat” to find things.
Reddest areas are most recent cuts

22. Sonar & Radar Sensing
See textbook for meaning of acronyms. “Sonar” uses sound.
Microwave technology was developed by the military; by mistake actually.

23. Multispectral Remote Sensing Landsat Images

24. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Using computers to map and analyze data.