Transcript cartography – the science of making maps

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Maps provide a visual tool
Maps are subjective
Map projections transfer locations on a
round surface to a flat surface
◦ some form of distortion always occurs
◦ greater distortion results from larger areas
depicted
cartography –
the science of making maps
global grid system
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Aristotle (384-322 BC) discovered the
earth to be an oblate spheroid
◦ Equatorial bulge 7926.38 (7924)
◦ Polar shortening 7899.80 (7922)
◦ 23.5° axis (tilt)
mathematics of the Earth
Earth’s rotation & movement around the
sun
 Tilt of the earth’s axis (23.5°)
 Receipt of solar radiation
 Re-radiation of energy in the form of heat
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seasons and climate
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Latitude lines
◦ Equal distance between lines
◦ Lines become increasingly smaller descending
from the equator to poles
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Longitude lines
◦ Each line is the same exact length
◦ All lines become increasingly close together as
they descend to the poles
the Earth’s divisions
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Equator: 0 degrees
Tropic of Cancer: 23.5 degrees North
Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5 degrees South
Arctic Circle: 66.5 degrees North
Antarctic Circle: 66.5 degrees South
important lines of latitude
Prime Meridian: 0 degrees (runs through
Greenwich, England)
 International Dateline: 180 degrees
 Time Zones: every 15 degrees of
longitude equals one hour
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important lines of longitude
Impact of Earth’s Revolution on Climate
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Scale
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Legend
◦ the smaller the scale the
greater the detail
- for example one inch =
one mile is more detailed
than one inch = one
hundred miles
1:1 or 1:100
◦ interprets map information
maps
Shape
 Distance
 Relative size
 Direction
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map projections & distortion
Robinson map projection
Fuller’s Dymaxion projection
Topographical map
Thematic maps
Cartogram map
Geographical
Information
Systems
mental maps