2. What is a map? A Map is a two or three-dimensional model or representation of the Earth’s surface. 2-Dimensional map

3. What is a “Map Projection”? Planar Projection

4. Types of Map Projections All map projections are “flawed” by distortions that are created during “projection”. Different map projections have been developed to reduce this distortion to different areas of the map for different purposes.

5. Projection A Projection is a mathematical means of transferring information from the Earth’s three-dimensional curved surface to a two- dimensional map.

6. Map Distortion

7. Mercator (Cylindrical)Projection Gnomonic (Polar) Projection Polyconic Projection Three most common types of map projects are:

8. Mercator Projection Strengths: Shows the entire world on one map Shows direction as a straight line which makes it good for the purpose of navigation True shapes and distances within 15 Degrees of the Equator. Weakness: Great Distortion of area and shape at high latitudes.

9. Gnomonic Projection Strengths: Shows the shortest distance between two points True shapes and distances at the poles. Weakness: Great Distortion of area and shape as you move away from the center point (the lower the degree of latitude the greater the distortion Does not show the entire world on one map

10. Polyconic Projection Strengths: Shows true shape and size of landmasses relative to other landmasses at Mid-Latitudes. Majority of landmasses fall at Mid-Latitudes Weakness: Great Distortion of area and shape as you move away from Mid-Latitudes Does not show the entire world on one map

11. Mercator Projection Great Distortion of area and shape at high latitudes. True shapes and distances within 15 Degrees of the Equator.

12. Robinson Projection Better balance of size and shape of high latitudes, and low distortion within 45 degrees of the Equator. Used by National Geographic for world maps since 1988, and replacing Mercator in schools.

13. Map Distortions Greenland Mercator map size True size of Greenland

14. In this image, Scandanavia (high lat.) is Larger than India (equatorial).

17. Map Scale Map Scale expresses the relationship between the distance on a map and the true, corresponding distance of the same area of the Earth’s surface. Mapmakers can't draw maps the same size as the area they represent; the maps would be too big. So they draw features smaller than they actually are.

18. A map scale is usually given as a fraction (1/10000) or a ratio (1:10000) USGS maps contain scales that have the same units on both sides of the ratio. Fractional scale

19. Bar Scale A bar scale is just a line drawn on a map of known ground length. There are usually distances marks along the line. Bar scales allow for quick visual estimation of distance.

20. Pay attention to where the zero point on the bar actually is when you measure with a bar scale! Notice that 0 is here!

21. Map Orientation A compass is usually used to determine cardinal direction A compass does not normally point to Geographic- North (True North) Magnetic North and Geographic- North (True North) are only the same in very few places. The direction in which the compass needle points is called Magnetic North, and the angle between magnetic north and true north is called Magnetic Declination.

25. Declination or Degrees Off Course Error Off Target after Walking 10 Miles 1°920 feet (280meters) 5°4,600 feet (1,402 meters) 10°9,170 feet (2,795 meters) Effect of Magnetic Declination

26. Topographic Maps

27. -A Topographic Map is the representation, normally on a flat surface, of part of the Earth’s surface, drawn to scale. -Topographic maps show distance relationships and elevation -Topography actually means, “the shape, elevation and slope of the land”.

28. Different symbols and colors are used to indicate various features on topographic maps, including bodies of water and human-made structures. Topographic Maps A topographic map of Portland, Maine shows various physical features of the area.

29. Topographic maps also include symbols that represent such features as woods, houses and roads. Woods Streams Roads House

31. - The distinctive characteristic of a Topographic Map is that the shape of the Earth’s surface is shown by contour lines. - Contour Lines are Imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation on the land above or below sea level. -How do we know where to put the lines when we make a map???

32. We could start with an island, and increase the level of the ocean the amount of our contour interval, an marking the shore line as we raise the water level.

33. 10 feet above normal sea-level Notice that the shape of the island changes. Why?

34. 20 feet above normal sea-level

35. 30 feet above normal sea-level

36. Now, drain the water, and we have our topographic map!

37. But, how do they do it for real??

42. Contour Lines Depending on the degree of elevation change there can be a few or many contour lines. The greater the elevation change the more contour lines there will be. To keep a map from being becoming clutter only certain elevations are represented by contour lines. The values are choosen to be evenly spaced vertically. This spacing is call a contour interval. There are several different kinds of contour lines. –Index contour –Intermediate contour –Depression contour

43. Index Contour (darker, has elevation) Intermediate Contour (lighter; does not have elevation identified)

45. Intermediate Contour

46. Depression Contour Lines Perp. Lines point downhill, into the depression Lip of depression is highest point

47. 220 240 260 280 **Edge of depression is between 240-260.

48. Contour Lines make it possible to determine the shape of the land without looking at the actual spot. Ridge Valley

49. Stream Direction Determining stream direction of flow helps the map reader interpret elevations of intermediate contour lines above or below an Index Contour.

50. V’s point uphill. Therefore, line A must be less than 900, and line B must be more than 900 A B

51. Contour Interval

53. Total Distance between Index Contours = Number of Spaces between Index Contours =

54. Elevation increase between two identified points/distance between two horizontal points.

55. Slope Steep Slope Gentle Slope

57. Line A Distance =.5 miles Elevation Change = Slope =

59. Topographic Profiles

65. Vertical Exaggeration